James Turrell: Skyspace Lech

The Skyspace Lech is an extraordinary light installation by US artist James Turrell, located above Oberlech at an altitude of approximately 1,780 meters and largely underground. A 15-meter-long tunnel — which can be seen as an echo of the entrance to Roden Crater, Turrell's main body of work in Arizona — leads into the elliptical Sensing Room, 9 meters long and 6 meters wide, equipped with a surrounding bench. The room is topped by a movable dome, which opens the space to the sky. Especially at sunrise and sunset, a fascinating interplay of light and color occurs, making the sky appear like a work of art. During the day and in dry weather, the dome remains open, and visitors can observe the changing moods of the sky in connection with the wandering cone of sunlight. The Skyspace Lech is one of the few works in which both the classic Skyspace concept and a Ganzfeld space can be experienced. It was during a hike around Lech am Arlberg that James Turrell was inspired by the high mountain landscape to design the piece specifically for this site.