Posted by Steve Dietz on October 19, 2004 10:32 PM
The Aliens Have Landed
On first sight, the 2003 Kunsthaus in Graz appears to be a bad Photoshop hack. How else could such a barnacle-like structure cling to the sides of the red-roofed buildings of centuries-old Graz? As Will Alsop writes: " "This fantastic, hovering blob will be Archigram's revenge for its many earlier disappointments, for competition-winning schemes that were never realised." I have not seen the building in person, but it is a stunningly animating vision concocted by architects Peter Cook and Colin Fournier.
To push the matter even further over the top, Berlin-based realities:united designed "BIX," a matrix of 930 fluorescent lamps integrated into the acrylic glass facade, which can be adjusted to display low resolution films and animations at 20 frames/second. As Lev Manovichwrites
The presence of all kinds of electronic displays is an essential part of contemporary architecture. This new “screen architecture” . . . promises to become a whole new field.
realities:united has been nominaed for the 50,000 Euro "Inspire Award" for the BIX project, which will be determined by an online vote. Follow the step-by-step directions here.
On first sight, the 2003