Photoptosis Installation

Photoptosis Installation

Photoptosis Installation is an innovative architectural light sculpture that explores the medium of light as a living, growing material, mirroring natural plant growth patterns through computational design. This sophisticated installation, created by designers Rajat Sodhi and Christoph Klemmt, consists of a triangulated stainless steel surface featuring a branching geometry complemented by side-glowing fiber optic cables that emulate ivy growth patterns. The structure, standing at 3.5 meters in height and spanning 2.5 by 3 meters, demonstrates a remarkable fusion of natural growth simulation and advanced computational architecture. The installation's foundation comprises 100 CNC-cut and CNC-bent stainless steel panels, each 3mm thick, engineered to maintain structural integrity without additional support systems. The lighting system incorporates 200 side-glowing fiber optic cables that branch outward from the base to illuminate each node of the steel surface, creating a mesmerizing interplay of light and form. The design process employed sophisticated venation algorithms that digitally simulate plant growth patterns and vein formation in leaves, resulting in an organic, naturally-evolving aesthetic. This groundbreaking approach to architectural lighting design earned the creation a Golden A' Design Award in the Generative, Algorithmic, Parametric and AI-Assisted Design category, recognizing its innovative integration of natural growth patterns with computational design methodologies. The installation's unique spatial deformation techniques and viewer-dependent lighting distribution demonstrate an advanced understanding of both aesthetic and functional design principles, making it a significant contribution to the field of generative architectural design.

architectural installation, computational design, light sculpture, generative art, parametric architecture, biomimetic design

— Adam Dawson