La Nef solaire, Monumental sundial sculpture at A9 motorway rest area in Tavel, France
La Nef solaire is a monumental sundial made of steel and concrete located at the Tavel Nord rest area along the A9 motorway. The structure consists of two intersecting pyramid-shaped forms that function as both a working timepiece and an artistic installation.
The work was created in 1993 through a collaboration between sculptor Odile Mir, astronomer Denis Savoie, and engineer Robert Queudot. This partnership united artistic vision with scientific precision and technical expertise.
This public art installation represents the intersection of art, astronomy, and engineering, demonstrating how scientific principles merge with artistic expression.
You can visit the work free of charge during a stop at the Tavel Nord rest area. Keep in mind that the displayed time requires conversion from solar time to Central European Time to determine the actual clock time.
The structure changes its appearance throughout the day as sunlight interacts with the geometric forms and creates different shadow patterns. This transformation makes each visit a different visual experience.
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