map office: black twister

contemplating the void: interventions in the guggenheim museum
solomon r. guggenheim museum, new york
on now until april 28th, 2010

black twister, 2009
felt-tip pen on digital print
27.9 x 22.9 cm
edition of 4, 1 A.P.
artwork © map office

hong kong-based architectural firm map office's 'black twister' is a tropical depression
that intrudes the guggenheim museum. it is a strong wind that imposes a dynamic pressure
on frank lloyd wright's architecture. using the principles of climatic techniques,
'black twister' proposes an environment capable of generating new spatial poetics,
but also giving a moment of fragility inside the museum.


'black twister' funnels down through the roof of the guggenheim museum
artwork © map office


black twister, 2009 (detail)
felt-tip pen on digital print
27.9 x 22.9 cm
edition of 4, 1 A.P.
artwork © map office

we're not sure how map office imagines executing a tornado within the guggenheim,
but we've found some DIYers who have made their very own tornado machines at home:




potential force of an at-home tornado machine

if you're really interested in trying it out yourself, there are detailed instructions on how
to build a tornado machine here.