At the intersection of Market Street’s constant motion and the quieter landscape of Pivot Park, Spectral Grove establishes a porous threshold where street activity gives way to pause, color, and passage. Positioned at the park’s entrance within uCity Square, the installation marks a transition without prescribing a single point of arrival.

A field of intersecting arches forms a grove-like condition that can be entered from multiple directions. Rather than functioning as a gate, the installation invites visitors to weave through the space, with paths overlapping and views shifting as one moves—more like a sparse forest than a formal entry.

The structure is composed of latticed ribbons of powder-coated aluminum and steel, woven into six vertical columns and a shared canopy above. Each column carries a subtle two-color gradient, giving individual identity while allowing the overall palette to shift through movement and perspective. Overhead, the ribbons intersect to form an open lattice that binds the system together.

As sunlight moves across the site, the canopy filters light and casts shifting shadows onto the ground below. Color and geometry respond to time of day and motion, animating the space without relying on a fixed viewpoint.

Fluid in appearance yet structurally precise, Spectral Grove uses interlacing, repetition, and color to suggest how varied elements can coexist within a shared framework. The installation operates as both landmark and passage—transforming movement through the site into an experience of light, color, and connection.

Collaborators: ARUP
Photos: Alan Tansey

More about the process:
Optimization and detailing
RAL gradient selector
Photos of the installation