SOFTlab, a NYC-based design studio founded by Michael Szivos after earning his architecture graduate degree from Columbia University, blends research-driven design with technology, craft, and materials. They explore art, architecture, and beyond, inspired by the world’s unpredictability and human interaction. Embracing complexity over order, SOFTlab sees technology as a catalyst for new perspectives, playfulness, and beauty. Their projects aim to evoke wonder and redefine our connections with each other and our surroundings.
Michael Szivos, besides leading SOFTlab, is a senior critic at Yale University’s School of Architecture, guiding graduate studios, and an adjunct professor at Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture, focusing on thesis instruction.
Artwork description
Mirror Mirror invites visitors to explore both inside and around it, reminiscent of a lighthouse. Inspired by historic Fresnel lenses, known for concentrating light into a narrow beam, its form and interactive design highlight reflection and refraction. Clad in mirrors, the exterior reflects the urban surroundings, while inside, a spectrum-tinted surface adds vibrancy. The artwork integrates sound-responsive LED lights, allowing visitors to interact and alter its appearance with voice and movement. This interplay creates dynamic, colourful reflections and transforms the structure into a beacon of light and activity within the park environment.