Skystation Skulpturell Benk by Peter Newman

Skystation Skulpturell Benk by Peter Newman is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award i Sølv in Gate- og Bymøbeldesign Competition Category.

SølvGatemøbler· 2023

Skystation Skulpturell Benk

by Peter Newman

Client: Peter Newman Studio

A' Design Award i Sølv Winner in Gatemøbler Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #149050

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Skystation Skulpturell Benk

Skystation er en interaktiv skulptur som også gir noen offentlige sitteplasser. Konturene til verket er designet for å passe til den tilbakelente menneskelige formen og oppmuntre til kontemplasjon av himmelen. Sitteplassen den gir ligner på det NASA kaller Neutral Body Posture, som er formen kroppen går tilbake til når den er fri for påvirkning av tyngdekraften. Skystation skaper en mulighet for pause, refleksjon og interaksjon i det offentlige rom. Den er inspirert av den modernistiske ideen om form følger funksjon. Det har den tilfeldige effekten at samtaler mellom fremmede nesten er uunngåelige.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award i Sølv

Skystation Skulpturell Benk er vinner av A' Design Award i Sølv, en usedvanlig prestisjefylt anerkjennelse som tildeles design i toppklassen som er nydelige og imponerende. Sølvvinnere er enormt briljante og usedvanlig kreative verk som viser designernes enestående ekspertise, talent og skarpsindighet. Skystation Skulpturell Benk forventes å være et praktfullt utstillingsverk som er bemerkelsesverdig profesjonelt og dypt nyskapende. Dette designet, som har vunnet A' Design Award i Sølv, er en svært bemerkelsesverdig, beundret oppfinnelse som gagner og flytter grensene for kunst, vitenskap, design og teknologi. Skystation Skulpturell Benk er et skaperverk mange misunner, som vekker ønsker, gir positive følelser og vekker undring og forundring.

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