WATER RECLAMATION FACILITIES, St. Petersburg, Florida, 2009
Commissioner: City of St. Petersburg Reclaimed Water Office
Conceptualized and inspired by a water-measuring instrument and Illuminated at night, amid the recycled glass landscape, the sculpture will reference a number of simultaneous ideas: The shape is inspired by a historical instrument, a 17th-century water clock, the oldest of all time-measuring instruments.
The A-shaped frame, similar to a rendering compass, this architectural sculpture is designed to honor the facility’s commitment to sustainability, acknowledge the water-management debate in Florida, and question how the water is “rendered.” The sculpture will be fabricated in type 316 stainless steel, the most corrosion resistant of any standard catalog material, known as marine grade stainless steel due to its increased resistance to chloride corrosion.
During the day, the photovoltaic cell that is installed within the sculpture will collect energy from the sun, charging the batteries. When enough electricity is stored, the small LEDs light up and glow at night in cobalt blue, which varies according to the amount of the energy the cells have collected.The pulsating of light will simulate the heartbeat of the human body, giving a symbolic connection between the human and nature, as 75% of average adult’s body consists of water.
The viewers can visualize the purity of water by adding a vibrant color in the landscape by using the recycled material. Using 100% recycled glass will give a second life to glass, reinforcing the commitment to the use of reclaimed water environment.