Skystation Banku Eskultural by Peter Newman

Skystation Banku Eskultural by Peter Newman is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award in Kale Altzarien Diseinua Competition Category.

ZilarKale Altzariak· 2023

Skystation Banku Eskultural

by Peter Newman

Client: Peter Newman Studio

Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award Winner in Kale Altzariak Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Skystation Banku Eskultural

Skystation eskultura interaktibo bat da, eserleku publiko batzuk ere eskaintzen dituena. Lanaren ingerada etzandako giza formara egokitzeko eta zeruaren kontenplazioa bultzatzeko diseinatuta daude. Ematen duen eserlekua NASAk Neutral Body Posture deitzen duenaren antzekoa da, hau da, gorputzak grabitatearen eraginetik libre dagoenean itzultzen duen forma da. Skystation-ek pausatzeko, hausnartzeko eta interakziorako aukera sortzen du eremu publikoan. Formak funtzioari jarraitzen dion ideia modernistan inspiratuta dago. Ezezagunen arteko elkarrizketak ia saihestezinak izatearen ondorioa du.

The Recognition

About the Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award

Skystation Banku Eskultural Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award irabazlea da, goi-mailako, zoragarriak eta liluragarriak diren diseinuei ematen zaien ezohiko aitorpen prestijiotsua. Zilar-mailako irabazleak lan oso distiratsuak eta sormen biziko lanak dira, beren diseinatzaileen aditutasun, talentu eta zorroztasun nabarmenak erakusten dituztenak. Skystation Banku Eskultural erakusleiho-lan zoragarria, nabarmenki profesionala eta sakonki berritzailea izatea espero da. Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award irabazi duen diseinu hau asmakizun oso nabarmena eta miretsia da, onura ekartzen duena eta artearen, zientziaren, diseinuaren eta teknologiaren mugak zabaltzen dituena. Skystation Banku Eskultural jende askok inbidia duen sorkuntza da, desirak pizten dituena, sentimendu positiboak ekartzen dituena eta harridura eta txunditzea pizten dituena.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Skystation is an interactive sculpture that also provides some public seating. The contours of the work are designed to fit the reclining human form and encourage contemplation of the sky.
The seating it provides is similar to what NASA calls Neutral Body Posture, which is the shape the body returns to when free from the influence of gravity. Skystation creates an opportunity for pause, reflection and interaction within the public realm. Conversations between strangers are almost inevitable.
Dimensions & Packaging: 4100mm x 4100mm x 675mm
Tags: Skystation, sculpture, bench, public art, installation, seating
Production Technology: Cast aluminium bronze, brushed satin finish.
Six segments were sand cast and precision cut, to align together on a stainless steel sub-structure. Assembled together on site.
Design Challenge: To realise the design as a permanent installation required production in a material that would last a long time and was in keeping with the aesthetic of the work.
Aluminium bronze is a material used in the marine environment due to its resistance to corrosion and seems fitting in redeveloped wharf of London.
A golden disk also has a symbolic association with the sun and the sky going back to antiquity.
The colour introduces a warm tone among the cool steel that characterises the district.
Research: Real world research was done with life size seating profiles, tested by a large number of volunteers, to be as comfortable as possible to a wide range of people lying down.
The chosen profile was then spun through 360 degrees and refined into a sculpture form.
Fibreglass prototypes of the finished sculpture were installed in various public locations. This has shown the positive impact of introducing an interactive sculpture into the pubic realm. It appeals to all ages and serves as a place-making element and encourages social interaction.
Inspiration: Inspired by the LC4 chaise-longue, by Le Corbusier, Perriand and Jeanneret and the modernist idea of form follows function.
Looking upwards is inherently optimistic, and something akin to thinking about the future. Cognitive research suggests we do our best thinking lying down.
Project Duration: Permanent installation at Canary Wharf, London.
Operation Flow: The sculpture can be used for sitting and lying down by up to 12 people. Although designed with adults in mind, children find the most inventive ways to interact with the shape.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Peter Newman, Skystation 2022
Image #2: Photographer Peter Newman, Skystation 2022
Image #3: Photographer Peter Newman, Skystation 2022
Image #4: Photographer Peter Newman, Skystation 2022
Image #5: Photographer Google Landsat / Copernicus, Canary Wharf 2022