Parkline Place at 252 Pitt Street now features The Seeds of Flight, a landmark installation by internationally renowned artist Tomás Saraceno, marking his first permanent artwork in Australia. The installation occupies the building’s triple height lobby, where its suspended modular tetrahedrons appear to float through the space, responding to both natural and artificial light.

The work, comprising of 15 airborne sculptures with 116 tetrahedral modules inspired by the hues of eucalyptus, spans approximately 18 metres in height and 38 metres in length, creating a dynamic focal point that changes in colour and atmosphere throughout the day.

With lighting design by ARUP, ERCO luminaires were strategically positioned throughout Parkline Place to provide precise, layered illumination that showcases the artwork while enhancing the architectural qualities of the lobby, supporting both the spatial experience and the subtle interplay of light and form in Saraceno’s design

The project also leveraged the flexibility of ERCO’s interchangeable lens technology, tunable white capability and Casambi wireless control system. These features were crucial during commissioning, which took place over several nights, allowing the design team to carefully adjust colour temperature, intensity and light distribution to achieve the desired balance between the artwork, architecture and surrounding environment.

The Seeds of Flight invites reflection on flight, biodiversity, and environmental responsibility, seamlessly integrating art and architecture to create an inspiring moment within the city, while ARUP’s lighting design underscores the subtle elegance and spatial drama of both the artwork and the building.

Photography by Mark Pokorny.