The Solar Tree

Acting as a kind of centre piece for Clerkenwell Design Week 2012, The Solar Tree designed by Ross Lovegrove and manufactured by Italian lighting brand Artemide is a revolutionary urban lighting concept. The six-metre ‘tree’ features clusters of LED lights at the tips of ten stalks.

According to Lovegrove, his aim was to bring beautiful design out of the museums and galleries and into our everyday environment so that it may ‘touch the soul’ whilst we go about our daily lives. The Solar Tree marries advanced technology and the aesthetic requirements of the urban environment by harnessing renewable energy. Artemide has channelled its skill and time into researching sustainability and excellent design. The LEDs light up during the night powered by the solar energy accumulated during the day.

Drawing inspiration from the organic forms of nature, this lighting concept reinterprets the shape of a tree, introducing an organic form into the man-made urban world. “This is a project that celebrates design, nature and art and represents the DNA of our time,” says Lovegrove, who pointed to a streetlamp mere metres away from the Solar Tree and said, “look at the complete poverty of that street lamp!” Lovegrove explained that he believed that things should have a "magnetic attraction as an object". He told us that he has had enquiries from over 54 countries about the project, including one from Bejing’s Summer Palace. He also explained how he hopes that one day the Solar Tree will have USB ports and provide a way to sit down and connect with the world.

The Solar Tree will be located in St John’s Square, London until September.

Related Links:
Artemide – company profile

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