Lodestar - Kelowna Public Art

The Lodestar is a collaborative public art commission by DS Studio, Fishtnk, and Tom Svilans. Located in North Kelowna, British Columbia, this joint effort between the architecture firm, fabrication studio, and architectural design consultancy has resulted in a place maker for a budding neighbourhood and a shining example of how an age-old material can be digitally modified to suit contemporary needs. 

Standing 7.5 metres tall, with a radius of four metres at its base, and weighing three metric tons, The Lodestar is made from FSC-certified and laminated Yellow Alaskan Cedar (a carbon negative material), which is indigenous to the region, as well as custom-fabricated steel braces. Its design was not predetermined but agnostic – the resultant shape was dictated solely by the strength and capacity of the wood. The size and scale of its legs and cells were gradually stretched into its now signature form of straight and curved pieces. The Lodestar nods to the history of Kelowna’s timber industry, its legs recall tree trunks merging into a canopy.

“Digital modelling required an exploration of different ways to shape the wood into complex forms, balancing how it looks with how well it performs structurally,” says Tom Svilans. “Repeat prototyping and testing was key, as was developing strategies for custom joinery and detail resolution.” The finishing touch was to up light the structure with LEDs that are tucked into the ground. This both illuminates the interior faces of the elements while also creating exterior silhouettes, adding to The Lodestar’s intrigue.