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LAND OF GIANTS – Choi and Shine Architects

This design transforms mundane electrical pylons into statues on the Icelandic landscape.

Este diseño se transforma mundanas torres de alta tensión en estatuas en el paisaje de Islandia.

More images at bottom

LAND OF GIANTS
“This design transforms mundane electrical pylons into statues on the Icelandic landscape.
Making only minor alterations to well established steel-framed tower design, we have created a series of towers that are powerful, solemn and variable. These iconic pylon-figures will become monuments in the landscape. Seeing the pylon- figures will become an unforgettable experience, elevating the towers to something more than merely a functional design of necessity.
The pylon-figures can be configured to respond to their environment with appropriate gestures. As the carried electrical lines ascend a hill, the pylon-figures change posture, imitating a climbing person. Over long spans, the pylon-figure stretches to gain increased height, crouches for increased strength or strains under the weight of the wires.
In addition, the pylon-figures can also be arranged to create a sense of place through deliberate expression. Subtle alterations in the hands and head combined with repositioning of the main body parts in the x, y and z-axis, allow for a rich variety of expressions. The pylon-figures can be placed in pairs, walking in the same direction or opposite directions, glancing at each other as they pass by or kneeling respectively, head bowed at a town.
Despite the large number of possible forms, each pylon-figure is made from the same major assembled parts (torso, fore arm, upper leg, hand etc.) and uses a library of pre-assembled joints between these parts to create the pylon-figures’ appearance. This design allows for many variations in form and height while the pylon-figures’ cost is kept low through identical production, simple assembly and construction.
The pylon-figures are designed to provide supports for the conductors, ground wires and other cables all within required clearances. These clearances are maintained in the various shown positions. The towers are largely self-supporting, sitting on concrete footings, perhaps with the addition of guy wires, depending on requirements of the loading wires.
Like the statues of Easter Island, it is envisioned that these one hundred and fifty foot tall, modern caryatids will take on a quiet authority, belonging to their landscape yet serving the people, silently transporting electricity across all terrain, day and night, sunshine or snow.”

TIERRA DE GIGANTES
Este diseño se transforma las mundanas torres de alta tensión en estatuas en el paisaje de Islandia.
Al hacer sólo pequeñas alteraciones para diseñar la torre bien establecida con armazón de acero, hemos creado una serie de torres que son poderosos, solemnes  y variables. Esta icónica torre se convertirá en monumentos en el paisaje. Al ver la torre de las figuras se convertirá en una experiencia inolvidable, elevando las torres para algo más que un diseño funcional de necesidad.
La torre de las figuras se puede configurar para responder a su entorno con gestos apropiados. Como las líneas eléctricas llevadas a ascender una colina, la postura cambia, imitando a una persona que sube. Para grandes luces, la poste se estira para ganar una altura mayor, se agacha para una mayor resistencia o las tensiones bajo el peso de los cables.
Además, la torre también pueden ser organizadas para crear un sentido de lugar, mediante la expresión deliberada. alteraciones sutiles en las manos y la cabeza junto con una reubicación de las partes del cuerpo principal  permiten una rica variedad de expresiones. La torre de las figuras se pueden colocar en parejas, caminar en la misma dirección o en direcciones opuestas, mirando el uno al otro a medida que pasan o de rodillas, respectivamente, la cabeza inclinada a un pueblo.
Pese al gran número de formas posibles, cada figura poste se hace de la mismas partes principales montadas (torso, antebrazo, muslo, mano, etc) y utiliza una biblioteca de articulaciones pre-ensamblados entre estas partes para crear las figuras. Este diseño permite muchas variaciones en la forma y la altura de la torre mientras que el costo se mantiene bajo a través de la producción idéntica, el simple montaje y la construcción.
Las figuras están diseñados para proporcionar apoyos para los conductores, cables de tierra y otros cables en todos los espacios requeridos.

Las torres son cimentadas en bases de concreto,  dependiendo de las exigencias de los cables de carga.
Al igual que las estatuas de la Isla de Pascua, se prevé que estas ciento cincuenta pies de altura, cariátides modernas asumirán una autoridad tranquila, que pertenece a su paisaje y sin embargo, servil al pueblo, en silencio, de transporte de electricidad en todos los terrenos, día y noche, bajo sol o nieve.

Comments for this entry

Really Love it. I just wish America Would do something like yall.

jack

Open letter to architects and wannabe structural engineers. Put down photoshop and pick up a shovel.

GurneyHalleck

Nice idea, but one that will never see fruition. Art and engineering only combine when the engineer can afford to fund the project himself. No municipality would agree to spend millions on such an essentially frivolous idea, no matter how appealing.

alejolivera

I agree with the comments. I also think that if these ideas are carried out, is because they are profitable in some way. Today money is the boss. And this proposal does not have what you need. Beginning because it is in the middle of desert land as shown in the photos.
Greetings and thanks for the comments.

For all the praise this design seems to be getting all around the internet, has anyone mentioned – they’re really not that attractive. Besides, as far as I’m concerned, I’d rather utility transportation methods remain as out of site as possible. How am I going to enjoy this picture perfect Icelandic countryside with a giant erector set in the way?

Sflcowgirl

Making the best of a necessary evil. Can you imagine an entire planet littered with these figures….they are littered anyway. Are we not on the cutting edge of wireless technology -

It’s an remarkable post in favor of all the online viewers; they will obtain benefit from it I am sure.

[...] asemejarse a una intervención artística dentro del paisaje.Igual a lo que vimos en el post de Land of Giants, las obras de ingeniería toman un doble significado para tornarse mucho mas representativas que un [...]

I love the creative rendition of an ordinary eyesore. Very nice!

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