This outdoor art installation is also a giant water purifier

This enormous structure rises over the courtyard walls of New York's MoMA PS1 and passersby couldn't help but gaze. But what is it?

It's called COSMO, a mobile artifact composed of interconnected pipes, tubes, and liquid tanks, created by Spanish architect Andrés Jaque and his firm Office for Political Innovation. Basically it's a giant water purifier capable of filtering and purifying as many as 3,000 gallons of water over a four-day cycle. When each cycle is complete, the contraption's plastic mesh will glow, providing a backdrop for PS1's summer parties.

The structure, which took home the grand prize for this year's Young Architects Program Competition, can remove suspended particles and nitrates, balance the pH, and increase the level of dissolved oxygen.

"More than 2 billion gallons of water circulate every day beneath New York City," said the firm. "Cosmo is a movable artefact, made out of customised irrigation components, to make visible and enjoyable the so-far hidden urbanism of pipes we live by."

Aside from being a portable water-filtration plant, COSMO also serves as a seating, shading and cooling structure. The outdoor art installation will remain on view at MoMA PS1 until September 6, 2015.

[h/t: Dezeen]

Comments

James DeRosso's ceramic monsters

I really like these whimsical ceramic creatures by James DeRosso. Yes, they have bulging eyes and toothy grins, but they're not scary at all. The Portland-based artist started making cute monsters while he was a student to jokingly create gargoyle-like guardians for the kiln. After other students kept taking his quirky little figures, he realized there was a market for them. "I'm enjoying the whole monster making niche," James says. "It's amazingly gratifying to be doing ceramics full time and especially to be a teacher introducing kids to the joy of clay." Be sure to visit his website and like his Facebook page for the latest monster news.

Julia Lohmann's Highly Imaginative Approach to Product Design

Chess pieces made from animal bones, cowhides reconstructed into benches, lamps created from preserved sheep stomachs, large-scale installations made of edible seaweed: the work of Julia Lohmann is truly unconventional. Born in Germany, Julia uses her materials in a way that transcends their original purpose, creating true art. I made a list of furniture I would buy if I had an unlimited budget, and the Cow Bench is one of them. People say these headless bovine seats look really nice, but wait until they find out they're draped in rawhide. Sitting on one, you feel artificial ribs. Julia studied graphic design at the Surrey Institute and then design products at the Royal College of Art in London. Her work is part of major public and private collections worldwide and has received awards, bursaries and support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the British Council, Jerwood Contemporary Makers, D&AD, Stanley Picker Gallery, the Arts Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. ...

The Adorable Sculptures of Yen Yen Lo

These images are from a series of wall sculptures created by Yen Yen Lo . Here you can see her intricately textured ceramic pieces, looking downright adorable. Yen Yen Lo's eye for the unique and whimsical is delightful. Apparently they are not intended for kids under 16. Fifteen-year-olds cannot be trusted with fragile stuff. Get them a Funko Pop instead.

finding cain

Search This Blog