hou de sousa's iridescent ziggy installation opens in new york

as part of 2019’s flatiron public plaza holiday design competition, architecture studio hou de sousa has won first prize with ‘ziggy’ – a sinuous light installation bursting with color. located between broadway, 5th ave and 23rd street in new york city, the pavilion celebrates the festive season with vibrant hues and playful gestures.

‘ziggy’ was the winning entry in this year’s flatiron public plaza holiday design competition, hosted by the flatiron/23rd street partnership and the van alen institute

all images courtesy of hou de sousa (unless otherwise stated)

built on a triangular plot, the design by hou de sousa winds itself within the tight site constraints and adopts a footprint that echoes the surrounding architecture. the installation, which is constructed from 27,000 feet of iridescent cord, invites passersby to sit, interact and take photos amid the bright lights and colorful patterns.

the project is primarily composed of rebar, paracord and zip ties

a collection of apertures and thresholds frame views of the flatiron district’s attractions and landmarks while also welcoming visitors to sit and interact with the structure. for those seeking a moment of respite, the design is accentuated by several ‘upside-down gateways’, which have been upended to function as benches.

ziggy as seen from 5th avenue, looking east towards madison park

the thin linear elements that define ziggy’s porous composition are lightweight, visually transparent and impervious to wind. as one encounters the piece, its 27,000 feet of iridescent cord visually converge and dynamically filter the surrounding context through shifting patterns, color and light. in short, ziggy is a kaleidoscopic beacon dedicated to the people of new york.

visitors interacting with the installation

image © cameron blaylock

ziggy frames several new york icons, including the empire state building, and of course, the flatiron building

image © cameron blaylock

essentially a porous wall, ‘ziggy’ defines boundaries and pockets of space while also allowing a free flow of circulation through its thresholds

framing the south west view with 27,000 feet of iridescent cord

photoshoot

an ember in the morning fog

more photoshoots…

ziggy from above

axonometric proposal image

project info:

project name: ziggy

design: hou de sousa

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom