Optic Garden / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx

Optic Garden / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx - WindowsOptic Garden / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx - WindowsOptic Garden / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx - ColumnOptic Garden / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx - Image 5 of 11Optic Garden / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx - More Images+ 6

Johannesburg, South Africa

Text description provided by the architects. The Optic Garden functions as a sculpture on a traffic island celebrating the 2010 World Cup and marking one of the major routes to the inner-city match venues. The project was commissioned by the Johannesburg Development Agency as part of a citywide public art program leading up to the 2010 World Cup.

Be sure to take a look at the video, drawings, and photographs following the break.

Optic Garden / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx - Windows
© John Hodgkiss

The standard chevron sign is used as ‘drawing material’ with 195 signs ‘planted’ to form an optic mass measuring 30m x 6m in plan. Red and white patterning associated with the traffic signs is adapted to outline an iconic image, visible from the exact point of perspective of a driver approaching Johannesburg.

As one rounds a bend in the approach road, the field of signs converges and aligns to reveal the outlines of a soccer playing field. Upon passing, the image fragments back into the individual signs - alluding to the temporary nature of sports events and their potential to bring people together. At night the lights of approaching cars and taxis highlight and animate the reflective surfaces effectively doing away with the need for additional artificial lighting.

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Project location

Address:Johannesburg, South Africa

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Optic Garden / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx" 08 Dec 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/94005/optic-garden-2610-south-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

© John Hodgkiss

光学花园 / 26’10 south Architects and Maja Marx

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