A Living Sculpture That Evolves with the Climate
At the heart of Mesa, Arizona, Strata is a monumental fusion of nature and technology, an ever-changing sculpture that transforms real-time climate data into a dynamic visual experience. Designed and fabricated by Digital Ambiance in collaboration with video artist Adrian Yu, it serves as both a reflection of the landscape and a statement on sustainability.
Inspired by geological time spiral, Strata reinterprets the passage of time through coiling steel arches embedded with LED panels, shifting between wind and water simulations. As the city’s environmental footprint changes, so does the artwork, inviting the public to witness the intersection of nature, data, and design.
An Environment-Inspired Civic Interface
Blending organic form with digital evolution, Strata reimagines the landscape as a living canvas of climate and time.
The ideation of Strata was a deep collaboration between Digital Ambiance and Adrian Yu, merging parametric design with real-time environmental storytelling. Taking inspiration from the geological layers of Arizona’s mountains, we developed a sculptural form that seamlessly integrates LED technology, allowing Adrian to craft generative content that transforms the piece into a responsive, ever-changing entity.
Nature in Motion, Powered by Data
Adrian Yu’s generative content transforms Strata into a constantly evolving reflection of Mesa’s environment. Built within Unreal Engine, the visuals react to real-time climate data—wind sculpting patterns by day, water shifting by night—ensuring no two moments are ever the same. Beyond weather, the sculpture also integrates Mesa’s long-term climate initiatives, such as tree-planting programs and energy conservation efforts. As the city takes action, Strata visually adapts, serving as both a mirror of the present and a record of progress toward a more sustainable future.
Forged for Scale, Designed for Complexity
Fabricating Strata demanded an exceptional level of precision and craftsmanship. Each steel arch was carefully welded into a single continuous structure, with meticulous attention to alignment and finishing to achieve a seamless appearance. Working closely with Fablab Mexico, our team integrated curved LED panels along a two-axis curvature, ensuring a flawless fusion of metal and light. The result is a structure that feels fluid and organic, despite the immense technical challenges behind its creation.
Behind the scenes
Client: City of Mesa, AZ
Creative Director & Design Lead: Omer Yosef, Digital Ambiance
Executive Producer: Santiago Tron, Digital Ambiance
Fabrication: Eduardo Ramirez, Fablab MXC
Computational Design: Ege Dogan, Digital Ambiance
Lead Artist: Adrian Yu, Excetera
Unreal Artist: Daniel Mangosing, Excetera
Developer: Ian Glover, Excetera
Structural Engineering: Rbhu