HARBOR BUBBLE
LIGHT CITY 2018 PROPOSAL
DESCRIPTION The Harbor Bubble illuminates the Baltimore skyline with a simple landscape to pair with the Inner Harbor’s waterscape. Interactive scenes of Baltimore and related themes project onto the bubble and visually reflect the city culture. The colliding, yet detached curves delineate the pushing-pulling of the harbor. Together, the form and surroundings create a dynamic lightscape to serve as a canvas for participants to interact. The bubble presents an experience for users to immerse themselves into a scene, and become a part of both a physical and virtual environment. What is the user experience? Capitalizing on the versatility of projection mapping, the screen is flexible and made amorphous to fit the concept. As participants travel around and through the installation, the software can track users and adjust scenes accordingly. This enables a number of opportunities for users to manipulate the virtual environment in real-time and truly act as participants. How does the user interact with the installation? Computational design opens the door for direct and indirect interaction. As individuals traverse around the bubble, the scene will complement their movement with designed projection effects. For direct input, each projector will be equipped with an Interaction Station. A computer and Leap Motion 1 will be embedded securely to the supporting structure to allow users to interact freely with the screens without making contact with the devices. The installation has the ability to change scenes through user interactivity. We hope to partner with the National Aquarium on the design and presentation of these scenes. For example, we have designed simulated sea creatures 2 and infographics, but would like to explore the possibilities of using live footage from the aquarium to enrich the viewer experience while blurring the lines between real and virtual. There is also an opportunity to extract sound from the aquarium and link it to the same scripting that drives the geometry projection to produce a dynamic audio experience. Overall, the goal of its placement is to highlight Baltimore pride; help raise awareness of the state of the harbor; and exhibit existing installations and work of The National Aquarium. Harbor Bubble hopes to enlighten crowds with a fun, memorable, spatial and interactive experience for all ages.
INSTALLATION Estimated cost: $53,822. Please see attached marshjames_budget.xlsx. The construction and prototyping phases will take place in a warehouse space near downtown to reduce travel. Labor will be provided by a team of volunteers from our firm. Skilled and certified labor will be brought in as needed. Isaac Ewart is our projection mapping consultant on the project. As part of our firm’s community outreach, we have a number of local fabricators willing to dedicate time to the project. We hope to empower the Baltimore network of local artisans and shops by sourcing local labor and expertise. 1 2
Link: Leap Motion Demo (https://vimeo.com/227777204) Link: Conceptual Rendering of the “Sea Creature” Projected Onto the Installation (https://vimeo.com/227778274)
Figure 1: Possible Site Locations
Figure 2: Axonometric
Figure 3: Exterior Rendering
Figure 4: Interior Rendering
TEAM
Richard Chou
Adam Louie Architect Visualization
Architect Projection Mapping 3
(412) 352-8929 rchou@cannondesign.com
(410) 967-0867 alouie@cannondesign.com
(585) 610-5490 jmarsh@cannondesign.com
Architect User Interaction
James Marsh
As a team of designers and architects, we believe that we have the expertise necessary to execute this installation. Parametric modeling, virtual reality, UIUX design play a major part in the final delivery of this proposal. The Digital Practice team (with the participating leaders pictured above) plan to incorporate their knowledge of computational design to the proposal. Participants will receive a glimpse to the same software and products that our firm’s designers use on a daily basis. Our organization firmly stands behind us in this endeavor and will provide structural engineering and lighting consultation as necessary. The firm sincerely wishes to make a positive community impact and believes that Light City provides the opportunity to do so. Along with our internal team, we have the consent of Issac Ewart, a previous Neighborhood Lights participant, as an esteemed consultant. We hope to enrich the Light City experience with the Harbor Bubble. Thank you for your consideration!
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Link: Projection Mapping Installation (https://vimeo.com/90710194)
ART LIST 1 Beaux Arts Ball Projection Sculpture, Syracuse University 2014 by Amber Bartosh’s Media II Class including James Marsh three projectors, plywood base, metal pipe, projection fabric, clear acrylic backlit with LED https://vimeo.com/90710194 2 Catenary Climber, Carnegie Mellon University 2013 by Materials/Assembly Class including Richard Chou CNC cut plywood, zip ties, steel nuts & bolts http://www.richardchou.com/catenary 3 Lightscape, StudioRED 2016 including Adam Louie community benches blending into a community garden http://studiored.org/textSlide/268.html 4 Spring Carnival Booth – Life of Pi, Carnegie Mellon University 2015 by Taiwanese Student Association including Richard Chou lumber construction with acrylic painted murals & mixed media sculptures www.richardchou.com/carnival2015 5 Timber Trellis, Carnegie Mellon University 2015 by Robotics Construction Studio including Richard Chou robotic formed steam-bent lumber, steel nuts & bolt www.richardchou.com/timber