The challenge
In 2019, sculptor Nikolas Weinstein was commissioned by the Solaire Resort North in Manila, Philippines, to create a glass installation for the building’s main public atrium. Known for his innovative approach, Nikolas creates large-scale glass installations for architectural spaces.
Mangrove, inspired by the intricate root systems of native mangrove trees, was designed to be the centrepiece of the development’s ‘Urban Oasis’ theme, bringing nature and organic form into the space. The scale of sculpture was unprecedented for Nikolas Weinstein Studios’, requiring intricate design and delicate materials, able to withstand a challenging environment.
Software used on this project
The solution
Weinstein enlisted the support of Arup’s structural and materials experts to achieve a large, complex structure capable of withstanding seismic conditions, crucial as the Philippines is located within a region highly prone to earthquakes, Circum-Pacific Belt also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The Arup team carried out extensive structural calculations and developed detailed structural models in Oasys GSA and Ansys LS-DYNA models in the Oasys LS-DYNA Environment to ensure the stability of the structure and its resilience to seismic loads. Oasys PRIMER played a key role in model setup, checking, and managing the complexity of the large-scale simulation. These simulations represented every component of the sculpture, including glass tubes, wires, spines, and cable arrays, with each element interacting uniquely with its neighbours and external forces.
“The simulations ended up being a lot more complicated than I think any of us anticipated, just because every single piece was doing a slightly different thing, and all those things had to be iterated with all the different seismic cycles.” – Nikolas Weinstein
The team used Oasys D3PLOT and Oasys T/HIS to analyse the non-linear behaviour of fabric woven from curved glass tubes and steel wire, first testing them physically in Nikolas’ studio, then replicating the conditions in Oasys PRIMER. By comparing extracted curves in Oasys T/HIS, Arup ensured accurate mimicry before scaling up in the full structural model, giving the team confidence in its stability.
Oasys D3PLOT and D3PLOT Viewer helped identify structural weaknesses, such as excessive stresses in all the structural elements, under gravity and seismic loading e.g. cable strength. Extensive connection studies were conducted, and physical tests on small assemblies and individual components verified the accuracy of the simulations. This iterative process allowed the team to refine the models and address potential points of failure.
The analysis and testing process informed numerous design adjustments to mitigate stresses, deflections, and failures. For example, cable arrays were modified to relieve areas prone to deflection in the metal spines. Curvature and Mold libraries were also optimised to address aesthetic challenges like gaps between curved glass elements.
Oasys D3PLOT Viewer was invaluable for bridging artistic vision and engineering expertise, making models accessible and allowing effective collaboration.
The results
The fabrication of the elements composing the mangrove sculpture were carried out in Nikolas Weinstein’s studios in New York City and San Francisco. The team designed custom machinery and equipment that were paired with digital tools and hand-crafted workmanship to accomplish this monumental artwork. Each of the sculptures’ 16,385 glass tubes has a unique length and arc and is cut, polished, fired and woven into a textile by hand.
The artwork was crafted in modular sections and transported to Manila in five 40-foot containers. On-site, a team of over 40 crew members spent six months weaving the intricate glass fabric into position. Over 11 kilometres of borosilicate glass tubing were interwoven with aircraft cable and modular stainless-steel spines to create a structurally integral sculptural material.
After more than four years in the making, Mangrove was officially unveiled, seamlessly integrating into the architecture of the Philippine resort. The installation serves as the artistic focal point of the resort’s public space, forming an immersive environment of archways and glass tendrils, inviting visitors to explore it from all angles.
With Arup’s support, Weinstein pioneered a new approach to glass sculpture at an architectural scale, developing a continuous and flexible glass matrix that operates like a textile. This innovation allowed for a scale previously inaccessible in glass art, with the final sculpture weighing in at 13 metric tonnes and at 28 meters long, 35 meters wide, and 27 meters tall.
“This project pushed the boundaries of dynamic structural modelling. I think what surprised everyone was how complex a sculpture can be compared to a skyscraper. Even London’s “Gherkin”, which Arup supported in engineering, had a computer model 1/70th the size of Mangrove.” – Graham Dodd, leader of Arup’s materials science team