moradavaga's sunwheel installation for são joão festivities in porto

moradavaga’s sunwheel installation for são joão festivities in porto

portuguese-italian studio moradavaga, on invitation from porto lazer, were given the opportunity to develop an installation for the city’s annual são joão festivities. the work, ‘sunwheel’, draws connections between traditional water mill wheels and pagan rituals of the summer solstice — the latter from which the christian patron festival is derived.

‘sunwheel’ is a site-specific interactive installation designed by moradavaga
all images © moradavaga

implanted inside porto, portugal’s álvaro siza fountain, the piece measures eight meters in diameter, and features hundreds of small golden plates. each capable of independent movement, wind and light variations, as well as the speed of rotation — users can rotate the work — produce a diverse range of visual effects throughout the day and night. the changing nature of ‘sunwheel’ extends to the water below, creating a spontaneous combination of reflecting surfaces.

video courtesy of moradavaga

hundreds of golden moving plates produce diverse lighting effects throughout the day and night

‘sunwheel’ is supported by a rotating iron base

varying reflections and movements reflecting on the water 

the piece draws from traditional water mill wheels, and is linked to pagan rituals of the summer solstice

random reflections

looking up at the golden panels

the ‘sun’ is rotatable by users

installation detail

‘sunwheel’ by moradavaga

the installation implanted porto’s main avenue fountain

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: nick brink | designboom

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