Guangdong Science Center Icon: Connections
Two large, 40 ft. kinectic towers greet visitors in the outdoor plaza at the entry to the Science Center. Each tower has a large, rotating arm, which holds a one-sided LED disc on one end and a counterweight on the opposite end. The arms rotate high overhead, allowing visitors to pass beneath them. The images on the LED discs constantly change showing the connections between man, nature, science, and civilization. As the rotating discs on each arm meet along their paths they appear to “pass” concepts from one to another.
Role:
Design, Project management, Fabrication monitoring for West Office Exhibition Design
Concept rendering showing a night view of the sculpture
Rendering of sculpture from top, front and side view. Towers are shaped like a canoe and skined and finished with super polished stainless steel surface.
Given that the Science Center is located in typhoon country, maintenance and safety considerations were critical part of the design process.
Counterweight design study
Prototyping
Left photo:
We hung a 12 feet circular graphic off of our office building to test the LED disc diameter. We also wanted to make sure the rotating height was adequate and to confirm that we have the right size LED screen portionate to the arm. Given the size, this crude mock up was what we could do without a fabricator involved.
Center and right photos:
View from full size working prototype testing in Xian near the Chinese fabricator's shop.
Site study
Study was done to find the ideal location for the Icon sculpture by the main Science center building. Renderings show the sculpture from three different viewing distances.
