Havre, the aluminum bands sculpture for the McGill University Health Centre
Icon for the state-of-the-art facilities, the artwork will serve as a portal onto the hospital grounds
A project by Linda Covit
#Design
img.0Linda Covit forms havre sculpture out of slender aluminum bands - Image © Marc Cramerall - Images courtesy of Linda Covit
Canadian artist Linda Covit has recently completed Havre, a sculpture located on the new campus for the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal. The largest of 11 sculptures spread throughout the campus, the structure serves as an icon for the state-of-the-art facilities. It greets patients, visitors, and passers-by alike, serving as a portal onto the hospital grounds.
Lightweight aluminum bands form tendrils that weave into one another to form a bulbous mass with three openings at ground level to allow people inside. During the daytime, the sun passes through the voids of the structure projecting kinetic shoe-string shadows across its circular foundation. At night it no longer acts as a screen but instead becomes the focus of a peripheral lighting scheme, illuminated by vibrant blues and greens that pay homage to the sky and water- two elements essential for all life.
img.1Ground-level view: sunlight filters through the structure shading the ground around it. Image © Marc Cramer
img.2Image © Marc Cramer
img.3View through the circular opening at the top. Image © Marc Cramer
img.4Separated slats form openings. Image © Marc Cramer
img.5Image © Marc Cramer
img.6Blue/green LED lights illuminate the structure at night. Image © Marc Cramer
img.7Image © Marc Cramer
img.8Site plan
img.9Floor plan
img.10Elevation
Project info:
Name of the project: Havre. Project end date: 2014. Artist: Linda Covit. Materials: painted aluminum, led projectors, programming equipment dimensions: 13 m x 15,75 m diameter / 42’8” x 51’8” diameter lamp posts – 51 cm x 122 x 122 cm / 6’5” x 4’ x 4’. Location: McGill University Health Centre – Glen Site (Muhc), Montrealclient: commissioned by the Muhcfabrication: Michel Bernier. Structural engineering: nicolet, chartrand, knoll ltéetechnical. Drawings and renderings: plan hb. Installation: Formaviva. Lighting: blue hour design, Jean Lauren. Photography: Marc Cramer