Michaela Gleave and Aileen Sage Architects
Space-Time Pavilion
Public art/architecture proposal
2018
Renders by Choi Render
Space-Time Pavilion was proposed as a dramatic statement work for South Eveleigh’s Innovation Plaza, Sydney. Considering space and time on a grand scale the project celebrates the innumerable journeys made to the site throughout human history, and the spirit of innovation with which the current precinct was founded. Taking the concept of journeys and navigation as a starting point, the project reflects on the impact the rail network had on society, paying homage to the role trains played in Einstein’s theories and the insights they afforded on the cosmos. Einstein’s famous thought experiment pondered how a lightning strike might appear from inside and outside a fast-moving train, a seemingly simple idea that lead to his General Theory of Relativity and the concept of Space-Time.
The pavilion’s key feature is a mirrored ceiling that stretches down the length of the site. Seven pillars support the ceiling, their size and location informed by the stars of the Seven Sisters star asterism. Modelled using a gravity simulator, the pillars create dramatic indents in the mirrored surface, distorting the reflections of activities underneath and providing focal points for imagination and contemplation. Referencing the importance of celestial navigation to the generations of people who travelled to the site to live and work, the asphalt ground plane of Space-Time Pavilion is scattered with twinkling stars. Programmed LED lights stretch down the length of the site in an accurate map of the night sky, backgrounded by a peppering of mica.
Completing the experience is a multi-channel sound installation that emanates from speakers at the edge of the site. Ambient in tone and tuned to the space the sound becomes apparent in moments of rest, improving safety and encouraging quiet enjoyment outside periods of peak activity. Responding to real-time meteorological and astronomical data, the space-time inspired soundscape is created from a sequence of interweaving layers, using a generative algorithm designed never to repeat. Envisaged as a complete experience, Space-Time Pavilion celebrates the spirit of innovation with which the site was founded and the technological advancements that continue to be developed in the precinct. Playful and joyous, the mirrored surface is a magnet for audience participation, the visual effect changing with the time of day, seasons, and ambient weather conditions to create an ever-shifting reflection of activities on the site. Physically robust and accommodating of heavy traffic, Space-Time Pavilion is at once an immersive art experience and a flexible stage for activities and events; an active and engaging space that reflects the values and spirit of the precinct.
Project team:
Lead artist - Michaela Gleave
Architects - Aileen Sage Architects
Fabrication Consultants - Event Engineering
Sound Design concept - James Brown
Lighting Design concept - Fausto Brusamolino