description Needle Tower II Overview
Needle Tower II is a large-scale outdoor sculpture created by American artist Kenneth Snelson. Completed in the late 1960s or early 1970s, the piece is a prominent example of tensegrity, a structural principle where solid metal tubes are held together and suspended in space entirely by the tension of steel cables. The work creates an optical illusion of weightlessness while maintaining immense structural stability. It is permanently installed in the sculpture garden of the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
help Needle Tower II FAQ
Who is the artist behind Needle Tower II?
Needle Tower II was created by Kenneth Snelson, an American sculptor renowned for exploring the concept of "tensegrity." The sculpture is a classic example of his mastery of tension and compression without the structural members physically touching.
Where can I see Needle Tower II in person?
Needle Tower II is held in the outdoor sculpture garden of the Kröller-Müller Museum, located in the Hoge Veluwe National Park in the Netherlands. It has been part of their permanent collection since its acquisition in 1971.
What materials are used to build Needle Tower II?
Snelson used aluminum tubes that do not physically touch each other, held in suspension by a network of tensioned steel cables. This brilliant engineering makes the massive structure appear incredibly lightweight and almost floating in the air.
How does the tensegrity structure of Needle Tower II work?
The tower relies on the structural principle of "tensegrity," where solid compression elements do not touch but are held together by continuous tension. This careful balance of opposing physical forces allows the sculpture to remain standing without external support.
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