Three mirror-polished lifebuoys handcrafted in stainless steel illustrate the potential rise in water levels caused by climate change. The project is called “New Ark” and serves as functional decoration of the passageway behind Aarhus School of Architecture, which is now a seating area for guests and residents of the neighborhood.
The oversized rings, measuring approximately two meters in diameter, are surrounded by more than 100 unique concrete tiles that simulate the ripples in the rising water as rainwater settles in the reliefs.
The impressive architectural artwork has won the City Architect's Special Award at the Aarhus Architecture Awards.
With an advanced artistic foundation, detailed technical drawing was a requirement for accurate production of the mirror-polished lifebuoys.
The practical use of the rings also required extensive product maturation to ensure their durability when used as seating furniture. It also entailed a thorough optimization of material utilization to achieve the perfect balance that takes into account cost, material waste and expected load.