Silo 468

“Silo 468” is part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 program, and it was designed by Lighting Design Collective of Madrid, Spain. The idea behind the concept is to reflect Kruunuvuorenranta’s nearly 90-year history as an industrial area, as well as its future as a residential district. Viewed from afar, Silo468 shines like a large lantern, while inside the silo awaits an impressive world of red light. Sunlight fills the space with dappled shadows creating a spectacular daytime space. At night 1,280 white LED ́s flicker and sway on the surface of the silo software mimicking swarms of birds in flight – a reference to silo ́s seaside location. In order to achieve a perpetually original sequence, several parameters were mixed together to create this stunning result: processed video animation of birds, wind-direction via RSS feed, and local temperature via temperature sensors. The challenge was the low operation temperature, which can drop to negative 30 degrees. Special thermo-sensors were installed to protect the products from harm by preheating and then switching off the Dot XLs when temperatures reached -20 degrees. The enduring fascination of the complex movement of light and its location by the sea make Silo468 a captivating experience for the visitors and the residents of Helsinki.