Interactive public space

Proposal

Informal physical contact with buildings often occurs in public spaces that promote duration of occupation, but do not provide a physical armature for resting. People sometimes lean on walls when they need physical support temporarily, and sometimes sit on the floor when get tired. The goal of the project is to create a public and private space while facilitating internal human activity based on users’ potential desire for resting while accommodating their physical diversity. The corresponding system will be transformable from a primarily two-dimensional surface to a three-dimensional object that people can sit on if needed. The space will be a multi-functional place accommodating people to take a break, mingle, or have improvised conversation.

Problems in public space

- Difficulty to modulate the environments for personal uses

- Unpleasant shared spaces without personal comfort

What kind of public spaces?

- of limited space area.

- of fluctuant occupancy

- of diverse individual activities

Why interactive system, not conventional benches?

To provide more personal space in public area

To provide new experience of welcoming to public space

To optimize spatial efficiency for different phases of occupancy in a limited area

To facilitate diverse activities more properly in an active manner

To promote comfortable social interaction

Possible site

- Gathering place

- Transitional space, ex. Hallway, lobby, movie theater waiting area, arcade

- Service space (waiting room, train platform, bus stops)

- Public space for relaxation, refreshment (ex. Park, courtyard, pavilion)

Activities

- Waiting

- Reading

- Phone Calling

- Internet searching

- Eating/Drinking

- Relaxing

- Having improvised conversation

System

The structure of the system should be rigid enough to support human weight. The surface of the wall will contain embedded pressure sensors that will detect leaning on it and the time of continuous contact. Also embedded infrared proximity sensors will sense number of people occupying the space and their movement. Cameras will be used to measure the frame of a person for approximating the total weight of the body. By calculating percentage of pressure that gets transferred to the system from the body, micro-controller will trigger servo motors to transform the system.

Material

Poplar wood, Canvas fabric, Steel structure

Pressure sensors, Infrared sensors, Cameras

Servo motors, Spur gears and racks

Arduino