- archive play for now with some uber-rare design sketches -
In 1890 some English have found that the Eiffel Tower had become an important asset for France and for Paris, noting in passing that his visitors had already reported more than the cost of its construction only during the Expo, and so they decided embarking on the construction of a tower at least as important in London.
To this end they organized a design competition to select the shape that this tower should have, there were 68 responses from across solutions with more or less inventive.
check – out the First and Second place winners [designs 37,51]
All images come from a book that brings together all the proposals and you can see here
The clock has been called Aluna [very obvious name]. It is a word from the Kogi indigenous people of Colombia[100% understood]. Ms Williams. “It means memory, possibility, it’s also being in tune with the planet’s rhythms and living in harmony with our planet.”
London’s Science Museum curator David Rooney, is also involved with the project.
He said that people had become “completely besotted with clocks and watches”.
“Isn’t it about time that we looked up and out a little bit to those natural time cycles of this spinning rock underneath that Moon we all see?
“It’s these time cycles that we human beings are wired to – the patterns of day and night.”
The Creator of Aluna
Artist Laura Williams is the creator of the Aluna clock. Laura wanted to create an inspiration that would teach the public that the natural rhythms of water are being ignored at our own peril. Laura considers the project to be a mixture of art, science and spirituality.
Quotes of the artist on the design
“There are three giant concentric rings made from recycled glass, light shines through from the glass in time with the Moon’s cycles so the largest ring shows the lunar phase.”
“Gradually the light waxes on all the way around the ring and connects full circle when it’s full Moon.”
“The second ring is like the big hand of the clock. It’s a marker of light that tracks the Moon around the globe so that’s the lunar day cycle.”
“The third ring – the smallest – is the small hand that tracks the tide as it goes from high tide to low.”
Aluna 3D Film
Features of Aluna
Aluna features three concentrically constructed glass rings. The rings will be made of recycled glass. Each ring will be illuminated by LED lights that will show the different phases of the moon. The illumination of light showing these phases will be called Aluna time. Aluna will be powered by the tides of the Thames River. Once Aluna is up and running, it is said to be able to generate enough revenue by producing enough energy to light 200 homes in its home city of London. They Mayor of London has a climate change action plan that intends to spearhead the energy revolution. Initial talks have been held with the landowners, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and London’s Borough of Tower Hamlets regarding the potential location of the clock project. It will be considered a legacy for London that will bring a positive impact on the regeneration efforts of East London and the Thames Gateway. The Greenwich Council has given their endorsement of the project and is now hoping to bring the project to the Thames by 2012.
The Aluna designers see the sculpture as a combination of artistic, scientific and educational project. People will be able to “interact” with the Aluna, walk around the sculpture, enjoy the large space in its centre, and sit on the lower part of the Lunar Phase ring.
via The Future of things website (+), Onlineclock Blog (+)
