News Released: July 22, 2008
Torrance, California

Digital Clouds: Architectural Staircase Glazing System Design

Artist David A Knudsen ("DAK") is commisioned to design a staircase centerpiece for the Aston Marketing Group Headquarters, creating a sophisticated interplay between skyscrapers, clouds, and light.



AMG owners David MacMillan and Cindy Martin set out to produce a centerpiece design reflective of their advocacy for contemporary art and style. Key to fulfilling that objective was bringing David A Knudsen (aka DAK) aboard to helm the architectural art project.

Interpreting the particular energy of the office, home to MacMillan & Martin’s several companies, was DAK’s main objective. “David and Cindy are visionaries with a down-to-earth delivery,” says DAK, of the emerging theme of visual functionality. “You can feel movement in the art, and I wanted to impart a feeling of taking the stairs as a ‘transcending’ experience.”

The visitor is uplifted, indeed – up to the clouds! The theme, “Digital Clouds” is a spinoff of DAK’s “Reflections on Architecture” series. Only, instead of buildings reflecting off of one another, the reflections are of shapely clouds in the blue sky above. The word “Digital” is used because as the reflections are broken down into the many rectangular glass segments that make up the building’s facade, they are–by nature–separated and distorted. All of these small, individual segments of the reflection relate to one another as do those of adjecent pixels seen in a digital image, when examined very closely.

The eighteen custom-shaped panels of bent glass that line this architectural staircase mimic those within the skyscraper’s facades in the the imagery laminated into them. It’s a sophisticated interplay between the two. Similar to the fascinating views DAK captures when walking between tall contemporary buildings downtown, AMG’s visitors will now experience a multi-faceted montage of semi-transparent reflections, different from every angle, and a new perspective on each ascent or decent of the staircase.

Upon reaching the two-story atrium designed for meeting space and foyer lounge with wine bar, one enters a relaxed atmosphere for clients. What emerges is a dynamic ambulatory experience unlike any other, finding an immediate energy in a functional art piece.

For more information: www.dakshots.com

Contact:
Marissa Nederhouser
DAKSHOTS Associate
2800 Barry Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 9064
310.312.3928