Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum is a large-scale public art installation that transforms the geometry of the flower into a structural and luminous form — a fabricated gate that animates public space through light, shadow, and material craft.
LOCATION
Oakland, CA
YEAR
2022
SIZE
—
BLDG SYSTEM
Stainless Steel Frame
STATUS
Completed
Context
Chrysanthemum draws on the symbolic resonance of the flower — a form associated with resilience, community, and regeneration — and reinterprets it as an architectural threshold. The installation creates a sheltered gathering space that shifts in character throughout the day as sunlight filters through its petal-like panels.
Challenge
Fabricating a complex organic geometry at architectural scale required close coordination between digital design tools and physical craft. The structure needed to be durable enough for a permanent outdoor installation while retaining the visual lightness and delicacy of the flower form it references.
Approach
The design was developed through parametric modeling, allowing the petal geometry to be rationalized into a set of repeatable fabricated components. Each panel was CNC-cut from weathering steel, then hand-finished to achieve variation in surface texture.
Assembly was carried out on-site with a local fabrication team, embedding community labor into the making of the piece. The result is a structure that reads as both rigorously designed and handmade — a balance that reflects the studio's broader approach to fabrication.
Credits
Recognition
City of Oakland Public Art Grant
Funding
—