jingyang (leo) liu

the beacon

Building upon ongoing interdisciplinary research at the intersection of architecture, healthcare, medicine, textile design, fiber science, and biology, The Beacon presents an innovative approach to human-centered environments through high-performance, form-fitting lightweight structures. The 20-foot-tall free-standing installation is designed to adapt to dynamic environmental inputs, utilizing mathematically generated forms activated by co-evolving datasets—such as human interaction via the Beacon app and turgidity data gathered from plants along the Rail Park. The structure is composed of knitted and woven lightweight materials, held in tension by non-standard, laser-cut steel modules, with a design that seamlessly integrates adaptive and high-performance properties.

The Beacon represents one of the first large-scale architectural constructions utilizing drones, which, over the course of 10 days, weave photoluminescent micro-cord in response to real-time human engagement with the app. The project employs responsive materials, such as solar-active and photoluminescent yarns, that react to sunlight and human interaction, integrating cutting-edge fiber manipulation techniques to achieve large-scale color shifts in response to environmental conditions. This process bridges advancements in digital fabrication and emerging materials with architectural design, linking the fields of medicine and architecture in novel ways.

By incorporating technology and design, The Beacon fosters a multi-disciplinary dialogue and promotes active exchange between fields. The structure’s responsive qualities, particularly its ability to transform spatial and light experiences, aim to inspire collective engagement, play, and a sense of levity within urban spaces and beyond.