Daphne Installation

Daphne Installation

Daphne Installation is a site-specific architectural art installation that exemplifies the innovative use of paper as a transformative architectural material. Created by Japanese design studio 24° Studio, this sophisticated intervention consists of 360 self-supporting paper panels arranged in a geometric pattern that creates an intricate interplay between concealment and revelation within a historic tunneled stairway in Santorini, Greece. The installation, which spans approximately 25 square meters with dimensions of 8000mm length, 3500mm width, and 3000mm height, employs a complex 6-sided star-shaped modular system that generates alternating patterns of solids and voids, enabling viewers to experience both the contemporary intervention and the ancient tunnel walls simultaneously. The design process involved advanced 3D modeling using sophisticated software to optimize the geometry and ensure structural integrity, while the fabrication utilized heavyweight watercolor paper that was precisely cut and pre-folded in Japan before being transported to Greece for assembly. The installation incorporates LED lighting within its hollow panels, creating a dramatic nighttime illumination that transforms the spatial experience and highlights the dialogue between historical and contemporary elements. This groundbreaking work, which earned the prestigious Golden A' Design Award in the Fine Arts and Art Installation Design category, demonstrates exceptional innovation in its approach to temporary architectural interventions, material experimentation, and site-specific design. The installation's deliberate engagement with environmental conditions allows it to evolve over time, as the paper panels age and adapt to local conditions, creating a dynamic commentary on the temporal nature of architectural interventions and the relationship between past, present, and future in built environments.

architectural installation, paper architecture, site-specific art, LED illumination, geometric design, ephemeral architecture

— Adam Dawson