Header image courtesy of Land Art Generator
Sometimes, art is more than just art, as with Houston’s next piece of public art. Billed as the world’s largest sundial, the Arco del Tiempo, or Arch of Time, will produce renewable energy for the local community.
As reported by Digital Trends, the work of Berlin-based artist/architect Riccardo Mariano will be installed in the East End district of Houston in 2024.
The Arco del Tiempo, a 100-foot-tall installation, works to keep time, apart from producing 400,000 kWh of year annually, enough to satisfy the power demand of 40 local homes. It will power the Talento Bilingue de Houston cultural hub nearby.
The public art will beam sunlight on the Guadalupe Plaza Park, with the light patterns changing with the sun’s movement. PV panels on the installation’s surface will harvest sunlight. The space under the arch can host public events at night.
Artist Mariano describes the Arco del Tiempo as “a practical example to illustrate the movement of the earth around the sun in a playful way.”
Mayor Sylvester Turner commented, “This unique artwork is more than a sculpture. It is a renewable energy power plant. It is a monument to a new era of energy.
“The City of Houston has always stood at the vanguard of energy innovation and the Arco del Tiempo artwork stands in that tradition, highlighting Houston’s role as an art city and as global leader in the energy transition.”
Renewable Brief 