This project seeks to redefine the idea of “thinkering space.”
Greg Toppo argues the thinkering space as one cure for the growing “complexity gap” in students educated under the no child left behind program. Because students have up to this point been focused solely on quantitative goals such as reading and writing, and not qualitative learning such as art, design, music, etc. the ability to critically think in abstract terms has been lost. Quantitative logic without qualitative logic proves inadequate over the long term.
This project proposes an interactive, topological space for digital play – inclusive of touch walls, sensispheres, and multi-touch in an interactive, fully immersive digital environment.
Such a condition creates new level of spontaneity which allows for interpersonal conditions to emerge. The space is designed to be installed inside, but it is otherwise site independent. The surface articulation, using morphological geometry, is purely performative and aesthetic.
Peter Sloterdijk via wikipedia.com: “Spheres is about ‘spaces of coexistence’, spaces commonly overlooked or taken for granted that conceal information crucial to developing an understanding of the human. The exploration of these spheres begins with the basic difference between mammals and other animals: the biological and utopian comfort of the mother's womb, which humans try to recreate through science, ideology, and religion.”
Geometrically speaking, the space, via the “blended” spheres, allows for a more pliant, woven condition between the various matters of existence which provide for the intellectual stimulation of the participant. Such programmatic overlap allows for the emergence of new programs which are generated by the participant through hands-on interaction with the digital aspect of the space as well as a blending affect will allow for certain environments to bleed over into other environments creating interaction not only between the participant and the space but the space and the space itself - a programmatic lava lamp if you will.
perspective showing the Coliseum “bleeding” into the solarium
interior perspective – notice the Coliseum on the left and the solarium on the right
plan showing interior spaces | plan showing surface pattern articulation
elevation
preliminary studies
morphoginic surface porosity script (much thanks to Jeremy Harper)
