The newest architectural creation belonging to British artist Alex Chinneck is making quite a fuss due to the unicity of the ‘levitating’ building in London’s Covent Garden.
His project, ‘Take my lightning but don’t steal my thunder’, a beautiful dialogue between architecture and art recreates the iconic Covent Garden market building which appears like it is floating 3m (10 ft) in air.
CNC-cut polystyrene being the dominant material used, the prefabricated building uses empty middle space, remaining with the top of the building ‘unsupported’. For rounding up this project the British Artist has teamed up with architectural consultants, structural engineers, steel fabricators, carpenters, and set builders.
As Chinneck declares “My objective was to create an accessible artwork that makes a harmonious but breath-taking contribution to its historic surroundings, leaving a lasting and positive impression upon the cultural landscape of Covent Garden and in the minds of its many visitors.”
’Take my lightning but don’t steal my thunder’ will be on display at London’s Covent Garden’s East Piazza up till October 24, 2014.
For a close view of the making and the result take a look at the video and photos below:
Text: Diana Slabinschi