matthew soules suspends pyramidal plant architecture in vancouver

matthew soules suspends pyramidal plant architecture in vancouver
images by krista jahnke

suspended above visitors to the harmony arts festival, ‘vermilion sands’ by matthew soules architecture transforms west vancouver’s millennium park into an experiential and immersive space. a canopy made from 260 custom-fabricated modules — pyramidal in shape — are wrapped in lush plant life, both providing shade and animating the landscape with dynamic shadows. each singular unit has been crafted from a wire frame, covered in a geotextile fabric and sprayed with a hydro-seeding mixture, of either perennial rye grass or white clover. finally, the modules have been placed in a nursery, where the foliage was cultivated for a period of 1 month.

installation of ‘vermilion sands’ at the harmony arts festival

integrated within the structure is a series of misting nozzles, which keep the plants moist while also creating a dense, fog-like visual effect. LED lights illuminate the roof at night in hues of deep blues and greens. the repetition of geometries forms a 3-dimensional configuration, which draws influence from canadian artist B.C. binning’s pattern-making and textured compositions. since the installation is composed of a thriving plant material, the canopy also acts as an exploration of the relationship between the artificial and natural.

lush green plant life wraps the pyramidal canopy roof

LED lights add color to the installation at night

watering the plant life