American design and architecture firm Choi + Shine has entered a design for giant electrical pylons in the shape of humans into the Icelandic High-Voltage Electrical Pylon International Design Competition. Now Iceland just needs some cash to pay for them.

The firm described the concept on its website:

Like the statues of Easter Island, it is envisioned that these one hundred and fifty foot tall, modern caryatids will take on a quiet authority, belonging to their landscape yet serving the people, silently transporting electricity across all terrain, day and night, sunshine or snow.

The pylons would all have the same assembled parts — forearms, hands, torsos, upper legs, feet, joints and so on — allowing them to be built to conform to the surrounding landscape.

Subtle alterations in the hands and head combined with repositioning of the main body parts in the x, y and z-axis, allow for a rich variety of expressions. The pylon-figures can be placed in pairs, walking in the same direction or opposite directions, glancing at each other as they pass by or kneeling respectively, head bowed at a town.

Good luck with the loan application, Iceland!


[Wired; Images via Choi + Shine]