Lightweave | FUTUREFORMS

Firm： FUTUREFORMS

Type： Cultural › Pavilion Sculpture Landscape + Planning › Public Park Transport + Infrastructure › Train/Subway Bridge Bicycles

STATUS： Built

YEAR： 2019

SIZE： 10,000 sqft - 25,000 sqft

BUDGET： $500K - 1M

A SERPENTINE CHANDELIER THAT BRINGS LIGHT, INTERACTIVITY AND PLAYFULNESS TO AN UNDERPASS IN WASHINGTON DC’S NOMA DISTRICT

Lightweave is a permanent public artwork located in Washington DC’s NOMA district. It translates ambient sounds from the city into dynamic auroras of patterned LED light. Slowly changing effects are activated by the noise and vibration of passing trains, cars and other sounds from the neighborhood. Lightweave animates the underpass and creates a meditative and interactive urban experience.

The artwork consists of six 65’ long curvaceous sections (390’ total) of suspended stainless steel and LED lattices. Each section contains 26 computer-controlled LED modules. The artwork is mounted ~11’ above the sidewalk on a steel column and beam structure that does not touch the underpass above in any way. Sensors embedded a various locations in each section feed information to a computer which triggers variable and overlapping responses from the LEDS.

Typical sound events in the immediate area range from 50dB+ (passing automobiles in the tunnel) to 100dB+ (train horns). Lightweave translates these sound events into fluid wave patterns of light. Similar to dropping a single pebble into an undisturbed pond, waves of light slowly oscillate through the Lightweave. Multiple sounds will create dynamic visual overlaps. The quality and placement of lighting elements will enhance safety and comfort.