BALANCE ARCHITECTS

  • Projects
  • About
  • Contact
  • Projects
  • About
  • Contact

The Marionette

TYPE:                    Competition
LOCATION:          Montreal, QC
CLIENT:                Quartier Des Spectacles
TEAM:                  Michael Chaveriat, Thibaut Lefort
La Marionette is an ode to the greatest geologic feature that defines Montreal-- the slopes and contours of Mont-Royal. Inspired by the dynamic topography of the mountain, La Marionette brings these shapes to life in Place Des Artes in a kinetic display celebrating all that is winter. As an observer traverses the Place des festivals, the installation morphs between hills and troughs, valleys and peaks, reminiscent of a journey across the mountain.

La Marionette is created through the hanging of an interconnected matrix of reflected 250mm mirrored spheres. This matrix is suspended by tensile cables spanning the site at each of the four luminaries. The cables, affixed to a simple motor, change in shape, length, and, by doing so, alter the composition of the matrix. What results is an undulating dance of nearly 2000 reflective objects, creating shapes convex and concave, and embodying the joys of movement in the winter--from the mountains we ski upon, to the slopes we sled down, to the frozen surfaces we skate across.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture



PROJECTS

44 BROADWAY
Dry Dock 2
10 EVERETT
KIDS LAB
38 EXCHANGE
DAYCARE
9090 Parc
Ace Academy
50 Jean Talon Ouest
Shenzhen
Marionette
Redford Gardens
Plage
TOGS
Rotch
Wind Dance
Ligne Blanche
Pacman Chair
Art Sous Terrain
Desjardins
Moakley Park