Skystation Oche Ihe Ọkpụkpụ by Peter Newman

Skystation Oche Ihe Ọkpụkpụ by Peter Newman is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha in Nhazi Ngwá Ụlọ Okporo Ụzọ Competition Category.

ỌlaọchaNgwá Ụlọ Okporo Ụzọ· 2023

Skystation Oche Ihe Ọkpụkpụ

by Peter Newman

Client: Peter Newman Studio

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha Winner in Ngwá Ụlọ Okporo Ụzọ Category

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The Design

About Skystation Oche Ihe Ọkpụkpụ

Skystation bụ ihe ọkpụkpụ na-emekọrịta ihe nke na-enyekwa ụfọdụ oche ọha. Emebere akụkụ nke ọrụ ahụ ka ọ dabara n'ụdị mmadụ na-eri nri ma gbaa ume ịtụgharị uche na mbara igwe. Ebe ahụ ọ na-enye yiri ihe NASA na-akpọ Neutral Body Posture, nke bụ udi ahụ ahụ na-alaghachi ma ọ bụrụ na enweghị ike ndọda. Skystation na-emepụta ohere maka nkwụsịtụ, ntụgharị uche na mmekọrịta n'ime mpaghara ọha. Ọ sitere na echiche modernist nke ụdị na-esote ọrụ. Ọ na-enwe mmetụta ndapụta nke ime ka mkparịta ụka n'etiti ndị bịara abịa bụrụ ihe a na-apụghị izere ezere.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha

Skystation Oche Ihe Ọkpụkpụ meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị dị n'ọkwa kachasị elu, mara mma ma na-eju anya. Ndị meriri na Ọlaọcha bụ ọrụ na-egbu maramara nke ukwuu ma dị oke nzụlite nke na-egosi ọmarịcha ihe ọmụma, talent na nghọta nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Skystation Oche Ihe Ọkpụkpụ ga-abụ ọrụ dị ịtụnanya, ihe nlereanya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị omimi n'ihe ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha bụ ihe e mepụtara dị oke ịrịba ama, nke a na-eto nke na-erite uru ma na-ebuga oke nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ n'ihu. Skystation Oche Ihe Ọkpụkpụ bụ ihe e kere eke ọtụtụ ndị na-ekwo ekworo ya nke na-akpali ọchịchọ, na-eweta mmetụta ọma ma na-akpali ịtụnanya.

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