This vortex-like sun canopy is more than just an eye-catching piece of design. Composed of several polypropylene elements that are photoreactive, the canopy changes color based on the ambient light. If it's sunlight, the elements turn blue-green; if it's artificial, they become an opaque white. I wonder what happens with black light — does it go invisible?

Called the OR for some reason, the canopy was created by designers Christoph Klemmt, Ran Ankori, Francesco Brenta, Maya Carni, Laura Micalizzi and Elisa Oddone for Milan's 2008 Furniture Fair. If you can't make it to Italy, check out some more views of OR in the gallery below.

Project OR, via Inhabitat