AA Athens Visiting School 2014 challenges the static built environment with "Kinetic Haze"

Students and professionals had another opportunity to take part in the third cycle of the AA Athens Visiting School program, "Cipher City: Revolutions". Taking place at the National Technical University of Athens this past spring, participants focused on addressing the roles of change, adaptation and interaction through scripting and digital fabricating techniques at large scale models.

The program set out to challenge the motionless built environment in the collaborative creation of a kinetic pathway prototype called Kinetic Haze. Participants applied the basic design elements from their own proposals in creating the project in less than five days.

AA ATHENS 2014 :: MOVIE from AI on Vimeo.

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"AA Athens Visiting School evolved and took upon the task to create a one-to-one  scale architectural prototype which demonstrates connectivity, adjustability and interaction. After being Recharged in 2013, Cipher City got equipped to challenge once more the motionless, static built environment by implementing innovative design Revolutions."

"Revolutions in design that can transform the inactive built space into an active environment.  Revolutions which generate atmospheric ambience through forms that are characterized by motion and real-time reaction to external stimuli. Revolving around interconnectivity on various levels, the program involved separate teams experimenting on different proposals for a kinetic/interactive pathway."

"After a series of design ideas, the AA Athens VS 2014 concluded with an interactive installation, named Kinetic Haze, which is expressive of a method that involves innovation and combinatory thinking."

"This interactive prototype redefines the concept of the architectural pathway. Standing tall at 2.5 meters, 1.2 meters wide and 4.5 meters long, the structure includes a system that has the ability to detect movements. Made of fixed wooden frames and elastic strings that rotate and stretch, the prototype is wired with sensors and actuators."

"At first, the path appears to be obstructed by the net  of strings that run from one side of the structure to the other. The patterning of the woven elastic   cords is designed strategically in order to affect the visual perception of a person crossing through the model. Two different sets of panels comprise the final piece; interactive panels and pattern panels. While a person approaches the pathway, the system gets activated by the user’s presence. This acts as the external stimulus that sets the model in different states according to the movement of people."

"The life-like large-scale prototype bears the behaviour signature of that of primal organism. A complex sort of behaviour which arises out of a multiplicity of relatively simple rules;   when there is only a single user the prototype is put in a hostile state, with its flexible muscle-type strings vibrating nervously, blocking the entrance. When a second user appears, the system is reset into a friendly mode allowing for the users to enter its space. The connections rotate and lift gently the elastic cords in order for the two users to walk in and meet. Time and light are also essential in the generation of the desired effects; the system designed to augment the user’s experience of its space."

"It is by time that the central brain of the structure activates a vivid flickering of lights, thus communicating with its’ users the need to move out. Kinetic Haze acts as an experimental architectural piece that promotes communication of the humans with the structure as well as communication of humans with other humans through the structure. It is the result of the collective work done in less than 5 days by the participants of AA Athens VS 2014. All teams presented their respective design proposals, the basic principles of which were applied in the design and make of the Kinetic Haze."

Program Director: Alexandros Kallegias
AA Visiting School Director: Christopher Pierce
Tutors: Alexandros Kallegias, Elif Erdine, Dağhan Çam, Charalampos Doukas, Anna Laskari, Eirini Vouliouri, Myrto Maria Barbaris, Maria Brewster
Student groups:

• 4fan: Katerina Bali, Ismini Epitropou, Efthymia Kasimati, Maria Velaora
• HMN: Hazem Halasa, Dimitra Askouni, Nessma Al Ghoussein
• Purple_Haze: Daphne Dimopoulou, Michail Tavladorakis, Christina Bali
• The Oscillators: Konstantinos Sfikas, Anastasia Verteouri, Eirini Stolidou, Nikos Kourniatis
• Wave(X): Maria-Eleni Bali, Zoi-Dafni Arnellou, Catherine Berki

Images courtesy of AA Athens Visiting School, Cipher City: Revolutions

Check out photos of the creative process in the thumbnail gallery below.