solar foley
Principle Investigator - Alex TimmerUniversity of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
2019
Developed from ongoing research into solar control devices and architectural aesthetics, and first conceptualized as part of the exhibition Formation, this sculptural installation was placed in the research garden of the School of Architecture and Planning as both a functional and expressive artifact. The piece explores the intersection of environmental responsiveness and formal repetition, using a grid of vertical and horizontal metal rods to support a series of curved, reflective panels. These panels are arranged in a rhythmic pattern that evokes both mechanical precision and organic flow.
Each face of the sculpture—northeast, south, and west—was carefully calibrated to respond to distinct solar conditions. The northeast side engages with the soft morning light, using angled surfaces to diffuse and scatter illumination across the surrounding space. The southern face, exposed to the most intense midday sun, incorporates deeper curvature and denser paneling to modulate heat and glare, functioning as a passive shading device. Meanwhile, the western side captures the warm hues of the late afternoon sun, reflecting them dynamically across the sculpture’s metallic surfaces and the adjacent landscape.
The installation’s tectonic qualities—its emphasis on construction, materiality, and assembly—are central to its architectural intent. The interplay of light and shadow across the reflective surfaces transforms throughout the day and across seasons, making the sculpture a living study in solar behavior and spatial perception. Positioned in front of a building with a grid of window panes and framed by leafless trees, the piece resonates with its context, amplifying themes of transparency, rhythm, and environmental dialogue.