Cherry Blossoms at 1200 Fifth Ave | Claire Butwinick

The award-winning Seattle-based lighting and sculpture studio LightArt recently completed Cherry Blossoms at 1200 Fifth Ave in Downtown Seattle — a sculptural installation inspired by the Japanese architecture of the historic building, designed in 1963 by the renowned architect Minoru Yamasaki. LightArt was tasked by Nelson Worldwide, an award-winning creative design firm, with creating an inspiring and symbolic sculpture to hang in the building's entry — a welcoming symbol to employees, clients, and guests. 

LightArt rose to the occasion, creating large-scale branches peppered with cherry blossoms by utilizing parent company 3form’s formable resin material — Varia. LightArt states, “3form’s Varia can do a lot that glass can’t because it’s tougher and lighter. We take these concepts and really push them into something you didn’t think was possible by using this material.” 

The calming sculpture interacts with the lobby’s central spiral staircase and a mirrored ceiling. The goal was to create a simple and minimal installation with a big impact, highlighting the lobby’s height without taking away from the original mid-century modern detailing.