Melbourne’s nightscape was the inspiration for designer Mark McQuilten’s Melbatron – an intriguing installation built from discarded circuit boards.

Installed on a rooftop bar as part of Melbourne’s recent State of Design Festival, the robotic installation, lit up with coloured lights, added a futuristic element to the city nightscape.

 
Based on a satellite image taken of the city at night, McQuilten used discarded circuit boards and motherboards “whose layout and components are reminiscent of a miniature metropolis” to recreate the Melbourne grid.

Melbatron is on display at The Order of Melbourne.

With thanks to Architectus and the others who assisted on the proposition: Amy Cantwell, Brendan Clarke, Daniel Pike, Justin Phillips, Justine Brennan, David Sainsbery, Mariko Whittaker, Hector Vazquez, Ruth Wilson, Geneviève Guay, Mark Gifford, John Wood, Hayley Croom.