A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
Swarovski Crystal Palace is pleased to announce its sixth consecutive year as the main sponsor of Design Miami/. This year, Swarovski Crystal Palace has commissioned award-winning, Brazilian architect and designer Guilherme Torres to create an installation inspired by water conservation and stewardship.
The importance of water as a resource in the crystal making process led to the creation of the Swarovski Waterschool in 1999. Currently active in many countries worldwide, the Swarovski Waterschool program will expand to Brazil in 2014 to teach school-aged children about water conservation.

Titled Mangue Groove, this experimental architectural installation is being unveiled at Design Miami/, December 4 — 8, 2013 in Miami Beach, Florida.
Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Guilherme Torres to create our Swarovski Crystal Palace for Design Miami this year.”
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
Torres’ built environment occurs at the intersection of the natural, architectural and mathematical spheres. Inspired by Brazilian mangrove forests and the Voronoi diagram (in which space is divided into a number of cells with corresponding focal points), the structure has mathematically explore the balance between nature and science.
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
Mangrove forests — mangue in Portuguese — have long been considered emblematic of Brazil’s natural beauty and are essential for protecting coastal environments. Torres has deliberately placed the mangrove at the heart of his concept in order to draw attention to the growing conversation around the preservation of Brazil’s endangered aquatic ecosystems.
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
Torres’s design has incorporated Swarovski’s lead-free Advanced Crystal that fills synthetic tubes, linked by geometric joints and lit with energy efficient LEDs. The structure itself resembles a mangrove forest, with the joints at intervals throughout the space that follow the naturally occurring Voronoi diagram. Visitors can navigate through the space by walking on pathways of certified and reclaimed wood, in between the rising mangrove structures positioned above a shallow pool. Torres’s concept artistically reflects Swarovski’s commitment to conservation.
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
“I am always studying nature and science — these are things that fascinate me!” says Torres. “Mathematics is part of my creative process and I feel privileged to be working with Swarovski Crystal Palace. This project has allowed me to think outside of the box and explore the combination of crystals, nature and science.”
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
To maximize the interplay between the varied shapes and materials, Mangue Groove is being an immersive experience, experimenting with the introduction of light and sound. Each day at 5:00pm, a dynamic mixture of light patterns and sound recordings slowly grows in movement and tempo, until the environment is marked by the symbols of an Amazonian sunset.
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
 
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
A Forest of Sophistication by Swarovski Crystal Palace
“Torres’ piece is a reflection on the topic of conserving natural resources, a central theme of Swarovski’s newly created foundation. He has brought to life the powerful but fragile beauty of Brazil’s endangered mangrove forests in a resonantly beautiful and inspiring work, continuing his design vision with Swarovski crystal,” says Nadja Swarovski.
mangue groove by guilherme torres
You’ve never seen a more stunning installation based on a mangrove forest.
swarovski crystal palace mangue groove light effect
swarovski crystal palace mangue groove light and crystals effect
 
The Swarovski Crystal Palace installation, “Mangue Groove” also feels very Miami: one of our own local habitats rendered in glittery gold, with wooden platforms and a blazing digital sunset surround.