André Heller
Multimedia artist André Heller created a world of wonder to celebrate Swarovski’s hundredth anniversary in 1995. Heller’s thematic centerpiece for Swarovski Kristallwelten was the shape of the Giant. And he developed the story of a Giant who set out to experience the world and all of its treasures and wonders. With this knowledge, the Giant settled down in Wattens/Tyrol, where he has watched over his Chambers of Wonder ever since.
The dome in the Crystal Dome consists of 595 mirrors that create a special depth effect and give you the feeling of being inside a crystal. Eight one-way mirrors conceal fascinating objects created by different artists. Brian Eno composed the atmospheric sounds heard inside the Crystal Dome.
The Crystal Dome is modeled on Sir Richard Buckminster Fuller’s (1895–1983) geodesic dome, a spectacular example of geodesy. Geodesy is the science of mapping the earth and is a term used in mathematics to refer to the shortest distance between two points on a curved surface. Geodesic domes get their name from this concept – they’re built using these shortest-path principles, which makes them incredibly stable while using surprisingly little material.
André Heller’s hand-shaped maze is one of the garden’s most captivating spaces, inviting you to explore its passages and rediscover the joy of hide and seek within its green walls.
