Silo 468 is a Wind-Controlled LED Light Installation in an Abandoned Helsinki Oil Silo

Helsinki hired Madrid-based <a href="http://www.ldcol.com/" target="_blank">Lighting Design Collective</a> to turn an old oil silo into a brilliant lighting installation to honor the city's selection as the <a href="http://wdchelsinki2012.fi/en" target="_blank">2012 World Design Capital</a>. <a href="http://www.ldcol.com/blog/#silo468" target="_blank">Silo 468</a> is a permanent urban light art installation that creates a new public space on the water in the Kruunuvuorenranta District. Visitors to Silo 468 will be treated to a subtle and moving installation during the day as perforations in the silo cast light patterns on the inside. At night computer-controlled LEDs react to weather conditions to create a dazzling light show.

<a href="http://wdchelsinki2012.fi/en/news/2012-10-19/step-inside-kruunuvuorenranta-oil-silo-and-prepare-be-enchanted" target="_blank">Silo 468</a> was originally built in the 1960s and it used to store 16,000 m3 of oil - but it has now been transformed into a wind-controlled lighting installation.

Located on the water in the Kruunuvuorenranta District, the silo is visible to central Helsinki, Suomenlinna Fortress and the sea.

Commissioned by the city of Helsinki through <a href="http://www.ldcol.com/" target="_blank">Lighting Design Collective</a>, the silo is a permanent art installation and public space that visitors can walk around and enter.

LDC's design draws upon the city's industrial heritage while looking to the area's future as a residential district.

To create the light installation, LDC punctured a series of holes into the silo inspired by the existing rust patterns.

During the day, light seeps in through the 2012 holes and casts a moving light shadow as the sun crosses the sky.

At night 1280 LED lights on the exterior flicker on and off based on a bespoke software program that mimics swarms of birds in flight.

The bird swarms are a reference to the site's seaside location and the prevailing winds are used to trigger the unique patterns.

Silo 468 is <a href="http://wdchelsinki2012.fi/en/news/2012-10-19/step-inside-kruunuvuorenranta-oil-silo-and-prepare-be-enchanted" target="_blank">open to the public</a> right before sunset and for a short period afterwards.

The lights remain on until 2:05 in the morning.

<a href="http://www.ldcol.com/" target="_blank"><big>+ Lighting Design Collective</big></a>

A close up from the inside, which is painted red, of the LEDs and the perforations.

Silo 468 was commissioned in honor of Helsinki being named World Design Capital 2012.