Located in the shallows of the UC Berkley's California Native section you will find a sanctuary of glowing light and glass, Sol Grotto. Sol (or sun) and Grotto (cave like area usually located in a garden space), began as a collaborative project between The University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley and a select group of artists, writers, architects and researchers have merged their skills and passions with horticulturists to develop new projects.
The 1,368 tube's of Sol Grotto were originally designed to:
- Transmit cool air into the cave like space via the Venturi effect
- Amplify sound vibrations off of the tubes from a nearby waterfall and creek from the
- Create a different sensory enhanced experience in the garden
Sol Grotto's tubes naturally glow, but how? The electric-blue glow of Sol Grotto's mesmerizing tubes come from the direct and ambient light conducted through the glass. Throughout the day as the outside light and temperature changes, so do the glass tubes. A design prompted by the now bankrupt solar company Solyndra. For more on Solyndra's tubes visit: CSB New's Station - San Francisco
