Parhelia | Asif Khan

Swarovski Crystal Palace partners with Asif Khan on Parhelia, an experimental architecture installation unveiled at Design Miami/, December 5-9, 2012 in Miami Beach, Florida. The installation is Swarovski Crystal Palace’s seventh consecutive exhibition at Design Miami/, following installations by Ross Lovegrove, Greg Lynn, Troika, Fredrikson Stallard, Eyal Burstein, and Erwin Redl. Khan’s design for Swarovski Crystal Palace incorporates over 1.3 million Swarovski crystals in an architectural structure nearly 20 feet high. The piece features a dramatic façade featuring crystallized halos that appear to follow visitors as they move through the exhibition space. Visitors are invited to go inside the structure where they will see an infinitely reflected crystalline interior. A skylight within the structure allows natural light to interact with Khan’s design, thereby creating a dynamic visual display that will change throughout the day and into the evening. Parhelia not only allows visitors to explore the sensory influence of crystals but also their phototropic effect on humans. “Parhelia is an experiment that begins at the crossroads of architecture and nature,” says Khan. “I was first inspired by the atmospheric and optical properties of the sky in northern latitudes and with the idea of transporting its light to a contrasting environment. This installation is about exploring the use of crystal as a medium to infuse architecture with light." Keeping with his research-based approach to design, Khan collaborated with Manchester University, UK, to gain a further understanding of ice halos, where he and his team were able to create the world’s first indoor ice halo, much to the surprise of the University’s scientists. Parhelia, meaning “Beside the Sun,” in Greek is an experiment of architecture and nature. Parhelia describes manifestations of light and halos, rare luminous rings which appear in the sky due to atmospheric ice crystals and low sun. Khan’s immersive installation explores the relationship between crystal, light, architecture and nature, while recreating this optical phenomenon - inspired by the optical properties of the sky in the arctic and northern regions - in the geographically contrasting tropical climate of Miami Beach. This latest collaboration is another example of Swarovski Crystal Palace’s mission to support emerging talent from the fields of architecture, design, art, and technology. This year’s installation, with its focus on nature and naturally occurring forms, demonstrates the purest and most authentic expression of crystal. “For ten years, Swarovski Crystal Palace has been a revolutionary project aimed at creating signature interpretations of light and design. Swarovski commissioned Asif Khan to create a concept for Design Miami/ that is inspired by nature while incorporating crystal in an instrumental way in his creation. The result is a ground-breaking architectural experience that will allow the visitor to experience a “natural” phenomenon that would otherwise never been seen in Miami.” says Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Executive Board, Swarovski Crystal Business.