Boutique Design - April 2016 - 38

5 ModVic transformed
an antique Hammond
curved typewriter into a
modern keyboard.

6 This Steampunk workstation
by Rosenbaum's firm consists
of a Victorian pump organ
melded with a state-of-theart computer system.

owned by Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers. That planetary sculpture was designed
to embody the hotel's themes of discovery and exploration, as well as the city of
Cambridge's focus on STEAM-Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Math.
THE ARMILLARY IS A PRETTY AMBITIOUS UNDERTAKING; HOW DID IT
COME ABOUT?

Simple: Dave Reilly-who was ceo at Cornerstone until early this year, when he
transitioned to vice chairman-asked the property's engineer, Jay Lyons, to
research some kinetic sculpture options for its courtyard space. After some
research on the internet, they found an article The Wall Street Journal did on my
company and called me in to brainstorm some ideas. Also working with Joe
Capalbo, the hotel's general manager, we recommended a functioning armillary-like sculpture that picked up on the discovery/exploration themes of the
hotel. I again brought in Salmon Studios to help develop the concept, engineer,
fabricate and install the sculpture.
The steel, aluminum, copper, brass and bronze sculpture features liveaction rotating gears from an old watermill in New England. It has a variety of
lighting moods for night viewing. The hotel also uses the armillary to help sell
its wedding packages, since brides can set the lighting colors of the armillary to
match their weddings' palettes.
As a result of the Steampunk whale and armillary projects, we now are not
only designing, fabricating and installing small to massive Steampunk functional sculptures, but also designing what is going around the sculptures,
including tables, chairs, kiosks, hardscaping and themed environments.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER HOSPITALITY INSTALLATIONS YOU'RE WORKING ON?

STEAMPUNK INSTALLATIONS TYPICALLY INVOLVE MOVING PARTS. HOW DO
YOU GO ABOUT MAKING THEM DURABLE?

It's true: movement and functionality are key to our designs. It's the machine/
mechanical/kinetic aspects that engage folks and gives our artwork another
dimension of connection and interaction. That said, durability is also part of
our mission. We make our machines to last forever-no thoughts about
planned obsolescence. However, as is the case with any machine that has
working, moving parts, there needs to be maintenance.
We do design and engineer our artwork to limit the amount of that kind of
work needed, but moving parts do demand lubrication and care. We set up a
schedule with our clients so they can have their own people do simple mainte38

boutiquedesign.com april 2016

J A K E V O N S L AT T, S T E A M P U N K W O R K S H O P

Our latest large-scale project is designing a park and large functional sculptures
for the upcoming MGM Resort in Springfield, Massachusetts. Other projects on
our boards include: A beer bottling machine/central fountain for a beer garden in
Austin, Texas; a wine elevator/time-travel machine, using an 1800s clock-tower
mechanism, for a winery in California's Napa Valley; and a 9-11 memorial for the
newly restored Union Station in Springfield, Massachusetts, honoring the first
responders who died at the World Trade Center in New York. We are incorporating a 12-ft. steel beam salvaged from one of the towers in our concept design.

http://www.boutiquedesign.com

Boutique Design - April 2016

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