VORTEX
VORTEX is a new generative light sculpture installation built into the unique architecture of the Darwin ecosystem Project’s green building in Bordeaux, France. It is wrapped around a footbridge of architectural fragments made from scaffolding between the complex’s two building which are former industrial buildings that are now refurbished and used to host a variety of activities, including co-working spaces, a skate park, a restaurant and even a city kitchen garden.
This architectural, sculptural and light installation is designed by French firm 1024 architecture, and it has come to symbolise this new urban reality. The interactive installation is built like it is a living, breathing organism made from untreated wood boards and with the combination of new technologies, where it has twelve rows of LEDs wrapping around the wood and embracing the footbridge between the two buildings. The curvy and chaotic wood structure creates a feeling of dynamic movement where the lines creates by the lights and the wood represent the flow of data produced and used by Darwin Eco-Système, a reference to the large beating network, the arteries of our global and digital communication.
They said that because 1024 architecture developed the Mad Mapper software that can be used to control the pulses of light with a joystick so the whole installation beats in time to the music and it can even display the energy consumption: a great example of integrated installation, music and IT technology, characteristic of our times.In this case, this installation act as a functional environment tool with art and architecture.
“VORTEX breathes,
trembles and pumps......”
As what I’ve mentioned above, Vortex also display and visualise the energy consumption of the site, which is to convey the philosophy of the sustainable environment. For instance, brightest lights represent high level usage of energy where dim lights represent low levels of energy consumption. I think it is a very brilliant idea to let people be aware of how much energy they are actually consuming. From my opinion, architecture of the new era should include all these elements to create a space or a building that interacts and integrate with the latest technology as well as respecting the core of our nature, the environment. It is made into shapes like veins to let people know that energy is actually the vein to our life.
By walking through the bridge covered with the dynamic wood pieces, we can actually feel like we’re the life going through the veins, it’s like blood rushing through veins sending nutrients to our body. By using scaffolding, LED lights and wood as material, the architects are actually creating a contrast between technology and natural organic elements. If I were to walk through this installation, I’d reflect on the way how we’re consuming energy. Furthermore, through that chaotic patterns of wooden pieces as if the earth is reaching out for help, I’d feel responsible to conserve the organic elements on earth and take part protecting our mother earth. This is the part where the purpose of the installation is fulfilled, I think.
Irony to that is the lights can also be manually controlled with a joystick, to be synchronized with music, since the complex is also used for outdoor music festivals. Talk about energy consuming and all, the installation is made to create awareness to let people know the important of sustainable energy consuming but then there’s this music festival that will consume a lot more energy. Nonetheless, there’s advantage to it as everybody knows, art moves people by their heart and creates a powerful impact to the society and environment. In my point of view, it is applied in this installation where it brings like-minded people together during the festivals, creating a massive impact not only to the environment, but towards social and our future. People will come together and exchange thoughts and ideas on similar topics. It creates a huge social bubble unexpectedly.
The realtime visual is awesomely impressive and I’d be awed if I were to visit it. I really hope that expressionist architects would do more of these installations to bring life and joy to this world, especially in Malaysia. It's kinda sad to see gorvernment erasing and dismantling art that claims to be controversial. We people are free to express ourselves so let's just be us!
INSTALLATION
What makes this installation interesting is that it's expressive enough to create a contrast of material and bring life to the building complex. From what I observed from the photos, the spaces between two building was a dull and boring vast space before the installation was built. Expressions of dynamic and organic is bought into the space alongside with the installation to enhance the space's function as a social area. Now it looks more lively than ever because of the unique installation.
Darwin Ecosystem Project's Green building before the installation is built.
Imagine walking through the installation, you can feel the overwhelming warmness of the wood despite the cold steel scaffolding structure.
:D