A 5-Year-Old’s Drawing of a Bird Nest Became an Enormous Beacon of Light Above an Estonian Port

three illuminated eggs perch in a nest atop a tower and glow in the dark

All photos by Tõnu Tunnel and Aivo Kallas, courtesy of Velvet, shared with permission

Soaring above Noblessner Port in Tallinn, Estonia, three enormous eggs rest inside a woven nest. The project of design studio Velvet in collaboration with UN-LIKE, the glowing work perches atop a former mast and was inspired by a 5-year-old’s sketch.

Stina Onemar was aboard a ferry to Hiiumaa Island with her aunt when they were discussing a competition to install a public work at the site. “There was this post where Aunt Helen wanted to do something. I had an idea that there would be eggs and stuff,” she said, before quickly drawing the nest atop the mast. The suggestion stuck, and her aunt shared her niece’s sketch with her coworkers at Velvet, who loved the proposal.

Commissioned by Merko Ehitus Eesti, “Nest” features a trio of polyethylene eggs that sit in a bed of salvaged roof trim harvested from construction sites. Designers chose the materials to withstand both seaside and freezing Arctic weather, and over time, the metal will rust and form a patina that matches the revitalized mast.

Find more from Velvet on its website and Instagram.

three illuminated eggs perch in a nest atop a tower and glow in the dark next to buildings by the sea