Trinity Loop


Architect / Designer:
Studio:
Design Team:
Artist: Anaisa Franco
Architect: Rodrigo Waihiwe, Oana Taut and In-Generic
Assistant: Ying Ye
Structural Engineer: Manja van de Worp
Structural tests: Raimund krenmueller
Digital fabrication support: Rubén Saguar (Ateneu de Fabricació de les Corts)
Assembly: Damien Mc Carthy Landscape
Project Curator: Rina Whyte
Client: Scoil Phádraig
Location: Canal Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois. Ireland
Public Art Commission: Per Cent for Art funded by The Department of Education.
Inspections and Normative: Comply BS EN 1176 British and European Standard for playground equipment and surfacing.
Inspected and approved by ROSPA.
Copyright:
Country:
Trinity Loop stands proudly as a captivating public artwork created specifically for Scoil Phádraig in Portarlington, Co. Laois. This stunning sculpture draws inspiration from the timeless symbolism of the Trinity Knot/Triquetra, an iconic Celtic motif renowned for its intricate yet harmonious design. Symbolizing various triads, such as the realms of land, sky, and sea, as well as elemental forces like earth, water, and fire, the Trinity Knot embodies diverse interpretations, inviting personal significance for each observer.
Crafted as an abstract, three-dimensional embodiment of the Trinity Knot, Trinity Loop invites children to engage and interact, fostering play, exploration, and imagination. Its design encourages climbing, running, and playful exploration around its captivating form.
The sculpture comprises three identical arches rotating seamlessly at 120-degree intervals around the central point, forming an awe-inspiring structure. A testament to meticulous craftsmanship, Trinity Loop consists of 356 nodes, each meticulously crafted through a process involving 3D printing and subsequent steel casting. Each of the 118 unique steel-casted nodes endured rigorous structural testing, ensuring optimal material selection and design for structural integrity.
Constructed from a remarkable 142 meters of precision-cut powder-coated steel tubes, comprising 492 individual pieces, and supported by 78 robust steel ground bases seamlessly integrated into the foundation, the sculpture stands on a foundation anchored by six tons of concrete. The safety considerations extend to the floor, which is covered in resilient rubber mulch, providing a safe and inviting surface for play.
The sculpture’s footprint is elegantly inscribed within a seven-meter diameter circle, harmoniously blending with its surroundings while commanding attention as a focal point within the landscape.
Anaisa Franco Studio
Anaisa Franco specializes in integrating parametric digital fabrication mixed with technology with a mission to activate the body and the public space through a playful and interactive approach.
Her pieces reflect the curved and smooth forms found in basic life at the molecular and macro levels, connecting and reshaping the way we view the world.
She holds Master of Advanced Architecture at IAAC Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in Barcelona. One year of M-Arch 1 at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles, a Master’s degree MA in Digital Art and Technology from the University of Plymouth in England and a BA Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts from FAAP in São Paulo.
In the last years she has been developing Artworks for commissions, public spaces, Light Festivals, Museums and Galeries such as Shanghai City Life Festival, VIVID Sydney, Annecy Paysages, Medialab Prado, Mecad, MIS, Hangar, Taipei Artist Village, China Academy of Public Art Research Center, Mediaestruch, Cite des Arts,