i turned the corner and immediately knew that something was different... a glowing, comforting atmosphere... the streetlights sprung out of the ground in a single sweeping movement, simple and elegant... sturdy objects, communicating a strong sense of safety and shelter... a strong physical presence, but at the same time sheer lightness...

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the lamp floating above my head shimmering with a soft, velvety aura... a sophisticated whitish surface giving the whole thing depth and mystery... an uncompromisingly modern statement of pure metropolitan energy...

material

the poles and lamp enclosures are produced from glass reinforced plastics in one seemless form. varying interlayers are used to produce subtle transitions from the opaque base to the translucent top. initial discussions with specialist manufacturers have indicated the structural and financial feasibility of this construction.

base

the connection to the ground is formed by a steel inset containing cable route and connection box. the pole is then placed over the inset to form a durable moment connection and give impact protection at its lower part.

track

a continuous stainless steel track is cast into the pole to provide a flexible fixing opportunity for the required add-ons and signage. special hammer-head bolts can easily be fixed into the track an any height along the track to give support to signage, sensors and indicators.

light

the translucent pole is gently lit from the inside by an optical lighting profile distributing white light emitted from an led in the base of the pole. this will give the whole body of the pole a subtle and mysterious glow.

lamp

a standard mirror with a shallow polycarbonate refractor can be integrated into the head of the pole. while initally high-pressure sodium will be used as an established and economical light source, this could over the next 10 years feasibly be replaced by the rapidly advancing led technology with its superior economy and longevity.

array

• location: new york city, usa
• scope: competition entry
• competition: 2004