Who doesn’t love a good light show? Madrid based Lighting Design Collective (LDC) has transformed an old oil Silo in Helsinki, Finland, into an incredible light installation that’s powered by the elements. Hundreds of LED lights are poked into the Silo walls and are activated by site conditions such as wind speed and air temperature. The lights, which don’t go out till 2:30 AM, are programmed in patterns that suggest the movements of birds, insects, and fish. Read more.

Situated on a coastal hill, the silo not only protects the nearby town from strong gusts of winds, but uses the wind as an inspiration for the lighting patterns. Different speeds, temperatures, and directions move the lights into amazing patterns that change over and over throughout the day. Colors dance across the walls slowly and speed up with the wind’s movement, creating a constantly shifting mural.

The walls of the silo are perforated and punctured with 2012 holes to commemorate Helsinki as this year’s World Design Capital. These apertures are surrounded by mirrors that reflect sunlight pouring in from the silo’s empty roof, creating an even more intense glow.

At midnight, the walls turn a deep red for one hour, which, according to the designers, refers to the silo’s former life as a container of energy.

by Molly Cotter

posted in Uncategorized

tagged 2012world design capital, helsinki, installation, LED, light show, lights, silo

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