Monument to the Sun

Monument to the Sun
Greeting to the Sun
Spomenik suncu
Pozdrav suncu

Monument to the Sun (center) and Sea organ (right)
Designer Nikola Bašić
Completion date 2008
Dedicated to Sun

Monument to the Sun or The Greeting to the Sun (Croatian: Pozdrav suncu) is the monument in Zadar, Croatia dedicated to the Sun. It consists of three hundred multi-layered glass plates placed on the same level with the stone-paved waterfront in the shape of a 22-meter diameter circle, with the hoto-voltage solar modules underneath. Lighting elements installed in a circle turn on at night, and produce show of light. Monument symbolizes communication with nature, with the aim to communicate with light, while the nearby Sea organ represent aim to communicate with sound.

Location

Monument is located on the western point of the Zadar peninsula
Monument during the day
Monument during the night

Monument is located on the entrance to the port of the Croatian town of Zadar on the western point of the Zadar peninsula, next to the Sea Organ.

Description

Monument consists of 300 multi-layered glass plates placed on the same level with the stone-paved waterfront in the shape of a 22-meter diameter circle. Beside the main (Sun) installation, looking from the west side, above the Sea organ, are placed similar smaller installations representing other planets of the solar system. Sheet size of the Sun and planets are proportional, as well as the distance from the center of each plate for themselves, but not both at the same time because the planet installations would have to be from a few hundred meters to several tens of kilometers away from the Sun. Beneath the glass are photo-voltage solar modules with lighting elements which turn on at night, and produce show of light.[1][2][3]

On the chrome ring that surrounds the photo-voltage solar modules on the Sun, are inscribed the names of all of the saints after which present and previous churches on the Zadar peninsula have been named. Next to their names and the date of their feast are the declination and the altitude of the sun north or south of the equator (DEC minimum of -23 degrees to a maximum of 23 degrees), the length of the sunlight in the meridian on that day, and in that place on the waterfront, which makes this Monument kind of a calendar. This was prepared in cooperation with marine scientist, prof. Maksim Klarin from Zadar Maritime School. Professor Klarin also determined Monument's show of light start and off time for next 50 years (starting in 2008).[4]

Solar modules

Photo-voltage solar modules absorb light energy, transform it into electricity and release it into the distributive voltage power network. It is expected that the entire system annually produce about 46,500 kWh, making it a small powerhouse. Besides for the Monument itself it also produces half of the total amount energy needed for lighting of Zadar waterfront.[3]

Cost

Cost of constructing the Monument was around 8 million kunas (excluding VAT) (c. 1,3 million euros), while the overall cost that included landscaping around the Monument totaled 50 million kunas (c. 7 million euros). Significant cost of the Monument represents its maintenance due to its exposure to sunlight, moisture and salt. Cost of Monument's maintenance from 2008-2013 totaled around 700 thousand kunas.[5]

Vandalism

Vandalized solar module

Damages, such as cracks on solar modules, have been seen on several occasions, mostly on the Sun installation, where 12 solar modules have been damaged, as well as on Jupiter and Saturn installations. It was thought at first that the cause of the cracks was hitting modules several times with an extremely heavy metal object because they can take a capacity of 400 kg, and are extremely difficult to break. It was later discovered by chance from the nearby ferry security camera footage that the cracks were caused by 3500 kg pickup truck that ran over modules. After this damage City introduced 24 hours supervisor and surveillance cameras that monitor the Monument. In June 2009, a unidentified hard object smashed 4 modules, and on night of August 8, 2 more. Nevertheless, all broken modules have been replaced with new ones.[6]

Gallery

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Monument to the Sun in Zadar.

References

  1. ↑ "Turistička zajednica Grada Zadra - Vodič - Atrakcije - Pozdrav Suncu".
  2. ↑ "Zadarski pozdrav suncu".
  3. 1 2 http://repam.net/uploads/repam/document_translations/doc/000/000/003/GradZadar_Pozdrav_suncu_Zadar_20110510.pdf?2011
  4. ↑ "Astronomski podaci na instalaciji Pozdrav Suncu - Zadarski list".
  5. ↑ "Je li cijena zadarske atrakcije Pozdrav Suncu previsoka?". Vijesti.hr.
  6. ↑ B.V. "Vandali ponovno oštetili zadarsku atrakciju Pozdrav suncu". Dnevnik.hr.
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