5-year-old’s sketch turns light mast into luminous bird's nest installation in estonia

velvet and un-like perch nest along port in estonia

Once a major submarine shipyard established before World War I, the Noblessner port in Tallinn, Estonia has now been turned into a seafront quarter open to the public and to the sea. Here, a large elegant, illuminated bird’s nest perches at the top of a former lighting mast and combines metal and light art. Aptly titled Nest, the installation is commissioned by real estate developers Merko Ehitus Eesti and brought to life by Estonian design agency Velvet and lighting design studio UN-LIKE. It is crafted from repurposed materials, giving new meaning to the long-unused structure that once littered the environment. Its conception is inspired by five-year-old Stina Onemar, who envisioned a bird’s nest adorning the rusted mast, realized to enliven the urban space and instil appreciation for old and disused industrial objects.

all images courtesy of Velvet

a rusting light mast turned into an art installation

The young artist, Stina Onemar, drew a blueprint that became the basis for the design and the implementation by Velvet and UN-LIKE. The eggs are crafted from polyethene using rotational molding technology, the material minimizing maintenance and making the eggs weather resistant. The material has been tested both at the seaside and freezing Arctic conditions. The branches of the nest, meanwhile, are shaped from materials found from construction sites and hand-picked for the final design. Leftover roof edge trim had the necessary flexibility for bending, weaving, and seamlessly intertwining the material around the steel frame to support the eggs. They also act as reflectors for the installed lighting, complementing the overall aesthetic of the installation.

The design of the nest incorporates the natural ageing process caused by the weather. The metal components are painted to match the rusted mast, but over time, wear and patina will increasingly blend the Nest with the mast. ‘Just as stork nests gradually become intertwined with human-made objects, this installation seamlessly weaves itself into the urban fabric,’ notes the team at Velvet.

the eggs are powered by LED lighting and maintained at optimal brightness

branches are shaped from materials found from construction sites

visible from multiple angles and heights, and aesthetically pleasing both up close and from a distance

created from a former light pole, the installation utilizes resources already present in the environment

the installation serves as a landmark, visible both from the nearby road and to ships at sea

the light installation enlivens the public space during daylight

the Noblessner port in Tallinn wsas once a major submarine shipyard established before World War I

the young designer checking in on the progress of her ideas

sketch by a 5-year-old girl that inspired the installation and fueled the creative process

project info:

name: Nest

designer: Kristel Linnutaja (Velvet) | Triinu Triibmann, Diederik Kales, Sander Vislapuu (UN-LIKE)

creative concept: Stina Onemar

sculptural design and build: Fuse Engineering (Kristjan Silmann)

engineering: Merko Ehitus Eesti (Peeter Paane, Vaiko Viitmann)

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: ravail khan | designboom