Maike Gebker and Susanne Wieland
Stone
Learning from Reflections
Video and image by Maike Gebker & Susanne Wieland
“Translating a scientific tool through design.”
Stone
This project outcome is a design translation of a scientific tool, to determine the leaf foliage of trees, called a densimeter. This hand-sized detecting tool enables scientists to collect data through a mirrored sphere.
We transformed this little device into a participatory object and reflective design experience. A mirrored stone-shaped sculpture on the forest floor encourages forest visitors to count the sky, with the help of an additional grid. Through the detection of the precise position of the sky and therefore the lack of leaves in the tree canopy, phenological data for scientists is being collected.
This sculpture opens up a new perspective on the forest ecosystem and its temporalities. Since the tree crown is normally out of our human eye level and therefore hidden from our view and awareness.
Changing the perception of forest floor temporalities as well as seasonal changes in the leaf foliage, by showing how much light reaches the ground. The light, which affects the species living on the trees, as well as on the floor of the forest habitat.