‘LED clouds in amsterdam’ by sophie valla architectsproject in contextimage © marcus koppen

 

 

the construction of the north-south subway presented amsterdam north with the opportunity to turn the center of district into a park. sinking the nieuwe leeuwarderweg highway by seven meters allowed to merge three existing green spaces to create a central recreational zone for the residents of the area. located in a site where two gas stations from the eighties were going to be demolished, buildings mirror each other on both sides of the entrance – uniquely suited for public gathering.

 

the light installations by sophie valla architects under the flat roofing are the outstanding feature of the remodeled structures. sixty textile panels made from the fabrics used in advertising were cut to various sizes to meet the dimensions of the existing structure; forming an LED-like screen that can be programed independently. the textiles were combined with colorful spotlights in a giant puzzle, creating a 10m x 40m artificial sky. dynamic light animations lasting 30 minutes mimic shifting cloudy dutch skies, where twenty fluctuating skies re-create scenarios of bright and stormy days from sunrise to sunset. like a sophisticated carpet sitting on a lawn, concrete slabs laid out in an attractive pattern outline a conspicuously stylish urban spot in the grassy field of the park.

 

 

sophie valla architects: LED clouds in amsterdam animation ‘good weather’image © marcus koppen

 

 

sophie valla architects: LED clouds in amsterdam highway viewimage © marcus koppen

 

 

sophie valla architects: LED clouds in amsterdam public spaceimage © marcus koppen

 

 

sophie valla architects: LED clouds in amsterdam animation storm 1image © marcus koppen

 

sophie valla architects: LED clouds in amsterdam animation storm 2image © marcus koppen

 

 

sophie valla architects: LED clouds in amsterdam light sunsetimage © marcus koppen

 

 

sophie valla architects: LED clouds in amsterdam light starsimage © marcus koppen

 

 

sophie valla architects: LED clouds in amsterdam reuse gas stationimage © marcus koppen

 

 

project information:

 

credits: pavilions and led cloud
client: amsterdam north city
concept and design: sophie valla architects
team: sophie valla and ivo jelinek
construction: van eden bouwconstructies bv
light supplies: inventdesign 
contractor: interieurbouw coen winkel

 

 

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