In 2015 Australian artist Alexander Knox won a competition to create an art facade for 300 George Street in Brisbane’s CBD, after planning and development, the result became The Sound That Light Makes, a spectacular façade that connects the natural world with the urbanised city of Brisbane.
Wrapping around the podium at the base of the three-tower site, the work creates an iconic visual signature and landmark for the high-end commercial area. Spanning 2660 square metres and comprised of over 2500 3D pressed and planar aluminium panels, the façade uses geometric and organic shapes to explore the effect of light shimmering on the surface of water.
According to Knox’s project team, UAP, The Sound That Light Makes’ three-dimensional metallic surface is designed to catch and mimic the kinetic nature of light on water, designed to welcome the ‘influence of natural forces into the highly urbanised setting of Brisbane’s CBD’. The work’s title, ‘The Sound That Light Makes’ refers to the shimmer of light on water as a whisper from the sites pre-urban epoch, further referencing the nearby Brisbane River as inspiration.
Knox and his Melbourne studio have stated that the design premise came into fruition through the use of algorithmic design tools, further developing the pressed and 3D laser cut design and artwork concept over time. The work features a unique almost ‘synergistic relationship’ between computational modelling, manufacturing techniques and fabrication, resulting in an equally stunning and complex architectural statement.
Working collaboratively with the artist and developers Multiplex, UAP developed Knox’s design and constructed and installed the artwork in separate phases. ‘The Sound That Light Makes’ was completed earlier this year. More information on this project can be found here.