Architects and engineers aren't always able to predict how their buildings are going to affect the surroundings once the project has been completed. It's interesting to note that the Surya Sunlight-Responsive Sculpture was designed to counteract a flaw of a single skyscraper.
Dallas's Museum Tower features highly reflective curtainwall cladding that shines brightly upon the Renzo Piano Nasher Sculpture Center. This is detrimental to the objects kept inside the gallery spaces. The solution by REX NY was to construct an enormous brise-soleil that would block the intense direct beams throughout the day. At nearly 400 feet in height, an odd egg-shaped wheel was erected with cable spokes meeting in the middle. Opaque squares begin to bloom and block light across Surya, opening and closing according to the changing concentration and angle of the rays.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Daylight-controlled Structures
- Architects and engineers can leverage sunlight-responsive sculptures to counteract unexpected effects of buildings post-construction.
- Innovative Building Design
- Constructing unique structures like the Surya Sunlight-Responsive Sculpture offers opportunities to mitigate negative impacts on surrounding environments.
- Smart Sun-blocking Technologies
- The development of large brise-soleils and other structures can be optimized to enhance energy efficiency, workspace comfort, and preserving valuable pieces of art.
Where This Applies
- Architecture
- Sun-blocking structures like the Surya Sculpture may become more sought after, incorporated by architects around the world in designs for reflective buildings.
- Art and Cultural Institutions
- Step up conservation measures and damage control on light-sensitive art pieces in affected galleries, such as the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas.
- Building Materials Manufacturing
- Develop highly-reflective and optically-efficient curtainwall cladding that doesn't produce as much glare to prevent negative impacts on the surrounding area when used.
