Crowd pleaser: LOT’s Flatiron Plaza installation opens to the public
‘Flatiron Sky-Line’, the first large public installation from New York-based architects studio LOT, has opened in Flatiron Plaza. The structure is made of colliding arches, which are studded with LED lights and hung with hammocks. Now opened, the installation has been finished off with the final addition to complete its structure – people.
Built specifically for the area, a busy thoroughfare surrounded by landmark buildings, the architects wanted an installation that would be visually impactful from all angles, rooftop to eye level.
With the location in mind, LOT directors Leonidas Trampoukis and Eleni Petaloti were keen to create a place that people would interact with. ‘People use this particular plaza as a resting spot during the day, as a meeting point and a site for contemplation within the busy intersection,’ says Trampoukis. ‘We wanted to embrace this intense atmosphere with an installation that is conceptually linked with all these practical and emotional states.’
The installation garnered a lot of attention during the installation: ‘There were hundreds of people gathering around during the three days of installation while the area was still blocked off wanting to jump on the hammocks, photographing the surrounding landmarks through the white structure,’ says Trampoukis, who sees the crowd as a compliment to the simplicity of the structure.
While the structure has been designed site specifically, the architects also wanted it to be an ‘abstract universal installation that celebrates interaction between the public and the surrounding context by experiencing the surroundings through a different lens’. They explain: ‘Although the structure draws its geometry from the New York site, it is a free-standing interactive art installation that will activate and light up other public spaces where it can be installed and engage in "conversation" with the new context and people.’
INFORMATION
’Flatiron Sky-Line’ will be on view until 2 January 2017. For more information, visit the LOT website
ADDRESS
Flatiron Plaza
E 23rd St
New York, NY 10010
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Harriet Thorpe is a writer, journalist and editor covering architecture, design and culture, with particular interest in sustainability, 20th-century architecture and community. After studying History of Art at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Journalism at City University in London, she developed her interest in architecture working at Wallpaper* magazine and today contributes to Wallpaper*, The World of Interiors and Icon magazine, amongst other titles. She is author of The Sustainable City (2022, Hoxton Mini Press), a book about sustainable architecture in London, and the Modern Cambridge Map (2023, Blue Crow Media), a map of 20th-century architecture in Cambridge, the city where she grew up.
-
In new movie ‘La Chimera’, Josh O’Connor’s suit tells a story of its own
As Alice Rohrwacher’s magical Cannes-approved ‘La Chimera’ hits cinemas today (10 May 2024), costume designer Loredana Buscemi unpacks the archaeological tale’s wardrobe – including Josh O’Connor’s storytelling suiting
By Zoe Whitfield Published
-
10 things to do in Cannes, beyond the red carpet
The French Riviera has long drawn those looking for refuge, restoration and red carpets. Whatever your reason for visiting Cannes, we reveal the highlights of a sojourn in the film capital of France
By Imogen Green Published
-
California houses: the allure of their progressive, expressive architecture
Michael Webb’s new book, ‘California Houses: Creativity in Context’, assembles 36 contemporary homes that showcase the state’s reputation as a haven for progressive residential design
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
California houses: the allure of their progressive, expressive architecture
Michael Webb’s new book, ‘California Houses: Creativity in Context’, assembles 36 contemporary homes that showcase the state’s reputation as a haven for progressive residential design
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Ray Kappe's only house outside the US brings California modernism to Berlin
A passionate owner brings Ray Kappe's brand of Californian modernism to Berlin with this new residence; the architect's only home outside the USA
By Craig Kellogg Published
-
Designer Holly Waterfield creates luxurious pied-à-terre in Renzo Piano Manhattan high-rise
A private residence by Holly Waterfield Interior Design in Renzo Piano's skyscraper 565 Broome Soho blends a sense of calm and cosiness with stunning city views
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
Cubitts Mercer Street in New York is a moody ‘treasure box’ of depth and drama
Cubitts Mercer Street opens in New York to a concept by London-based studio Tutto Bene, offering sleek details and moody design
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A guide to Frank Gehry's architecture: mesmerising, expressive and sometimes controversial
Canadian-American Frank Gehry has earned his position in the hall of fame of contemporary architects through a wealth of groundbreaking designs; here, we explore why, how, and his key projects
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Sunset Islands home ‘is a beauty’, says F1 legend Eddie Irvine
As the Formula One Miami Grand Prix kicks off, we tour Sunset Islands Residence by Strang Design, a Florida home for race legend Eddie Irvine
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
One Domino Square: Brooklyn’s iridescent skyscraper is an Annabelle Selldorf first
We quiz New York architect Annabelle Selldorf on One Domino Square in Williamsburg, her first residential skyscraper, with apartments going on the market today
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
Pioneering Miami residences by Aston Martin aim to capture the imagination
Marek Reichman on the creation of the new Miami residences by Aston Martin, the brand’s new design showpiece
By Jonathan Bell Published