FLOR-ESCENT

A calyx-like lantern that absorbs the sun during the day so that it may close and glow at night.

The nested lantern of petal-like wings hangs above an entry corridor on North Walnut street. The lantern is light sensitive, open during the day to absorb the sun's rays, then closing at night. Once the petals close, the lantern illuminates by light reflected from a cone mounted in the center of the pod. Each petal contains an array of LEDs transitioning from dense and white at the bottom to more dispersed and white at the top. A gradient of color and scintillation travels up the surface slowly reflecting ad signalling the previous day's climate.
Lights mounted in the hexagonal bench directly below the lantern. The reflected light shines through perforations in the petals creating a pattern of droplets of light on the pavement below. The slowly traveling light conveys the feeling of water within the living bud of the calyx. The cast rays of light grow and circulate at night on the building's walls and entry way below.

Californa 2008

Cancelled but soon to be replaced with a new project at the same site!

Concept Design Marcos Lutyens, Oliver Hess and Jenna Didier