Architecture

Toronto university building to have digitally-readable façade

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The façade is based on the locations of educational art facilities in Toronto
Bortolotto
The geographical data was re-oriented to fit on the façade
Bortolotto
The façade is based on the locations of educational art facilities in Toronto
Bortolotto
The façade is made out of aluminum panels and is mounted on a metal subframe held in place by structural steel outriggers
Bortolotto
Spreading from the paths are what are what Bortolotto describes as "amorphic grids"
Bortolotto
The façade will provide shade for the interior of the building
Bortolotto
The façade is wrapped around the building like a perforated scrim
Bortolotto
The pattern is applied to the façade by way of water-jet cutting
Bortolotto
As the pattern is not repeated at any point, it is possible to embed information in different parts of the design
Bortolotto
An accompanying mobile app will be able to recognize various patterns within the façade
Bortolotto
The app will be able to display information associated with certain sections of the façade when they are photographed
Bortolotto
Paths are drawn between mapped insititutions to indicate connections between them
Bortolotto
View gallery - 11 images

An interactive façade is to be wrapped around the south-east corner of a building at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD) in Toronto. Its design is based on mapping data from the local area. Passers-by will be able to read information embedded in the façade by photographing it.

The building is question is currently the university’s main office building. It is due to be converted, however, into a multi-use work and exhibition space for students and will be known as the Rosalie Sharp Pavilion.

Designed by Bortolotto architects, the façade is aimed in part at engaging the local community. In order to create it, the city's educational art facilities have been mapped. These included galleries, museums, studios and art stores. The geographical data has been re-oriented so that it will fit on the façade, and paths drawn between the various institutions to indicate connections between them.

Spreading from the paths are what Bortolotto describes as "amorphic grids," which it says suggest the reconstruction of the city through the production of art and design. This creates an intricate pattern.

The façade is made out of aluminum panels and is mounted on a metal subframe held in place by structural steel outriggers
Bortolotto

The façade will be made out of aluminum panels and is mounted on a metal subframe held in place by structural steel outriggers. The pattern will be applied to it via water-jet cutting and will give it the appearance of a perforated scrim. As the pattern is not repeated at any point, it will be possible to embed information in different parts of the design for reading.

An accompanying mobile app that is currently being developed in collaboration with OCAD's Digital Media Research Lab will be able to recognize various patterns within the design. Due to the early stage of development, information about the app is limited, but bystanders will be able to photograph a section of the façade and have associated digital information displayed to them.

Construction is expected to begin later this year.

Source: Bortolotto

View gallery - 11 images
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1 comment
christopher
Yawn. Now if they used knowledge of the light and some maths in advance, they could instead make it so you can *see* whatever they're hiding, simply by standing in the right place at the right time. Or use bimetallics so you can only read it at the right temperature. Or different materials so it's only visible in the right humidity, or at certain dew-points. Or movable parts so you need the right wind speed or direction. Or heck - reverse-engineer cellphone photo aliasing so you need to take the picture from the right place then view it at the right zoom-level. Or interference so you can only see it with your head sideways, or one eye closed. Or SIRD so it's visible (in 3D) only if you look "through" it. Or colours so it's only visible at the right lighting levels (eg dusk/dawn) or to colourblind people. So many different ways to be cool. None they chose.
Anyone can make an app say anything based on what is "sees". That's so, like, yesterday.