This September, the streets of Bristol in South West England will be transformed by interactive creatures. Called Urbanimals, they’re produced by LAX (Laboratory for Architectural Experiments), the Poland-based experimental studio and think tank that recently won the 2015 International Playable City Award for the project.
Featuring various animals, including a dolphin, beetle, rabbit, and kangaroo, the project uses sensors and projectors to trigger animals that respond to human motion and encourage people to skip or jump alongside them when someone walks nearby or stops to have a look. LAX explains, “It will let people interact with [the] built environment in the way which they have never experienced before. It is not only a game, it is a medium to evoke activeness and creativity, to stimulate senses, and to foster body for new experiences.”
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Urbanimals– LAX laboratory for architectural experiments. Image aredit: Anna Grajper, Sebastian Dobiesz
The creatures will be placed in less-explored areas of the city, “places of transition,” in order to shake up people’s familiarities with the built environments around them and shed light on urban areas that are often ignored. The actual technology involved and exact methodology of how these animals will be brought to life, however, will be explored over the summer.
“Bringing people together through play in forgotten areas of the city lies at the heart of what we do,” say Ania and Sebastian from LAX. “With Urbanimals we want to highlight the city’s hidden value and treasures inspiring residents to consider their environment in new and unexpected ways, we want to stimulate their senses and inject a sense of excitement and wonder into the everyday urban landscape.”
Urbanimals– LAX laboratory for architectural experiments. GIF credit: Anna Grajper, Sebastian Dobiesz
Urbanimals– LAX laboratory for architectural experiments. Image credit: Anna Grajper, Sebastian Dobiesz
Urbanimals– LAX laboratory for architectural experiments. Image credit: Anna Grajper, Sebastian Dobiesz
You can learn more about Urbanimals and follow the project’s development here.
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