Sky Pylon

The Sky Pylon design process strove to reduce the dimensions of existing pylons.  A reduced size alleviates the visual presence of a pylon and saves material.  An assessment of the established design guidelines and regulations looked to reduce the prescribed distance of 8 m between electrical phases.

We analysed all the demands of the standard requirements in both 2D and 3D technical drawings and concluded that the distance could be reduced to just 6 metres.  This enabled us to design a pylon, where all phases are suspended in one horizontal plane, closer to the ground.

The conductors are carried by a power pylon with a simple and optimistic shape.  A pylon proudly raising its arms towards the sky stating that electricity is easily carried and provided to each and every household.

The core of the pylon is made from high tension steel with a section of 140 X 140 cm.  The thickness of the shaft walls and the cross-arms varies from 40 mm at ground level to 3 mm at the end of the cross-arm.  An essential element is the node, where the shaft and cross-arms meet.  This was designed using Finite Element (FE) analysis to ensure the required strength and durability.

The reflecting surface is made of plates of stainless steel bent into shape and mounted on the main structure with magnets.  Stainless steel is available with a wide range of properties from standard cold rolled that reflects the light in a subtle way, to the finely polished that literally mirrors the surroundings.

The pylon and its surroundings combine in a three-dimensional image where the pylon becomes the sky, and the sky becomes the pylon.  The conductors seem to hover over the landscape.  The Sky Pylon is one of several elements of the design work that led to the Eagle Pylon.