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London’s Battersea Power Station hosts giant Christmas tree animation by artist David Hockney

2023-12-06T13:10:00-05:00

The world-renowned artist David Hockney has lit up London’s iconic Battersea Power Station with a giant installation resembling two Christmas trees. Titled ‘Bigger Christmas Trees’ and set on the station’s two north-facing 328-foot-tall chimneys, the animation will be on display from December 1st until Christmas Day, December 25th.

“Battersea Power Station is such a beautiful building, I wanted to decorate it in a way that I hoped would bring joy and hope to Londoners,” said Hockney about the scheme.

Image credit: Apple

The 10-minute animation was designed by Hockney on an iPad using a digital pencil; an appropriate method given that Battersea Power Station currently houses Apple’s UK headquarters.

In June, we reported on the opening of Foster + Partners’ Apple Store within the station, marking the company’s 40th store in the United Kingdom. Late last year, meanwhile, we covered a review of the newly completed WilkinsonEyre interior spaces in the station alongside a Frank Gehry-desig...

Daniel Libeskind gets to design the new Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Star

2018-05-17T14:02:00-04:00

Many big-name architects enjoy dabbling in product design and use their brand recognition to sell chairs, tableware, shoes, and anything in-between—but getting to design the new star topping the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in New York City is one of the rarer commissions. Daniel Libeskind was just tapped by Swarovski to create a replacement for the current star the crystal company had first unveiled in 2004.

Daniel Libeskind and Nadja Swarovski. Image courtesy of Swarovski.

While designs for the new tree topper aren't available yet, an initial release announced a three-dimensional structure "radiant with light," inspired by the cosmos, and exemplifying Libeskind's trademark dramatic architectural lines.

"The new Swarovski Star for the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is inspired by the beauty of starlight–something that radiates meaning and mystery into the world," Libeskind hinted at his inspiration. "The Star is a symbol that represents our greatest ambitions for hope, unity...

Hello Wood to give 5,000 pieces of Christmas Charity Tree firewood to Budapest community

2014-12-22T19:48:00-05:00

Getting caught up in holiday madness has become so normal that it's easy to forget that the holidays can act as a reminder that caring for each other -- no matter how simple the act -- can go a long way. Architecture firm Hello Wood, who built the 11-meter Christmas tree made out of 365 sleighs last year, recently built another Christmas tree installation in Budapest called the Charity Tree.

This time around, Hello Wood worked with Design Terminal and the Hungarian Interchurch Aid to construct the 11-meter Charity Tree, which was built in 5 days from 5,000 pieces of firewood that weigh 150 quintals (or about 30,000 lbs.).

Visitors can also walk inside the tree to find a chapel-like interior space. At night, the tree glows with lighting effects by Philips Hungary.

After the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6, all the wood used to make the installation will be given to local families in need. The Charity Tree addresses the issue of the many Hungarian families lacking daily heating d...

Hello Wood uses 365 sleighs to build an 11-meter Christmas tree in Budapest

2013-12-11T14:10:00-05:00

The holiday season is in full swing — or sleigh, in this case. Hello Wood, an architecture and design studio, built an 11-meter tall Christmas tree in one week using 365 sleighs in front of the Palace of Arts in Budapest. (Watch the video below.)

After Christmas, the temporary structure will be dismantled and the sleighs will be given to the kids living in the SOS Children’s Village homes in Hungary.

Here are the project details:

"Visitors can step in and have a look at the construction from the inside. The base is made of steel, it weights 4.5 tons, so the construction is perfectly safe from the heavy winds of winter. The four stems of the installation hold 325 kilograms each.

First, the carpenters of Hello Wood made the 10.5 meters tall wooden frame, which was brought to the scene, where it was put together with the help of a crane and the use of welding techniques."

"Then came the alpinists of Hello Wood, who were working on the installation for four consecutive days...