playful interactive cone installation reflects viewers' sand art back to them

"A circular concrete ring forms a defined boundary, incorporating a landing and three steps that lead into a contained field of refined sand. At the center of this ring rises a tall cone clad in polished mirrored steel. The composition establishes a clear geometric contrast between the horizontal plane of sand and the vertical reflective surface."

"Visitors engage with the installation in two primary ways. They see themselves reflected in the mirrored cone, and they shape the sand through movement and play. As footprints and patterns accumulate across the surface, the cone captures and reflects these temporary traces. In this sense, the structure operates as a short term event recorder, visually documenting activity through reflection rather than digital means."

"A circular array of photovoltaic panels crowns the top of the cone. These panels generate electricity during the day, store it in integrated batteries, and power a series of lights embedded in the concrete base. At night, the system illuminates both the sand and the mirrored surface, extending the installation's presence beyond daylight hours."

Michael Jantzen's Interactive Sand Reflecting Cone is a public art installation designed for desert landscapes. A circular concrete ring with steps descends into refined sand, containing a tall cone clad in polished mirrored steel at its center. Photovoltaic panels mounted on the cone's top generate electricity during daylight, powering embedded lights in the concrete base for nighttime illumination. Visitors interact by viewing their reflections in the mirrored surface and creating patterns through movement across the sand. The cone's curved geometry distorts reflections, creating dynamic visual effects. The installation functions as a temporary event recorder, documenting visitor activity through accumulated footprints and patterns reflected in the mirror rather than digital means.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine