Inside the new Merck Innovation Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, an interactive light and sound installation transforms the company’s invisible processes, idea flows and innovation into a new kind of audiovisual experience. Located in a mirrored atrium between two buildings, the Merck Light Cloud generates different moods and reacts in ever new patterns to the physical presence of visitors. The sculpture consists of four curved metal strands to which 576 OLED panels are attached. Sensors distributed throughout the room register the movement of visitors, allowing the installation to constantly interact with them. The result is an infinite, three-dimensional mosaic of light and sound in which visitors leave their marks.

Inside the new Merck Innovation Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, an interactive light and sound installation transforms the company’s invisible processes, idea flows and innovation into a new kind of audiovisual experience. At different times of the day it generates different moods and reacts in ever new patterns to the physical presence of visitors. Located in a mirrored atrium between two buildings, it turns even short everyday walks into sensual moments. The expansive Merck Light Cloud consists of four curved metal strands that overlap concentrically, but slightly shifted. A total of 576 OLED panels are attached to them. Their light varies constantly and is visually multiplied by mirrors on the ceiling and walls. Sensors distributed throughout the room register the movement of visitors, allowing the installation to interact with them. The installation was developed and is controlled with a 3D real-time editor. Two out of eighteen effects can be combined via addition, subtraction, multiplication or fade. Each of these effects itself is variable, so that the specific light movements, the rhythm and the position of luminous clusters are potentially infinitely variable. On this basis, a total 85 scenes were saved, and are activated in different variants in daily operation. Many of the scenes are interactive. New sounds are composed generatively in reaction to the movement of visitors. Light effects change in response to specific sounds, such as the frequency of an audio signal. And the installation reacts to movement with light effects, for example, by following visitors with light animations as they explore the installation. The result is an infinite and three-dimensional mosaic of light and sound in which visitors leave their marks.

https://iart.ch/en/-/merck-innovationszentrum-interaktive-licht-klang-installation

http://www.tamschick.com/en/projects/light-cloud/

Details

Building or project owner : Merck Group

Architecture : HENN

Project artist/ concept/ design/ planning : TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE (concept and creative direction), iart (planning)

Structural engineering : iart

Light design : TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE, iart

Technical layout light : iart

Display content/ visuals/ showreel : TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE

Light hardware (LED hardware) : OLEDWorks (OLED panels), iart (drivers, control system and mechanical structure)

Lighting control software : iart

Interaction design/ programming : iart, Kling Klang Klong

Descriptions

Facade type and geometry (structure) : The installation consists of four three-dimensionally curved metal strands made of powder-coated steel. Attached to the main strands are individual “branches”. Each branch features two OLED panels facing opposite directions, with all branches being aligned identically.

Kind of light creation : Double-sided OLED panels that are fully controllable.

Resolution and transmitting behaviour : The installation has 576 OLEDs with 16 bit resolution.

Urban situation : The installation is located in a mirrored atrium between two buildings of the Merck Innovation Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.

Description of showreel : 85 scenes were saved and are activated in different variants in daily operation. Many are interactive. New sounds are composed generatively in reaction to the movement of visitors. Light effects change in response to specific sounds, such as the frequency of an audio signal, and to movement.

Participatory architecture & urban interaction

Mediacredits

iart, TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE

iart, TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE

iart, TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE

iart, TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE

iart, TAMSCHICK MEDIA+SPACE

iart