A light sculpture materializing the idea that “Terrain Vague”, or urban non-places should not be designed away, but embraced. Just as in nature, where tropical rainforests exist simultaneously with sheer rock faces, spaces where nothing happens occur naturally in cities, alongside busy plazas and sidewalks. The sculpture aims to reframe the presence of voids as natural and intentional. 

Built in response to a site visit to an alley of Granville Street, Vancouver. The majority of Downtown Vancouver nightlife occurs on this street and during the day there is considerable foot traffic. Despite a lack of existing program, the alley is not necessarily underused. Dog walking, smoking, and infinite uncategorizeable activities still occur regularly.

The sculpture is a first step towards a light that would be implemented as a small art piece and unobstrusive lighting feature in the alley, not changing the use of the space but increasing visibility for those who pass through.


An incandescent lightbulb and lamp socket are cast into a block of paraffin wax. Once dry, the block is carved and punctured numerous times. Cement and Plaster of Paris are then mixed to similar consistencies and poured at the same time, filling the cracks and holes in the wax to create a web of half-cement, half-plaster tendrils. The incandescent bulb, emitting heat over 60 degrees celcius while lit, melts the paraffin wax (melting point of around 40 degrees celcius), leaving a cavity between the two materials.



Materials

Paraffin Wax
Plaster of Paris
Rockite
Incandescent Bulb
Lamp Socket
PVC Pipe
Wiring