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Aesthetic Energy Autobahns: Can Designer Power Masts Win Over the Public?

A computer simulation of new forms of power masts designed by Danish architect Erik Bystrup. The mirror wall sculpture mast reflects the nearby surroudings, making it nearly invisible. And invisibility is a characteristic many citizens would like to see applied to power lines.

These images are all prototypes, but some 500 masts designed by Bystrup will soon mark a 166-kilometer (103-mile) section of power lines in Denmark's Jutland region. The architect rhapsodizes over the steel poles, saying the way they reflect sunlight will make them "almost invisible."

To increase the Danes' acceptance of the poles, which are visibile at great distances, Bystrup designed modern masts that look like abstract crowns or eagle's wings.

To increase the Danes' acceptance of the poles, which are visibile at great distances, Bystrup designed modern masts that look like abstract crowns or eagle's wings.

To increase the Danes' acceptance of the poles, which are visibile at great distances, Bystrup designed modern masts that look like abstract crowns or eagle's wings.