Overall View
Shaped by storm data, Arc visually conveys real-time wind conditions with color and movement.
Commissioned by Miami-Dade Art in Public Places and the City of Aventura, ‘Arc’ reimagines the destructive force of Hurricane Wilma as a source of renewal and inspiration. The project originated from a desire to transform the aftermath of the storm, that in 2005, left the original library site in ruins.
Arc is inspired by and reflects back, the beauty and power of nature.
Data Driven Form
Curvilinear form derived from Hurricane Wilma's speed, direction and duration data during time the previous library was destroyed.
Dynamic Illumination
Lighting responds to wind speeds creating a dynamic visual dialogue with the environment through color waves moving across the form.
Augmented Reality
Mobile app uses AR to project real-time wind-driven animations onto Arc, bluring the lines between digital and physical realms.
The sculptural form was developed in plan, section and elevation using the wind speed, direction and duration during the block of time that Hurricane Wilma made landfall and passed through the area of the site.
The final sculpture was engineered and fabricated directly using the specific computer model that Depeña developed from this data in his studio.
Beyond its static form, “Arc” is imbued with a layer of interactivity and responsiveness through a wind sensor mounted on the library roof.
This sensor feeds wind data into a custom hardware and software setup, allowing the sculpture’s lighting to dynamically reflect current wind conditions. The visual effect is a captivating display of colors that shift along a spectrum from cool to warm hues, corresponding to the wind’s velocity, thereby making the invisible forces of nature perceptible to the human eye. Slower winds equal cooler colors, while stronger winds reach into the warmer spectrum.
The wind’s direction is subtly revealed through color waves and pulses moving across the sculpture according to the current speed/gusts.
Augmented Reality Test Video
Installation Video
“Arc’s” form was generated using wind data taken from Hurricane Wilma that demolished the library that previously existed on the site. Depeña studied and tested the wind data in various forms prior to choosing the sculpture’s curvilinear form. The sculptural form was developed in plan, section and elevation using the wind speed, direction and duration during the block of time that Hurricane Wilma made landfall and passed through the area of the site. The final sculpture was engineered and fabricated directly using the specific computer model that Depeña developed from this data in his studio. The sculpture’s lighting is activated by a wind sensor (anemometer) on the roof of the library. Using a custom hardware and software combination, the wind data information is being used to control the lighting of the work at night. Slower winds equal cooler colors, while stronger winds reach into the warmer spectrum. The wind’s direction is subtly revealed through color waves and pulses moving across the sculpture according to the current speed/gusts. The overall effect is a mesmerizing visual representation of an otherwise invisible natural force. In addition, Depeña created a mobile application that uses augmented reality to interpret current wind data and overlay real time, curvilinear animations onto the sculpture itself using the camera from a mobile device such as a phone or tablet.