The Spiral of Architectural Code
An architectural installation as part of the “Architekton” festival in St. Petersburg
The Spiral of Architectural Code
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Height: 4.5 m
Material: OSB, painted
Architectural installation as part of the “Architekton” festival in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Height: 4.5 m
Material: OSB, painted
Architectural installation as part of the “Architekton” festival in Saint Petersburg
The art installation “Spiral of Architectural Code” is a monumental column made of OSB, in which architecture serves as a tool for translating an abstract sense of time into a concrete form. Its purpose is to synthesize historical and cultural codes and create the conditions for a deeply personal experience of interacting with time.
The idea is revealed, first and foremost, through the structure of the object. Five tiers—each tapering upward and rotating, assembled in a crisscross pattern—form a dynamic, ascending spiral. This rotation is a direct metaphor for the spiral path of time, in which cycles repeat but are never identical. The spiral of time is a symbol of memory and the layering of cultures: each new turn “winds” around the experience of previous eras, reinterpreting it.
The structure engages in an open dialogue with architectural traditions, serving as a point of synthesis among them. It references antiquity through the form of the column, the Gothic style through its upward thrust, the Baroque and Art Nouveau through its varied scales and play of illusions, and the avant-garde (with a visual reference to Tatlin’s Tower) through its dynamics and rhythm.
The idea is revealed, first and foremost, through the structure of the object. Five tiers—each tapering upward and rotating, assembled in a crisscross pattern—form a dynamic, ascending spiral. This rotation is a direct metaphor for the spiral path of time, in which cycles repeat but are never identical. The spiral of time is a symbol of memory and the layering of cultures: each new turn “winds” around the experience of previous eras, reinterpreting it.
The structure engages in an open dialogue with architectural traditions, serving as a point of synthesis among them. It references antiquity through the form of the column, the Gothic style through its upward thrust, the Baroque and Art Nouveau through its varied scales and play of illusions, and the avant-garde (with a visual reference to Tatlin’s Tower) through its dynamics and rhythm.
A distinctive feature of the structure is the optical illusion created by the staggered tiers and the slanted slabs separating them. The illusion distorts our perception of volume: the massive base appears lighter, while the small summit appears wider. This illusory quality symbolizes the subjectivity of our perception: consciousness transforms the passage of time—the past may seem lighter, while fleeting moments can expand to the scale of eternity. Architecture not only brings together historical experience but also filters it through the prism of each viewer’s personal experience.
Choosing lemon yellow is a way of translating the metaphor of time from the past into the present. Lemon yellow embodies the energy of the moment, a vital force, and an artistic gesture. It transforms the utilitarian OSB material, bringing the object into the realm of contemporary art.
Two similar shades create an effect of optical vibration. This technique causes the colors to visually “swap places” with the natural play of light and shadow, creating optical ambiguity. The object constantly challenges the viewer to question its true color, offering different answers depending on the angle and lighting. The color alludes to the idea of time as a spiral: it is not static but pulsates, consisting of a multitude of shades of “now.” The lemon color transforms the column into a manifesto of the power of the present—ever-changing and full of energy.
Two similar shades create an effect of optical vibration. This technique causes the colors to visually “swap places” with the natural play of light and shadow, creating optical ambiguity. The object constantly challenges the viewer to question its true color, offering different answers depending on the angle and lighting. The color alludes to the idea of time as a spiral: it is not static but pulsates, consisting of a multitude of shades of “now.” The lemon color transforms the column into a manifesto of the power of the present—ever-changing and full of energy.
