"Heaven on Earth" project by Shirin Abedinirad

One of the first uses of mirrors in architecture was in Persepolis, Persia at the Tachara Palace. Glossy black stones were polished till their surface was reflective, expanding the palace’s size and beauty. My idea was to return the concept of doubling space and light.

In my “Heaven on Earth” project, the basic geometric shapes and symmetrical composition of the mirrors are angling up the cement stairs. For me the use of mirrors is integral to creating a paradise; mirrors give light, an important mystical concept in Persian culture. When the audience stands at the top of the stairs and looks down, they come face to face with an optical illusion that increases their light, and therefore their spirituality of the space. The blue sky spills onto the ground, mimicking a pool, and the audience is momentarily overcome with the desire to jump into the light.

More info: shirinabedinirad.com

Artist taps old computer parts for techie cityscapes

Old motherboards get a new lease on life in the hands of one Italian artist who makes art out of old computer parts.

A circuit-sized view of Central Park in New York.

For some people, old circuit boards and computer components needlessly fill up space, awaiting a proper sendoff to the electronics recycling facility. Italian artist Franco Recchia sees opportunity in those old parts, though, and instead creates fascinating miniature city skylines with the pieces of forgotten technology

The artist covers an array of major cities, including New York, Chicago, Detroit, and more. In an interview with the Agora art gallery, Recchia reveals that he often finds parts in "trash heaps" and that it takes four different styles of welding to make the techno cities.

Recchia created this unique vision of Manhattan out of frames used in computer cases.

"Recchia seeks in his sculptures to bring dignity to the process of modern creation, to highlight how every product produced by human hands contains talent, imagination and great beauty, and ultimately stems from the vast reservoir of human experience of which we are all a part," says a statement from the Agora gallery. "His sculptures are indeed a testament to what is beautiful, elegant, and functional in the modern object, and are a tribute to the aptitude and passion that are our inheritance."

                                                          Franco Recchia, Boston

Franco Recchia, Metropolis

Parking canopy made from 1,500 recycled plastic bottles

With gyres of it swirling in our oceans, to landfills packed to overflowing with it, plastics are a true, non-biodegradable modern day bane. To tackle this pervasive problem, we've found various ways to recycle, upcycle and transform plastics into clothing, architecture and art, often with surprising results. Using 1,500 recycled bottles, this new parking canopy in Lincoln, Nebraska, shows that old plastic bottles can still impart a fresh aesthetic.

Created by American artist Garth Britzman, in collaboration with University of Nebraska students, this piece, titled (POP)culture, took 200 hours to make and features a bit of coloured liquid within each bottle, adding some vibrancy to the transparent plastic.

Britzman explains: This temporary installation used recycled soda bottles as a canopy under which a small park is created. An intriguing environment is created where one can explore the surface qualities of the bottles at eye level. Additionally, this project sought to stimulate creative alternatives for recycling and reusing materials.

Bright and quirky, this project demonstrates that a simple (and problematic) material can easily be transformed into something quite striking. More over at Garth Britzman's site.