As we are working hard on the preparations for Digital Art Weeks 2013, which will take place in Singapore in May 2013, our new DAW Facebook page is now online at:

https://www.facebook.com/DigitalArtWeeks

The page contains lots of materials from previous DAWs. The featured picture above is from DAW 2007 in Zurich, with Computer Pioneer and Rebel at Work Joseph Weizenbaum, ETH Professor Jürg Gutknecht, Art Clay and me, during a panel at ETH Zurich’s VisDome.

Good news to start the year with: Our cluster proposal “Projections of Reality” has been accepted for this year’s smartgeometry at The Bartlett of UCL from 15 - 20 April 2013 in London.

Cluster gurus: Stefan Arisona, Eva Friedrich, Bruno Moser, Dominik Nuessen, Lukas Treyer.

Projections of reality will engage in augmenting design processes involving physical models with real time spatial analysis.

The cluster will explore techniques of real time spatial analysis of architectural and urban design models: how physical models can be augmented with real-time 3D capture and analysis, enabling the architect to interact with the physical model whilst obtaining feedback from a computational analysis. We will investigate possible workflows that close the cycle of designing and model making, analysing the design and feeding results back into the design cycle by projecting them back onto the physical model.

On a technical level, we are addressing the challenge of dealing with complex, unstructured data from real time scanning, e.g. a point cloud, which needs processing before it can be used in urban analysis. We will investigate strategies to extract information of the urban form targeted for design processes, using real time scanning devices (Microsoft Kinect, hand held laser scanners, etc.), open source 3D reconstruction software (reconstructMeQT) and post-processing of the input through parametric modelling (e.g. Processing, Rhino scripting, Generative Components).

The goal of the workshop will be to create a working prototype of a physical urban model that is augmented with real- time analysis. We will work with the cluster participants to formulate a design concept of the prototype and to break down the challenge into individual modules, e.g. analysing and cleaning the geometry, algorithms for real time analysis, projecting imagery onto the physical model.

Workshop applications are now open - check out these links for further information:

smartgeometry @ web: https://smartgeometry.org smartgeometry @ facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Smartgeometry

On December 6 2012, I will be performing live at swissnex Singapore’s End of 2012 party. In collaboration with NTU’s Institute of Media Innovation and the MIRALab of the University of Geneva, we’ll present a Live and virtual fashion show, augmented with live visuals and electronic music.

https://www.swissnexsingapore.org/

https://imi.ntu.edu.sg/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi7w_3bPxbk

The energy scenario planning tool, developed by Eva Friedrich, has been presented at the ADDIS 2050 conference in Addis Ababa on October 9th and 10th 2012. The basic concept of the work is to create an intuitive and playful tool that allows for collaborative, interactive exploration of possible energy supply and consumption scenarios in Ethiopia. The users can move in time and compare different approaches to energy development in their effect: centralized hydro power, less-centralized wind power with local support, and completely decentralized solar power for rural, disconnected areas - thereby obtaining a better understanding of the effects of mid- to long-term energy planning.

The tool’s interface is built in a minimal style in order to keep the focus on the relevant points. It supports multi-touch surfaces, and borrows concepts from game engines, e.g. physics based animations for connecting networks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymLicY8RHVY

The conference ADDIS 2050 – an alternative pathway into Ethiopia’s future – was held on October 9th and 10th 2012 at the campus of the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development EiABC in Addis Ababa. Addis Ababa belongs to the fastest growing urban centers in the world. Migration from the rural areas as well as massive redevelopment strategies of the City Government put the African capital under enormous pressure. Infrastructural deficiencies, water and energy shortages, environmental hazards and mobility challenges question the current modus operandi in place.

The Green Forum Ethiopia under the leadership of Heinrich Boell Foundation in Addis Ababa commissioned the Chair of Architecture and Construction Dirk E. Hebel at FCL Singapore in collaboration with the Ethiopian Institute of Architecture, Building Construction and City Development EiABC to invent an alternative “green” scenario for the city of Addis Ababa in the year 2050. The conference concentrated on the issues of Energy, Mobility, Cultural and Social Space, Housing and Information. The event was visited by more than 500 people and arose immense interest from the media as well as the City Administration. As guest of honor, the Swiss Ambassador H.E. Dominik Langenbacher attended the conference as well as delegates from several federal ministries and the UN-Habitat. In the meantime, the Department of Masterplanning and Vision of the City Adeministration invited the speakers to present the work in their offices.

Team FCL Singapore: Dirk Hebel, Felix Heisel, Marta Wisniewska, Alireza Javadian, Gerhard Schmitt, Stephen Cairns, Remo Burkhard, Eva-Maria Friedrich, Matthias Berger, Stefan Mueller Arisona, Ludger Hovestadt, Jorge Orozco, Alex Erath, Max Hirsh, Sonja Berthold, Ying Zhou, Edda Ostertag, Naomi Hanakata, Lindsey Ann Sawyer, Cheryl Song, Noor Faizah Binte Othman, Kevin Lim, Amanda Tan
Team EiABC: Joachim Dieter, Bisrat Kifle, Addis alem Fekele, Tewedaj Eshetu, Yosef Teferri, Eyob Wedesu
Team Green Forum/Heinrich Boell Foundation: Patrick Berg, Ayele Kebede, Jonas

Software Design and Development: Eva Friedrich
Energy Modelling: Matthias Berger
Principal Investigators: Gerhard Schmitt & Stefan Arisona
Institution: Future Cities Laboratory, ETH Zürich
Period: August / September 2012

Great news… I will be performing on both nights of this year’s ZoukOut. Sea, beach, massive line-up, and huge LED screens included. So come out to Siloso beach on December 7 and 8, it’s gonna be a hell of a party!

https://zoukgroup.com/zoukout/zoukout-singapore/