One country that is innovative in its harnessing of power is Iceland, and it doesn't end with geothermal technology. They are considering designs by Choi + Shine (image) to erect power line pylons that depict humanoid figures. The designs can be easily modified to incorporate different poses, adding a stunning and thoughtful element to an otherwise bland structure.
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. [They] 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.
The architectural firm won the 2010 award for unbuilt structure by the Boston Society of Architects, and honorable mention in the Icelandic High-Voltage Electrical Pylon International Design Competition.
Link via Wired Science.
Newest 5 Comments
Awesome. It's nice to see the typical ugliness of necessary structures given some thought and whimsy. Now they need to get to work on dressing up those hideous cell towers I see everywhere. I saw one near Glacier National Park disguised as an evergreen and immediately wondered why it was the only one.
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Additional pylons: You must construct them.
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I love them. They already look like headless men carrying the lines, but adding a head is a great idea!
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Power hungry Icelandic giants! No one is safe!
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I love it! I remember as a small child imagining them to be giant monsters marching across the world. Guess I watched too much Saturday morning television.
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