"You and I wandering on the snake's tail" spirals wooden triangles around an empty center. Each equilateral triangle offsets slightly from the previous, rotating incrementally as the structure descends. The tips spiral inward and down, terminating below ground level. The mathematical spiral produces organic appearance-viewing angles alter perceived structural relationships. Visitors walk through the open center, experiencing the spiral from within. Originally created for Lichtparcour Braunschweig, the pavilion now resides at ARKEN Museum. Sensor-controlled lighting activates at night, emphasizing the spiral geometry. The wooden slats, suspended on steel cables, combine structural lightness with visual presence.
Research: Equilateral triangles position along a helical path with two parameters: vertical descent rate and rotational offset per step. The computational challenge: calculating offset angles that produce smooth spiral while ensuring structural connections between adjacent triangles. Each triangle suspends from steel cables, requiring precise anchor point calculations for load distribution. The spiral's pitch and radius determine the overall form-tighter spirals produce dense structures, looser spirals emphasize openness. Sensor-controlled lighting required integration with the geometric framework, positioning lights to emphasize spiral continuity.
Photography: Thilo Frank
thilofrank.net
