Leonard St. Screen [for FACE design, 2006]
A unique project for a developer in Lower Manhattan where, in order to carry out another project, Landmarks stipulated that an open 12’ x 69’ air shaft must first be covered. The imagery of curtains or drapery was brought to FACE as a starting point for a metal screen. From there it was abstracted to a halftone pattern over a rolling metal panel and then later simplified to a gradient matrix that used only 4 hole sizes, therefore streamlining the CNC punching process and reducing the number of individual panel types. This gradient pattern also served to enhance the visual affect of the peaks and valleys across the panels. Before moving forward with the entire screen, a prototype panel had to be made.
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The following slides show the overall screen intent as we designed it, as well as drawings and images of the 3’ x 12’ prototype panel, CNC waterjet cut ribs, drawings for the CNC punched and bent panel, as well as actual fabrication/welding of the prototype itself. The panel was done in aluminum and the final finish was to be either powdercoated or anodized.