swell installation by we+ vizualizes the movement of wind and light

designed by japanese studio we+, ‘swell’ is an installation that visualizes wind and light movement through pieces of meshed fabric with over 300,000 small mirrors attached to them. nine wide screens of four different sizes were installed in the courtyard of an urban district in the center of tokyo. carefully positioned, each piece captures different aspects of the surroundings by following the wind flow and reflecting light, and creates stereophonic scenery.

the gentle movement of the installation allows the reflection of light and surroundings to be seen as if they were ‘hidden’ behind a mesh. experiencing these phenomena encapsulates a comfortable space as the pieces move like a creature breathing, revealing various aspects of the environment from day and night.

we+ is a contemporary design studio established in 2013 by toshiya hayashi and hokuto ando based in tokyo. the designers develop their experimental approach to products, installations, and graphics, by combining unconventional materials and technology to shift perspectives. 

project info:

design: we+

collaborator: NBC meshtec inc

location: tokyo

mirrors size: 10mm x 20mm

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: maria erman | designboom