Tending, (blue)

Interloop Architecture was commissioned by The Nasher Foundation to design a building to house Tending, (blue), an artwork by James Turrell. Tending, (blue) is sited in a planted berm at the west end of the Nasher Sculpture garden, opposite the main museum building.

Tending, (blue) contains two artworks - an entry piece and a skyspace. The skyspace is a 25’ x 25’ x 25’ room with a 9’ x 9’ square aperture in the ceiling. This aperture is detailed as a “knife edge,” eliminating any visual perception of the roof thickness. The edges of the skyspace are lined with a continuous stone bench seating. The top edge of the seating is 7’-6” high, above eye level, to conceal numerous electrical and mechanical components required to achieve the minimal interior space. Viewing of the artwork occurs during the most dramatic changes in exterior light: dusk and dawn. The light levels on the interior are held constant, while the change in light and color in the sky is revealed through the cut in the ceiling.

Tending, (blue) represents a significant departure in the technical systems and light sources used for a skyspace - a mix of LED and Cold Cathode. Lighting, dimming and recording systems, and full size mock-ups were used to test the component combinations relative to brightness, control and color resolution. Ultimately, this new light source and dimming system allowed for the programming of variable lighting settings, tuned to produce specific visual effects in relation to the solar conditions of downtown Dallas. These effects were programmed to change daily and seasonally, producing a greater range of experience within the artwork.

See below to download Project Sheet (pdf)