After several rounds of jury reviews, Silicon Valley may have found its new landmark. The winning proposal is said to "symbolize people standing and working together." On March 25th, Fernando Jerez and Belén Pérez de Juan of SMAR Architecture Studio were announced as winners of the competition for their proposal "Breeze of Innovation." 

In 2019 the San José Light Tower Corporation launched the Urban Confluence Silicon Valley competition. The international competition invited artists, architects, urban planners, landscape architects, students, designers, and anyone with a passion for place-making to submit ideas for creating an iconic landmark project to enhance community life in San José, California. In September 2020, the competition's jury announced its three finalists: "Breeze of Innovation" by SMAR Architecture Studio, "Welcome to Wonderland" by SCI-Arc M.Arch I student Rish Saito and the "Nebula Tower" by Qinrong Lui and Ruize Li.

Designer Fernando Jerez shared, "Silicon Valley is not about replicating the past; it's about shaping the future. Our goal from the beginning was to capture the ever-changing magic of Silicon Valley while also creating a deep connection with the San José community. This is why we came up with the idea of designing a dynamic landmark, one that is alive, moving with the wind and light, a magical space that includes a tribute to the San José Electric Light Tower of 1881. We want visitors to enjoy a unique experience on their ascent, connecting with the memory of the Valley while dreaming about its future possibilities."

In describing the project, both Jerez and Pérez de Juan explain the landmark's structure consists of 500 dynamic, flexible rods that are 200ft tall. Using kinetic energy, the rods will "swing to the beat of the wind," which will generate power for the building. The rods not only have a functional purpose but are said to "represent the hundreds of different companies and individuals working together in Silicon Valley, San Jose."

According to the Urban Confluence Silicon Valley competition, the duo will present their winning design before the San José City Council in May 2021 for approval. The project has raised more than $2.5 million.

View more project images below.

To learn more about the project details click here. To learn more about the competition's finalists and their projects click here.