This future building will generate its own power and, like something invisible, cast no shadows.
Le Project Triangle is one of those buildings that make us think that we may actually drive flying cars one day. To be completed by 2014 in the Porte de Versailles area in Paris, its most impressive feature is that, according to the architects, it won’t cast shadows on adjacent buildings. The trick is the orientation and its shape: While it looks like a massive pyramid from one side, the other side shows that it really is an ultra-thin triangle resembling a shark’s fin.
Expressed in this fin of a building is the lasting longing for the thinness of a thing’s nothingness.
“it won’t cast shadows on adjacent buildings.”
This is not the same as “cast no shadows.”
If I build a building in the middle of the desert it won’t cast any shadows on any adjacent buildings. Big deal.
“I’m so thin I can’t see my shadow.”
— Paris Hilton in “Pledge This!”
It looks like that monstrosity in North Korea, except decorated for Christmas.
The root of the issue is “shadow”. While this usually refers to the lessening of visible light, in weather it can refer to precipitation patterns; while sailing the idea is expressed as “lee”.
The point being that this building appears to “generate its own power” through solar collection – this would seem to directly conflict with the idea of casting no shadow. Even if it only harvested the invisible wavelengths and allowed the others to pass through, it would still cast a “shadow” of less-useable solar energy.
Even a silent footfall leaves a footprint
@2 – John Bailo
Dude – you quote Paris Hilton movies. Seriously, you make your own gravy – you know? Oh look, you quote them repeatedly:
http://you-read-it-here-first.com/viewtopic.php?p=3961&sid=fb32ffbc35162abb57b778fd70edb4cf
It’s hard to stay current when you’re older, isn’t it?
I used to question why the Strange would have a Philosopher on payroll.
Now I don’t.
Glad you are around for “these troubled times”, Chaz.
I am having trouble understanding the last sentence. The apostrophe in “thing’s” seems out of place because I don’t know who *thing* is and how he owns nothingness.
i would totally watch a bravo reality show called “project nothingness.”
I am surprised that a building so thin could be stiff enough to stand up on its own in a strong wind, let alone keep from oscillating back and forth enough to make the occupants sick.
maybe it won’t cast shadows in the summer, but paris is about on the latitude as seattle – the sun is 15 degrees above the horizon on dec. 21st. everything casts a shadow then.
but, if herzog & demeuron say it will do it, it probably will. they haven’t made a false step yet. i.e. the de young museum in golden gate park.