JOURNEY OF CIRCUMFERENCE, 2025
Thilo Frank with Phillip C. Reiner
Installation at Woodhub, Odense, Denmark
At Woodhub, the new administrative building in Odense, Denmark, “JOURNEY OF CIRCUMFERENCE” transforms the space into a dynamic field where architecture and nature engage in continuous dialogue. This collaborative installation by artist Thilo Frank and geometric researcher Phillip C. Reiner comprises eleven interconnected sculptural elements that create thresholds for movement, encounter, and reflection throughout the site.
Each sculptural element, ranging from 0.8 to 4.4 meters in diameter, combines painted stainless steel with wooden components that establish a material connection to Woodhub itself. This choice of materials creates a seamless integration between artwork and architecture while respecting the building’s environmental context.
The cycle—nature’s constant rhythm of change and return—forms the conceptual foundation of the work. Drawing inspiration from celestial mechanics and planetary orbits, the installation manifests these cosmic principles through precise geometric relationships between elements, creating an earthbound echo of astronomical harmony.
“We wanted to create a work that responds to both natural and human rhythms,” says Phillip C. Reiner. “The installation changes throughout the day as sunlight moves across it, creating overlapping shadow patterns that trace the passage of time.”
A sophisticated lighting system enhances this temporal dimension, responding to shifting daylight conditions. At dusk and dawn, integrated lights gradually illuminate or dim, mirroring natural light transitions and transforming the installation into a living entity that breathes with environmental rhythms.
The visitor’s experience is fundamentally relational—as one moves through and around the installation, perspectives continuously shift, revealing new configurations between elements. This kinesthetic dimension invites active engagement, with meaning emerging through movement rather than passive observation.
Frank and Reiner’s collaboration combines complementary expertise: Frank creates installations that lead viewers into interactive physical dialogues, while Reiner contributes parametric systems that translate scientific principles into sensory experiences. This installation continues their collaborative trajectory established through previous works such as “SONIC” (2017), “You and I wandering on the snake’s tail” (2015), and “Circumpolar Lantern” (2014).
Beyond aesthetic enhancement, “JOURNEY OF CIRCUMFERENCE” creates a distinct identity for its surroundings while introducing contemplation into an administrative environment typically defined by functionality. In an age dominated by virtual experiences, it stands as a testament to physical presence and cyclical time, inviting us to rediscover connections between architecture, nature, and human experience.
The installation opens to the public in Juli 2025, and will be accessible during Woodhub’s regular operating hours.
About the Artists:
Thilo Frank (b. 1978, Waiblingen) creates installations that emphasize our perception of light, space, and movement in poetic ways. Previously an assistant at Studio Olafur Eliasson (2007-2017), he has exhibited internationally at venues including ARKEN Museum of Modern Art and Kunsthalle Vienna.
Phillip C. Reiner (b. 1981, Salzburg) is an architect, artist, and researcher at the intersection of science and art. After studying architecture in Berlin and Vienna, he worked at Studio Olafur Eliasson (2010-2022) as head of the Advanced Geometries Department before founding protoCtrl, his independent research platform.
For more information, please contact:
Thilo Frank: [email protected]
Phillip C. Reiner: [email protected]
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Title: Journey of Circumference
Accessibility: July 2025
Duration: Permanent Installation
Location: Woodhub, Odense, Denmark
ARTISTS
Thilo Frank
- Artist - Contact: [email protected] - Website: https://thilofrank.net
Phillip C. Reiner
- Artist, Designer, Researcher - Contact: [email protected] - Website: https://protoctrl.com
INSTALLATION SPECIFICATIONS
Elements: 11 sculptural elements
Scale: 0.8 to 4.4 meters in diameter
Materials:
- Painted stainless steel - Thermo-wood
Technical Features:
- Responsive lighting systems - Daylight-sensitive illumination - Integration with building infrastructure - Environmental responsiveness
LOCATION & VENUE
Venue: Woodhub
Address: Lerchesgade 30, 5000 Odense, Denmark
Building Type: Administrative building / Architectural hub
Building Facts: Denmark’s largest timber office building (31,000 m²)
Capacity: 1,600 public employees, eight state institutions
Context: Public accessibility within building operating hours
BUILDING ARCHITECTURE
Architect: C.F. Møller Architects
Key Architect: Thue Borgen Hasløv (Partner and Architect)
Website: https://www.cfmoller.com
Completion: 2025
Credits
Images: Studio Thilo Frank; Phillip C. Reiner
ADDITIONAL LINKS
· Thilo Frank
· Phillip C. Reiner / protoCtrl
· C.F. Møller Architects - WoodHub
· WoodHub
