“Gather,” Seattle Asian Art Museum

“Achieving the sense that these elements are floating is technically difficult.” —Juror Chrysanthi Stockwell, HGA

A recent renovation and expansion of the Seattle Asian Art Museum by LMN Architects reinstated the Fuller Garden Court as the central hub. To conceptually connect the entry lobby and space to the museum’s Asian art collection, “Gather,” an eye-catching 26-by-48-by-10-foot artwork by Studio 1Thousand, suspends from the court’s skylit ceiling and serves as an iconic canopy for events.

“Gather” turns 390 chip-on-board, mass-produced LED elements into a bespoke fabric with an asymmetrical form guided by catenary curves. The concept of a flowing, hanging LED fabric emerged from artist Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn’s long-term study of Japanese textiles. The hash pattern, a nod to ikat weaving and sashiko sewing techniques, stands out against both light and dark backgrounds.

A tight project budget led to the innovative combination of off-the shelf LED technologies with custom fabrication. Studio 1Thousand leveraged its experience in integrating new elements into existing, often historic, structures with minimal intrusion. The elegant result reflects the history of craft in Asian design.

Details
Project Name: “Gather”
Location: Seattle
Client/Owner: Seattle Asian Art Museum
Lighting Designer: Studio 1Thousand, New York • Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn, Glenn Chinn, Matt Stevenson
Fabricator: RushDesign, New York
Photographer: LMN Architects • Adam Hunter

Project Size: 1,260 square feet
Project Cost: $150,000
Lighting Cost: $120,000
Watts per Square Foot: 0.45

• 2020 AL Light & Architecture Design Awards

  This year's program recognized 10 thoughtfully conceived and well executed projects in the U.S. and U.K.

  

• Mori Hosseini Student Union, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

  Outstanding Achievement • Whole Building Lighting • Design Team: Fisher Marantz Stone, Ikon.5 Architects

  

• Co-Op Ramen

  Outstanding Achievement • Interior Lighting • Design Team: TM Light, Marlon Blackwell Architects

  

• “Gather,” Seattle Asian Art Museum

  Outstanding Achievement • Exhibition Lighting and Installations • Lighting Designer: Studio 1Thousand

  

• Pacific Palisades Residence

  Commendable Achievement • Whole Building Lighting • Design Team: HLB Lighting Design, ShubinDonaldson, Magni Kalman Design, AHBE | MIG

  

• Thaden School

  Commendable Achievement • Whole Building Lighting • Design Team: TM Light, Marlon Blackwell Architects

  

• Allianz Field

  Commendable Achievement • Exterior Lighting • Design Team: Illume, Populous

  

• Bicentennial Hall

  Commendable Achievement • Interior Lighting • Design Team: Stroik Lighting Design, Bowie Gridley Architects, RAM Design Studio

  

• Relighting Norwich Cathedral’s Interior

  Commendable Achievement • Interior Lighting • Lighting Designer: Speirs + Major

  

• “Brainbow,” Michigan State University Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building

  Commendable Achievement • Exhibition Lighting and Installations • Design Team: SmithGroup