Sun Catcher

by Rive Roshan x SOL R&D
Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, ALCOVA

Sun Catcher is a solar-powered art installation that reawakens the historic fountain of Villa Bagatti Valsecchi. Designed by Amsterdam-based studio Rive Roshan in collaboration with SOL R&D, the work transforms sunlight into both reflection and radiance.

By day, its glowing arc catches the light and mirrors itself in the water below, completing a perfect circle — an illusion of the sun resting within the gardens. As the viewer moves, the installation shifts in color and form, its presence continuously redefined by the changing sky.

By night, Sun Catcher glows with energy harvested during the day, a quiet beacon of sustainability and beauty. Blending design, technology, and natural light, the piece bridges heritage and innovation, turning a historic site into a living, breathing experience of renewal.

“Sun Catcher” solar art installation by Rive Roshan x SOL R&D at Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, a red dome-like arch reflected in water, evoking the illusion of the sun.
Detail of Sun Catcher solar installation by Rive Roshan x SOL R&D, showing a tall shimmering red arch and a stone sphere reflected in the fountain’s water.
Solar art installation Sun Catcher by Rive Roshan x SOL R&D at Villa Bagatti Valsecchi, a glowing red arch rising from a circular fountain in the gardens.
Close view of Sun Catcher solar installation, a shimmering red arch reflected in the fountain to form a glowing full circle.