SURFACE TENSION: Interactive

Architectural Surfaces
Shay Gibson
Definition(s)

Interactive adj 1 allowing or relating to continuous two-way transfer of

information between user and the central point of a communicative system, such
as a computer or television. 2 (or two or more persons, forces, etc.) acting upon
or in close relation with each other; interacting.

Architecture n 1 the art and science of designing and superintending the erection
of buildings, etc. 2 a style of building or structure. 3 buildings or structure
collectively. 4 the structure or design of anything.

Surface n 1 the exterior face of an object or one such face. 2 the area or size of
such a face. 3 material resembling such a face, with length and width but without
depth. 4 the superficial appearance as opposed to the real nature

Source: Collins Canadian English Dictionary and Thesaurus, Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers, 1st Ed., 2004.
HYPOSURFACE
Birmingham, UK
1999 - 2007

Designed principally by MIT Professor Mark

Gouthorpe of dEOCOI atelier, Hyposurface is
a visceral digital display medium made up of
thousands of moving actuators and small
metal plates that can move as much as 2
feet and ripple it’s surface at 60 mph.
Behaves like a precisely controlled liquid and
can display waves, patterns, logos, and
text. Any input such as sound, movement or
an internet feed can be linked and provide
an output, offering an interactivity with the
audience.

www.hyposurface.org
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FLARE DYNAMIC MEMBRANE
Berlin, Germany
2008

FLARE is a modular system design to create

dynamic facades on any building or wall surface
-a
kinetic membrance. Consists of a number of
tiltable metal flake bodies controlled by
pneumatic
cylinders. Modular units reflect the bright sky
or
sunlight when in the veritcal standby position,
and
is shaded in when the flake is tilted downwards.

By reflecting ambient or direct sunlight, the

individual flakes of the FLARE system act like
pixels. Designed by WHITEvoid Interactive Art &
Design

http://www.flare-facade.com/
ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE INTERACTIVE
FACADE
Bogota, Columbia
2008

Designed within the Architectures as

Interfaces class, the noise interactive facade
responds to environmental noise level in
different frequencies by altering its surface
distorting the reflected image. 4 frequencies
ranges were chosen in the audible spectrum
(0-20khz) and the noise level is mapped to
changes in specific sections of the reflective
surface.

http://arquiblog.uniandes.edu.co/b
logs/arqu3503/proyecto-2009-10/
 Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8CkCFaD6Yc
BIX FAÇADE, KUNTHAUS GRAZ
Graz, Austria
2008

BIX is a matrix of 930 fluorescent lamps integrated

into the eastern Plexiglas facade of the Kunsthaus
in Graz designed by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier.
Through the possibility to individually adjust the l
amps’ brightness at an infinite variability with 20
frames/second, images, films and animations can
be displayed. Mounted beneath the acrylic glass
surface of the building facing the river and city
centre. It can be seen as an urban screen: a new
instrument and platform for artistic production.
The Kunsthaus uses BIX to project its
communicative aspect into public space.
The BIX concept was initiated and developed by
realities:united. Software is available to the public
to program the façade.

http://www.kunsthausgraz.steiermark.
at/cms/ziel/4975814/EN/
LED FACADES
ARS ELECTRONICA CENTRE
Linz, Austria
-5,100 sq m LED Façade
- The façade is partially transparent,
partially matte and can be backlit from
the interstice between the wall and the
shell.
- Communicates interior program
GREENPIX - ZERO ENERGY MEDIA WALL
Xicui Entertainment Complex
Beijing, China
- 2,200 sq m LED Facade
- Absorbs solar energy during the day to
generate light from the same power in the
evening.
- Polycrystalline photovoltaic cells are
laminated within the glass of the curtain
wall.
LED FACADES

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GALLERIA DEPARTMENT STORE DEXIA TOWER BRUSSELS

Seoul, South Korea Brussels, Belgium
- Designed by UN Studio - Designed Lab[au]
- 4330 glass discs are mounted on the - Installation allows for the 4200 windowns of
existing concrete skin of the building. the 145 m tower to be individuallly colour-
The glass discs include special dicroic enlightened by RGD-LED bars.
foil generating a mother-of-pearl effect
- An interaction station contains a multi-touch
during the day, whilst during the night
screen which supports both touch and
each glass disc is lit by LED lights which
gesture based interaction.
are able to be programmed to create a
multitude of effects.
- Communicates interior program
 Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEykA6Qd2L8
DIGITAL WATER PAVILLION
Zaragoza, Spain
2008

Designed in colloboration between MIT Media Lab

(US), Carlorattiassociati (Italy), Arup (UK) and
Agence Ter (France). The Digital Water Pavillion
was built for Zaragoza World Expo 2008, which
presented the theme of water and sustainable
development. The pavillion uses water as a curtain
wall which is operated and controlled by 3000
digitally-operated valves, twelve hydraulic pistons,
several dozen oil and water pumps, a camera-
operated control system and controlling software.
As a pedestrian approaches, a water wall might
open, and then close again after the pedestrian
has passed through, or a circular opening might
drop down to meet a ball thrown at the water
wall. Patterns and text can also be presented
through the curtain wall of wall and it operation
has been likened to an ink jet printer.

www.dwp.qaop.net
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Bloomberg ICE
Marunouchi, Tokyo
2002

Designed by Klein Dytham Architecutre for

Bloomberg L.P., a financial information provider.
Bloomberg ICE (Interactive Communication
Experience) is about communication and
information and provides a surface and
architecture to showcase financial information to
all age groups. Located in a public space opposite
Tokyo Station, ICE will will detect your precense
from 500 mm away and allow you to interact with
it. In resting mode, Bloomberg ICE interacts with
stock tickers and visually interprets the data (I.e. if
the stock goes up the stock sign swells.) Also
provides 4 play options - a digital harp, a digital
shadow, a digital wave and volley ball.

http://www.klein-dytham.com
/project/more/bloomberg/1
BUMP
Budapest, Hungary
2001

Designed by the artist collection

Association/Creation, Bump is a tactile
interface to counter the
disembodiedness of
network worlds: two wooden catwalks in
Linz and Budapest, ready for the masses
to
stage. Every pressure exerted causes
resistance that comes through on the
other
side. There is a knock from underneath,
the
slats rise, power transmission via
network
sensations on the move.

www.c3.hu/events/99/bump/
index.html
SMART / THINKING CARPET
Hameln, Germany
2004

Vorwerk Teppichwerk and Infineon Technologies

of Germany have collaborated on a smart carpet
technology which basically involves a carpet-
embedded sensor network/system that has
the potential to revolutionize building security.
The smart carpets are able to register several
sensory signal and analyze them, thus the carpets
can be used to detect intruders in security zones,
open doors or activate light switches when a
person approaches or act as temperature sensors
to control climate or act as a fire alarm. LED
modules are also able to be integrated into the
carpets and provide a light-emitting guidance
system in case of emergency.

www.defensereview.com/new-
high-tech-sensor-laiden-smart-carpet-
may-revolutionize-building-security/
INTERACTIVE DANCE FLOOR / WALL
SYSTEM
Boston, USA

Designed by the Lightspace Corporation in

Boston,
the company produces L.E.D. and
pressure
sensing interactive display and effects
platforms & walls that can be
integrated
with existing lighting and sound
systems.
Comprised of adaptive, interactive and
highly programmable tiles that can be
assembled together to form any size or
shape floor and/or structure.

www.lightspacecorp.com
INTERACTIVE PIANO STAIRS
Odenplay Subway, Stockholm, Sweden

As the public took the stairs, they activated

a
piezoelectric sensor which played a single
musical
note like on a piano.

The stairs could be activated by multiple

users.

66% more people took the stairs as a result

of the
piano stairs.

Installation was part of a viral marketing

campaign
from Volkswagon which prompted simple
and fun
methods of altering peoples behaviour.

www.thefuntheory.com