A new art installation on the façade of Dutch city Beverwijk’s Switchstation is showing how functional buildings can
become artistic statements.
Although the finer examples of electrical transformer stations may express a cool dignity and simplicity of form, perhaps even a kind of beauty, many are uninspired structures of brick, concrete and glass, with functionality and economy firmly displacing any aesthetic concerns.
Designed by Rotterdam based Studio RAP, the piece in Beverwijk demonstrates how design can shift public perception of these utility structures.
A large, ceramic tile installation, “Powerwall” adorns the station’s brick façade. Made of 322 digitally printed 3D ceramic tiles, each glazed in a brilliant turquoise, the installation is designed to express the flow and energy of the magnetic fields created inside the station. The swirling lines of the design create a sensation of motion, energy and dynamism.
The 8-metre-high, 5-metre-wide installation was designed and printed using computational design tools developed by Studio RAP. Algorithms analysed magnetic field patterns and translated these into tactile and visual forms on the finished tiles. Each tile is unique and unrepeated. These individually designed digital tiles combine into an integrated image that gives artistic expression to the processes taking place behind the wall.
At Digital Ceramic Custom Tiles, we use the latest tile printing technology to create custom ceramic tiles in a vast range of colours and textures. We produce tiles for murals, private or public buildings and outdoor spaces. If you are a designer and would like to find out more about our product ranges, we would love to hear from you.