The 30-storey Hotel WZ Jardins in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been fitted with an LED facade called 'The Light Creature' which directly responds to its surroundings. The display responds to air quality, sound and interaction from the general public, via an app. The edifice is covered with pixellated blocks of blue, grey, and gold, and is part of a project called 'Hacked Cities' that explores how technology can bring positive change to cities.
The display was created with Grasshopper parametric software that recorded and analysed on-site ambient noise over a 24-hour period. Brazilian design company Estudio Guto Requena created the display to represent morning, afternoon, evening, and night using the recorded data. Peak levels are represented by gold, quieter levels by navy blue, almost silent is light blue. A complete lack of noise is shown in muted grey. Around 200 strips of low-energy LED lights are embedded in the metal skin and create an interactive dynamic between the city, its inhabitants, and the hotel. Behaving autonomously, the system reacts in real time to external forces. Ambient noise picked up through on-site microphones directly affects the form and motion of the fluid facade. The on-site sensors helps the facade change colours minute-by-minute to reflect local air quality. Red and orange colours depict pollutants, otherwise, blue and green shades appear. The public can also interact with the display with just a mobile app. Using touch and voice, the screen and microphone can transmit data onto the facade. Source: InAVate,
