#LANDSCAPING AND URBAN PLANNING PROJECTS
SOFTlab's nova pavilion reflects kaleidoscopic views of new york's flatiron district
at the foot of new york’s soaring flatiron building, local design studio SOFTlab has built an aluminum pavilion that reflects and reveals kaleidoscopic views of the surrounding cityscape.
‘nova’, commissioned by the flatiron 23rd street partnership following a competition by the van alen institute, offers glimpses of the ever-shifting landscape of neighboring towers and bustling pedestrian traffic through a series of scopes. visitors entering the vibrantly colored gazebo can gaze at the atmosphere outside by peering through a set of angular apertures, each framing the environment in geometric and abstract perspectives. the scopes, each pointing in a different direction, form a shape that is different from all sides at street level, but resembles a seven pointed star from above.
working together with 3M, SOFTlab clad the interior of the structure in acrylic laminated with 3M dichroic film. the shimmering color-shifting film changes in saturation and reflectivity depending on the angle, turning each viewing cone into a pedestrian scale kaleidoscope.
the pavilion is made of a modular system developed in collaboration with arup. on the outside, the structure comprises a lightweight aluminum shell that gains its strength through a cell-like structure. each unit is made of two dimensional panels that are attached together to form a three dimensional cell. these pieces are then joined to create a structurally stable dome in its center, with each scope acting as an arch. the seven vaulted areas unite to form a very stable structure that has a larger platonic half sphere at its base, but also exhibits the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the cell-like system.
the synthesis between the dichroic film and the mirror-finished aluminum panels turns the pavilion into an immersive kaleidoscope, remixing the urban context in unusual and unexpected ways. by night, the composite exterior reflects the light of moving vehicles, passing pedestrians and glow from the adjacent buildings, creating an ever-changing dynamic interplay between the ‘nova’ and its big city surroundings.
