The White Room (www.thewhiteroomcec.com) are developing an arts strategy for GMPTE - looking at how art might enhance the experience people have on Greater Manchester's transport network.

This blog will provide a window into this work; sharing quotes, vox-pops, and examples of cities across the world have fused public art with public transport to great effect.

We need your input in this process - there's no excuse to get involved - whether your an artist, a member of the public or one of our strategic partners...share your thoughts.
01 Apr 09
The Subway Light by Caroline Pham Caroline’s winning conceptual submission is a public art piece that encourages biophilia and, in effect, promotes energy saving technology while providing sunlight to sun-deprived underground subways. By using fiber optic technology and patented sunlight collection panels, she plans to introduce sunlight to one of the most frequently enclosed urban environments: The Subway. The technology would be used to illuminate windows and sitting areas, which are graphically designed to illustrate elements of natural and urban landscape integration. Caroline’s basis for this work is inspired by her observation of sun-deprived urban residents and its effects on their lives. Sunlight, as opposed to artificial light, contains a full spectrum of colors, which when absorbed by people helps control the body’s hormonal system, improve mood, enhance morale, lower fatigue, and reduce eyestrain, amongst its myriad of beneficial effects. She invites interaction with people in the subways by extruding a series of benches from the sunlight flooded frosted glass art pieces, further enhancing the experience. Designer: Caroline Pham

The Subway Light by Caroline Pham

Caroline’s winning conceptual submission is a public art piece that encourages biophilia and, in effect, promotes energy saving technology while providing sunlight to sun-deprived underground subways. By using fiber optic technology and patented sunlight collection panels, she plans to introduce sunlight to one of the most frequently enclosed urban environments: The Subway. The technology would be used to illuminate windows and sitting areas, which are graphically designed to illustrate elements of natural and urban landscape integration.

Caroline’s basis for this work is inspired by her observation of sun-deprived urban residents and its effects on their lives. Sunlight, as opposed to artificial light, contains a full spectrum of colors, which when absorbed by people helps control the body’s hormonal system, improve mood, enhance morale, lower fatigue, and reduce eyestrain, amongst its myriad of beneficial effects. She invites interaction with people in the subways by extruding a series of benches from the sunlight flooded frosted glass art pieces, further enhancing the experience.

Designer: Caroline Pham