Green Void by LAVA

Architects LAVA have created an installation called Green Void in the central atrium of Customs House in Sydney, Australia.

The lightweight Lycra sculpture hovers within the Customs House atrium, taking in Café Sydney’s top floor position stretching to the model of Sydney incased in the glass floor at ground level. The translucent fabric allows ample amounts of sunlight through from the atrium some 5 floors above creating a surreal experience as the surroundings take on a lime green glow. At night the structure is illuminated to take on the look of lava bubbling up from a volcano.

The design and fabrication procedure uses state-of-the-art digital work flow; beginning with 3D computer modeling, that is engineered structurally before undergoing a process of computer controlled (CNC) material cutting and mechanical re-seaming.

The computer-model, based on the simulation of complexity in naturally evolving systems, feeds directly into a production-line of sail-making-software and digital manufacturing.

“We wanted to see how far we could take the idea of creating more space with less material, filling 3000 cubic meters, the equivalent of 8 million cola cans, with a minimal surface of 300 square meters weighting only 40 kg.”, emphasises Tobias Wallisser Director of LAVA Europe and professor of Digital Design at the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart.

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