Shanghai Synth --- 2010

Shanghai Synth. A kinetic installation - Hungarian Pavilion @ World Expo, Shanghai (CN) 2010
The opening ceremony of the pavilion & the installation. Download video here (mp4)
Concept The Hungarian Pavilion of Shanghai forms a dynamically changing whole, integrating the pavilion's most important part, the Gömböc. The space is constructed by several static, and 800 active, kinetic wooden objects. Custom built software is responsible for the controlling of the moving parts. Factors for defining the shape The ever-changing generative system is an automated "shapeshifter" displaying mathematical algorithms, noise and blocks which can remind the observer to an evolving cityscape. The led lights coming out on the bottom of the hanging poles are turning the whole into a 3d moving surface display.	interactive applet ~java needed (turn on audio)
The sonic environment The sound environment consists several layers. The system is closely related to the moving mechanical objects in the space. The concept is unified both on the visual and the audible domain. The sound organisation and spatialization are based on the same database as the moving architecture. The sounds are controlled by a remote computer: it is connected with the controlling software of the kinetic sticks, the whole system is synchronized. The sounds can be easily associated with physical phenomens. On one hand, they remind us to natural sounds, like rain, or water drops, water bubbles. Hungarian birds can be heard flocking around. Fragments of the fairy tale "Kisgömböc" (spoken by blind children) can be heard at another group of sounds.	interactive applet ~java needed (turn on audio)
Outside view of the Pavilion photos/001_.jpg 2010 april, Shanghai, China Hanging wood poles outside photos/002_.jpg The structure is creating a light, open environment above the entrance Outside floor photos/003_.jpg The small stones are making a dense surface, while the white shapes are originated from the form of the Gomboc. This method is also well used in traditional buildings around china Look inside, from above photos/004_.jpg There are hundreds of poles inside the building. They are hanging from above, each of them can be kinetically controlled via their motors built in the ceiling Closer look at the poles photos/005_.jpg There are about 30 poles which have built-in speakers, thus forming the system into a multichannel sound installation The forest photos/006_.jpg By walking around, one can have a "forest-like" experience. Moving between the kinetic poles listening to local sound events (ie your position in space) are key features of the installation Keep on walking photos/007_.jpg Day of the opening ceremony Gomboc photos/008_.jpg Tha pavilion's main focus is on the Gomboc - a recent Hungarian success within the fields of math & science Evening lights photos/009_.jpg Light is coming out from the bottom of the poles which is well reflected from the shiny surface of the floor around Water tubes photos/010_.jpg The evening lights are running through the water tubes outside Outside view of the Pavilion photos/011_.jpg by night
Press
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Concept & Realisation
ARCHITECT Tamás Lévai FELLOW ARCHITECTS László Harnos Csaba Helmle Bence Kertész József Árva Ágnes Jószai INTERACTION DESIGN Ágoston Nagy Bence Samu EXHIBITION Eszter Bircsák ENGINEERING András Sipos Dezs? Hegyi Tibor Battai Ferenc Németi Ferenc Haász all rights reserved binaura.net (2010)