This tube glass sculpture is the world's largest of its kind, made of 16,385 unique borosilicate tubes woven into flexible mats and supported by steel spines and cables. Rising twenty-seven metres in height within the atrium of the Solaire building in Manila, physical testing, bespoke calculations and advanced modelling informed the design to resist significant seismic loads.
Combining advanced analysis with local craftsmanship, this project pushes the boundaries of structural and artistic collaboration. Thousands of unique glass elements are woven into flexible assemblies supported by a lightweight steel-and-cable framework designed to withstand significant seismic loading. What stands out is the way craft and engineering are brought together, with rigorous analysis and physical testing supporting an ambitious concept. The result showcases exceptional creativity while demonstrating the value of collaboration between engineering, fabrication and craft.