Interactive Wall: Prototype For An Emotive Wall
As a prototype for an emotive wall, the InteractiveWall is an important step towards the development of an emotive architecture that is no longer a static backdrop for its users but a key component in a dynamic customizable environment. An emotive wall is a wall that responds to the user, a wall that has a character, a wall that can move because it wants to. The emotive InteractiveWall is composed of 7 separate wall pieces (herein referred to as nodes) that display real time behavior by swinging its body back and forth, displaying patterns of light on its skin, and projecting localized sound.
The overall behavioral pattern of the InteractiveWall is inspired by the phenomenon of emergent synchrony as described in the book, Sync: the emerging science of spontaneous order (2003, New York: Interactiveion) by Steven Strogratz. Strogratz asserts that this synchronous behavior is the result of a simple, and inherent behavioral pattern that emerges as complex social behavior, which he illustrates in the behavior of the firefly. Complex patterns emerge out of the simple localized behavior of their flashing tails, because of their tendency to synchronize whenever they are near each other, even when they are swarming by the thousands. While the primary synchronous behavior of the firefly is flashing light, the primary synchronous behavior of the InteractiveWall is movement. The nodes of the InteractiveWall will bend independently of neighboring nodes in response to the presence of a user. Although responsively independent, the InteractiveWall nodes synchronize by constantly readjusting its position in order to align itself with the position of its nearest neighbors.
Augmented modality of the InteractiveWall’s behavior is light. The skin of each InteractiveWall is covered by a unique, irregular distribution of dynamically controlled LED’s that form a highly reactive interface. The LED skins respond directly to user presence by glowing brighter when users are near, and glowing dimmer as they move away. In addition to dimming, the LED skins pulse rapidly and slowly in relation to node position, having a tendency to flash together when the nodes are in sync.
The third modality of the multiple behaviour of the InteractiveWallof is localized sound, representing only the state of the local sync. Moments of synchronicity are represented by calmer sounds, while asynchronous behavior results more intense sound. The propagation of the sound from high to low intensity is varied throughout the InteractiveWall wall, thus each node is a member of a choir that sings a complex pattern of oscillating chords. Although similar, the physical movements of InteractiveWall, and the light and sound patterns change independently, reacting at varying rates. The synchronous behavior between the InteractiveWall nodes contrasts with the behavior produced by user presence, resulting in a series of complex wave patterns that propagate through the InteractiveWall structure as a whole.
As architecture becomes emotive, responsive, and interactive users can influence its behavior. In that sense architecture follows a general development in society towards individualization, personalization and customization, which follows the evolution of contemporary mundane technologies. Now it is architecture’s turn to become emotive, responsive and customizable. Therefore it is through projects such as the InteractiveWall prototype that we can explore the possibilities of emotive architecture. It is through projects such as the InteractiveWall prototype that architecture will come alive.
Project partners
Project initiator:
Dr. Wilfried Stoll, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Festo AG
Project managers:
Professor Kas Oosterhuis, Chris Kievid, Bernard Sommer, Hyperbody, Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Michael Daubner, Andreas Dober, Burkhardt Leitner constructiv, Stuttgart, Germany
Markus Fischer, Festo AG & Co. KG, Ostfildern, Germany
Project team:
Mark-David Hosale, Remko Siemerink, Vera Laszlo, Dieter Vandoren, Hyperbody, Faculty of Architecture, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
Robert Glanz, Domenico Farina, Burkhardt Leitner constructiv, Stuttgart, Germany
Gerhard Bettinger, Roland Grau, Uwe Neuhoff, Festo AG & Co. KG, Ostfildern, Germany