The Living City
The Living
The Living City is a research project that investigates ways that wireless sensor technology could be used to explore the conceptual possibility that buildings across cities and countries could eventually develop the capacity to 'talk' to one another, or to communicate information gathered by sensors.
Creative Contribution
What was the significant innovation in approach or thinking behind the project/artwork? How can this be recognisably attributed to the involvement of creative practice?
New York based, The Living propose to create responsive architecture that visualizes the environmental impact of human activity. This is achieved by utilizing some of the existing sensor technology that is housed in modern buildings, such as thermostats or motion sensors to aggregate data about energy consumption. Their vision is that this will be applicable not just to individual buildings, but to cities as a whole, creating a metropolis that regulates the environmental impact of its own energy consumption.
The core question is to investigate three definitions of the Living City, through hands on design and prototyping. There is a specific emphasis on the potential for exchanging data about climate related inputs such as air quality, sunlight, energy consumption, auto travel and the presence of people.
Collaboration
What were the disciplinary contributors to the project? What model of research / development was followed? What were factors leading to success / problems?
The Living are a Duo of Architects who have won major awards including a research and development award from Architect Magazine for The Living City.
This project combines architectural practice with research into sensor technology
Jason Cipriani from the New York Van Alen building was instrumental in helping to facilitate the first prototypes. Chuck Hickok/McConnell and Borow, and Dynalloy, Makers of Dynamic Alloys, including Flexinol were crucial collaborators in the production of the prototype that breathes in response to air quality.
Informed by a previous project called Living Glass, The Living City constructed and tested a prototype to demonstrate that Living City could potentially become a full-scale reality.
Values
What were the outcomes of the project? How were these disseminated to outside stakeholders? What models of value are implied by this project? What was the Impact of the work?
The Living published their software in Jan 2008, so that others could create new responsive systems. They also created a prototype with two wireless sensor networks and a building facade that breathes in response to air quality data. An "easy-to-deploy wireless sensor network" was positioned on the Empire State Building and wired up to engage in a conversation with the New York Van Alen Institute building.
The prototype was then exhibited as part of the Van Alen Institute New York Prize, where it was given an award for Research and development.
Links and Resources
http://www.thelivingcity.net/
http://www.situatedtechnologies.net/?q=node/89
http://www.situatedtechnologies.net/?q=node/2
