Catenary Whorl is an undulating canopy composed of 5,000 feet of
soft, thick rope, which hangs from the ceiling of the restaurant Little
Bear in downtown Los Angeles. The canopy was intended to diffuse
and absorb sound while creating a new, unique atmosphere for the
restaurant. The rope is hand-dyed and the hues correspond with
regions of color intensity identifying areas of acoustic absorption.
Because the rope is hung more densely in some areas than others, the
undulating surface subdivides the restaurant into smaller volumes,
reducing reverberation time and creating distinct spatial qualities for
bar, lounge, and dining areas.