For the EMSCHERKUNST.2013, the Berlin artist, Reiner Maria Matysik created at the mouth of the Emscher and the Rhine river the artwork, named “Fluss wird Wolke” (“River becomes a cloud”). This artwork consisted of a cloud machine and a building constructed in sphere shapes. The artwork’s highlight is that the soap bubble -like building is designed as an accessible art installation.
Here, where the Emscher falls several meters into the Rhine, the artist, using a cloud machine, “lifts” the Emscher into the air. In the residential architecture, because of its spheres, looks like a cloud, the visitors cannot only learn all about this airy building, but also stay here overnight. The artist has created in its architecture, clouds and overnight accommodations including an airy two-person bed.
The following requirements were demanded by the artwork’s design and were complied to by ACCENTform.
The spherical enclosures were designed 4 m (13 feet) and 2.50 m (8 feet) in diameter. The spheres´ production in this size was particularly economical, because ACCENTform already had the production molds for these dimensions. Each orb was made as a one-piece object; dividing lines are only at the interfaces between the spheres. Three large orbs were manufactured of 4m (13 feet) in diameter.
The seamless creation of the individual spheres was very advantageous, because no signs of the segment divisions are visible on the surface.
One challenging element was due to its large dimensions of up to 4 meters (13 feet). Thus, the pre-assembled spherical house had to be transported to the mouth of the Emscher and the Rhine rivers by special transport. Both the construction, supervision, and the static of the construction required that the spheres must withstand a certain load. The load is understood to be rain, snow, wind and/or people. That’s why ACCENTform used its own self-test: several staff members stood on the structure, whereby the load of 800kg was ascertained.
The performance of the GRP material is particularly apparent in the proportion of sphere sizes up to 4 meters (13 feet) and including wall thicknesses of only 5 mm (1/5 inch).
Outside, the spheres have been coated with water-based façade colours; inside, the spherical house was sealed with a topcoat. This method ensures a reproducible smooth surface for all further shuttering oil treatments.
Further descriptions:
- Corrosion resistant
- Lightness of weight
- Economic
- Artwork, Art
- High stability
- Does not rot
- Maintenance-free
- Chemically-resistant
- Anti-magnetic
- Fiberglas sculpture
- Freeform surface
- Spherical house
