Colour experience
Set a Sun is an artistic textile installation that transforms Designskolen Kolding into an experiential colour space. Designed by Maria Kirk Mikkelsen, Senior Lecturer and PhD student at the Lab for Social Design, the project explores the interplay between light, colour, and perception. By layering Kvadrat textiles in a dynamic composition, the installation creates an evolving atmosphere where visitors become co-creators of the space.
Playing with the transient nature of colour, the textiles allow light to pass through, intensifying hues and revealing textures. As curtains are drawn and retracted, overlapping layers generate new optical colour blends, creating an ever-changing environment where visitors become co-creators of the space.
The varying heights and placements of the textiles define spatial boundaries, subtly suggesting ceilings, walls, and floors. Perspectives shift depending on the viewer’s position, offering multiple interpretations of the space. From the café area, a textile at first-floor level may appear as a ceiling, while from the second-floor walkway, it is experienced differently. This fluidity enhances the sense of movement and depth within the building.
“Choosing Kvadrat textiles was instinctive. I never considered another manufacturer. I have worked with Kvadrat’s fabrics before and know many of their designers personally. Their textiles offered the perfect balance of aesthetic depth and material integrity needed for this project. Hallingdal was the obvious choice for the furniture. Its coarse wool texture in a simple weave structure anchors the installation, echoing the raw architectural elements such as the concrete floors and exposed ventilation pipes. The transparent curtains were equally important; in this project, they are not about blocking light but rather shaping and colouring it. Kvadrat’s collection allowed me to explore a broad spectrum of tonal nuances, textures, and layering effects, making light and colour an integral part of the spatial experience.”
Maria Kirk Mikkelsen, Senior Lecturer and PhD student, Lab for Social Design
Beyond its artistic expression, Set a Sun creates a scenographic installation with shifting atmospheres, where observers become creators. The textiles improve acoustics, provide blackout where needed, create flexible spatial divisions, and enhance the sense of movement. Its colours partially reflect the school’s graphic identity and support wayfinding.
By seamlessly blending art, architecture, and function, Set a Sun establishes an immersive environment where colour is not only seen but transforming light into a living presence within Designskolen Kolding.