Three Corners of the World

As part of University College of Southern Denmark’s (UC SYD) new educational building in Kolding, Kollision won the competition for the design of a permanent integrated light installation. During 2021 and 2022 Kollision refined the winning concept and developed a smooth integration of light sources into the building facade in collaboration with the general contractor C. C. Contractor. The building, designed by Cubo architects, is a triangular six story structure measuring 70m per facade. The main concrete construction is covered by perforated aluminium sheets suspended 15cm from the concrete facade creating a layered interplay between inner and outer facade.

Kollision had the ambition to treat each facade of the building evenly and still the installation should reflect the dynamics and flux of a modern educational institution. Taking departure in the triangular shape of the building the concept of “The Three Corners of the World” evolved. Exploiting an ever changing force Kollision designed a simple concept controlled entirely by the force and direction of the wind pushing light towards the corners of the building. By installing powerful Martin Professional's Exterior Linear Quad Graze RGBW wash lights along the crown moulding, illuminating the space between the concrete wall and perforated facade a dynamic curtain of light occurs in the holes of the aluminium sheets.
The logic of the system tints the curtain of light from white in calm weather to dense full colours as wind speeds increase towards 10m/s. Each of the three corners has its own distinct colour that comes into play when the direction of the wind pushes towards that particular corner leaving the other corners almost in darkness.

As faculty staff and students appropriate the new building during september 2022 the facades will tell the story of the wind forces affecting the building. Most often in subtle white light but during fall the western winds will render the eastern corner of the building in magenta. As the installation is controlled by MAP UC SYD will over the years be able to utilise the installation for specific events or as part of the curriculum in e.g. sound or light design.