Kinetic Twisters
Candy Land
Fashion and fantasy share the stage at Crystals in CityCenter, Las Vegas’ newest mega complex. But architectural grandeur steals the show at this most prestigious and glitzy retail venue, designed to put patrons in absolute awe.
Icing on the cake comes in the form of a dramatic holiday display in which 800 brilliant twisters resembling modernistic candy canes twirl kinetically from the ceiling during winter season. The 8 foot by 2 foot structures are strung together to reach heights up to 60 feet.
Created by renowned designer Stephen Stefanou of Dallas-based Design Solutions, each kinetic twist is hand-formed of Eastman Spectar™ copolyester and finished in metallic red film reversing to holographic silver as it spins in place.
Installation of the twisters, debuted in the 2010 season, caused a bit of a stir: a fire alarm was inadvertently tripped, exit doors opened and drafts of wind filled interior hallways. But Stefanou took the opportunity to photograph his work.
“We had installed wind fans to animate the twists but with the real breeze coming in all directions, the effect was magical and we could really see the importance of animation for the full aesthetic impact.
“This was a wildly complex technical procedure,” he says of the structural aspects of the twisters, rigging and design. With a career that spans 40 years, the veteran designer of seasonal displays and sculptural art freely admits, “Part of my formula is to make things as complicated as possible.” But he’s known for conquering with quiet resolve, as well as for his ability to adapt to architectural style.
Architect's Dream
Reputedly the largest development in the U.S., MGM’s CityCenter features the collaborative work of celebrated architects Daniel Libeskind, David Rockwell, Rafael Viñoly, Eugene Kohn, Art Gensler, Helmet Jahn, Cesar Pelli and scores of other designers.
“The project premise called for different architects to blend iconic styles in a completely new and spectacular city of the future,” explains Stefanou.
Gensler, the lead architect, brings the point home with this memorable quote: “Vegas is the one place where you definitely don't play off the neighbors."
Understanding the scope of the project, it’s not surprising that even Stefanou’s execution of holiday décor at Crystals was monumental, taking three and a half years of design and 67 renderings.
“Much of contemporary art has gone to installation,” explains Stefanou, “it’s absolutely an extension of the architecture – installing art that highlights the architectural theme.”
Meeting all the design, marketing and cost parameters was only half the challenge: “The real job is to satisfy the architects; if this is accomplished then the client is happy,” says Stefanou. “You have to give them something godly. They don’t want crap in their palace.”
If Stefanou’s motivation comes from pleasing the team of architects, his inspiration comes from understanding their vision, along with a bit of nostalgia.
“I wanted to create a singular experience where we can feel like a child again for a moment,” he says. “It’s subliminal access to a subconscious happiness level that takes you back to a tinsel world, a time when Christmas was exciting and fun.”
Concepts Connect
The CAD-designed twister shape – a double helix resembling the structural base of DNA molecules – was inspired by an exquisite Italian chandelier that Stefanou admired while visiting Milan. Stefanou also has studied and admired the glassworks of Dale Chihuly, whom he describes as, “the man responsible for taking glass art to the level of recognition it is today.”
“A lot of our projects emulate Chihuly’s style,” says Stefanou, “but I found a solution in Spectar™ copolyester because obviously we can’t use glass.”
Acrylics and polycarbonate materials were considered for the Kinetic Twists but Stefanou drew from past experience using Spectar™ in other high profile projects, including installations at MGM Grand in Detroit and Gaylord National Resort in Maryland.
“I was more comfortable with Spectar™ because of temperature and memory forming capabilities,” says Stefanou. “Because of ultraviolet heating to 220 degrees, the material became leather-like. We had 12 men ready to move in less than one minute to the custom mold to sculpt the twisters.
“Casting it for a day gave it the pre-stress twist and then we had to hand-apply film to add texture. We had an ocean of people applying strips of foil vinyl – extruded film of silver Mylar on red Mylar embossed for a holographic effect. The result: it looks like glitter in the Aurora Borealis.”
Material strength, weight and durability were also important attributes. With longevity in mind the displays can easily be disassembled, moved and stored so they can be used for 10-20 years or longer.
In the same way that the architectural concepts of CityCenter connect, the twisters convey a sense of collaboration and unity, and an aura of excitement that only candy canes can bring.