chronoWalls
2014
LAb[au], Manuel Abendroth, Jérôme Decock, Els Vermang
outdoor pavilion, garden structure
abstract
Four separate walls, organise the public space by means of coloured shadows projected on the ground. Their position has been defined by taking into account the surrounding buildings, the circulation axis and view angles, whereas their orientation has been defined by the key positions of the sun (cf. solstice and equinox). Due to the shadow motifs evolving in time, the design proposes to transform the empty space into a dynamic, subdivided and open architecture taking into account site-specific parameters of space and time.
brief
text
The 4 wall elements are comprised of a subdivided shelve-like kinetic steel structure filled with coloured glass. Each wall is equipped with a diffuser consisting of metal lamellas. The subdividing lamellas are calculated according to the sun’s course throughout the day (cf. zenith and azimuth): the vertical lamellas are based on the height of the sun (18 degrees in winter - 65 degrees in summer), and the horizontal lamellas follow its path (an arc of 110 degrees in winter - 256 degrees in summer). Corresponding to these variables, the orientation of the lamellas is calculated in real time, allowing for the drawing of predefined geometric shadow motifs.
Moreover, the colour of the walls is based on the refraction of light into its constituent primary colours: white being the sum of red, green and blue. Each colour is attributed to one of these 4 walls: for the spring and autumn equinox, green and blue; for the summer and winter solstice, red and white. The design is based on shaping colour patterns according to these time-based parameters.
The dynamic construct of the sun in combination with the static one of the sculpture generates a shadow play which is different every hour and every day; an elementary play of light, colour and form which reveals its construct at given moments in time.
history
LAb[au] has been selected as finaliste for the competition to redesign the inner court of a Lycée in Orléan, France.