Jenny Sabin Studio’s “Lumen,” has been constructed from more than 1,000,000 yards of “digitally knitted and robotically woven fiber,” this year’s structure features 250 hanging tubular structures designed to capture and display the ever-changing color of sunlight over the course of the day.
When the sun goes down, the glow begins. "Lumen" is constructed of photoluminescent textiles that absorb sunlight throughout the day—emitting in an ethereal glow at night.
When the sun goes down, the glow begins. "Lumen" is constructed of photoluminescent textiles that absorb sunlight throughout the day—emitting in an ethereal glow at night.
“Socially and environmentally responsive, Lumen’s adaptive architecture is inspired by collective levity, play, and interaction as the structure transforms throughout the day and night, responding to the density of bodies, heat, and sunlight. The result of collaboration across disciplines, Lumen applies insights and theories from biology, materials science, mathematics, and engineering—integrating high-performing, formfitting, and adaptive materials into a structure where code, pattern, human interaction, environment, geometry, and matter operate together,” explains MoMA PS1.
Beneath the canopy, 100 robotically woven recycled spool stools and a motion-detecting misting system will allow visitors to relax and cool off out of the heat of the hot New York summer.
“Jenny Sabin's catalytic environment, Lumen, captured the jury's attention for imaginatively merging radical materials with unique spaces,” said Sean Anderson, Associate Curator in MoMA’s Department of Architecture and Design. “With innovative construction and design processes borne from a critical merging of technology and nature to precise attention to detail at every scale, Lumen will no doubt engage visitors from day to night in a series of graduated environments and experiences.”
"Now in its 18th iteration, this annual competition offered jointly by the Architecture and Design Department at MoMA and MoMA PS1 continues to take risks and encourage experimentation among architects," added Klaus Biesenbach, MoMA PS1 Director and MoMA Chief Curator at Large. "Jenny Sabin’s Lumen is a socially and environmentally responsive structure that spans practices and disciplines in its exploratory approach to new materials. Held in tension within the walls of MoMA PS1’s courtyard, Lumen turns visitors into participants who interact through its responsiveness to temperature, sunlight, and movement.”
The other finalists for the 2017 MoMA PS1 Young Architects Program were Bureau Spectacular (Jimenez Lai and Joanna Grant), Ania Jaworska, Office of III (Sean Canty, Ryan Golenberg, and Stephanie Lin), and SCHAUM/SHIEH (Rosalyne Shieh and Troy Schaum). An exhibition of the five finalists' proposed projects will be on view at The Museum of Modern Art from July 1 to September 4, 2017.
Previous winners of the Young Architects Program include Escobedo Soliz Studio’s Weaving the Courtyard (2016), Andrés Jaque / Office for Political Innovation’s COSMO (2015), The Living / David Benjamin's Hy-Fi (2014), CODA / Caroline O'Donnell’s Party Wall (2013), HWKN’s Wendy (2012), Interboro Parners' Holding Pattern (2011), SO-IL's Pole Dance (2010), MOS' Afterparty (2009) and Work AC’s Public Farm 1 (2008).
