Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
Amir Soltani
Digis (Digital Studio for Research in Design,
Visualisation and Communication)
www.expressivespace.org
18/08/2011
DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
Overview
1. Cinematic Aided Design: ‘the moving image as an aid to design and
communications’ (Penz 2010).
2. Projection Mappings as Urban Screens using multimedia methods of sound and
moving image on architectural facades.
3. Degree Zero Method of Spatial communication as freeform amodal perception
and completion in audience of non-permanent multimedia delivery and design.
18/08/2011
DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
Degree Zero = a neutral amodal model
• Roland Barthes Writing Degree Zero (1967) as a linguistic model to
conceptualize a ‘cinematic architecture‘ as a transparent, free-form of
(reading and writing) functionless, ephemeral architectural appearances
(projections), which are dynamic and real-time, yet non-permanent.
• We propose that film can be a degree zero in writing about spatial, temporal
phenomena that connects to sensory modalities and cognitive amodal perceptions;
here degree zero means the point where designers can freely cross-synthesize, explore,
deconstruct and let their imaginations flow, without restriction.
haptic and kinesthetic modes
Degree Zero Method
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DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
Amodal Completion Perception Spatial Organisation of Objects
Amodal perception is the term used to describe the perception of the whole of a physical
structure when only parts of it affect the sensory receptors.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amodal_perception
Amodal Perception & Completion: perceived organisation of objects in space
Amodal Perception and Completion tells
us all of these images are of a cube, even
though only parts of them are showing
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Amodal Perception
.DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
“Cinematic approaches incorporating some form of narrative expressive space into CAD animation
is a challenging proposition at the root of our Cinematic Aided Design philosophy” (François Penz,
Cambridge University Architecture Department Website).
“in certain periods of history when formalism prevails, when linguistic dogmas exclude a real
evolution, when It Is necessary to reconquer the semantic value of words in order to fight the habit of
ready-made phrases, the Zero Degree becomes the essential instrument for injecting new blood and
vitality into the exhausted language. Perhaps the most convincing example of the Zero Degree in the
history of painting is the early Christian frescoes found in the catacombs.” Bruno Zevi p.197 (1983)
Cinematic aided design bridges the gap between CAD and filmic sequence,
creating new animation, generative design and visualisation possibilities.
Projection mapping can be a type of cinematic aided
design for the environmental and architectural space.
Cinematic Aided as Design Method
18/08/2011
DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
Projectors
Basic Projection mapping of 2 cubes
• 2 x Virtual projectors
• Light
• 3D map of the cubes
• Virtual camera
• Direct X renderer window
Renderers
Basic Projection Mapping Programming in VVVV
18/08/2011
DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
2 Projectors
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
Audience space
Dynamic Projection mapping of a cube
• 2 x Virtual projectors
• 1 x dynamic Light
• 3D object map
• 1 x Virtual camera
• 1 x projector as audience view
• Direct X renderer window
Renderers
Dual Projection Mapping in VVVV
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DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
3D model object
Calibrating
Final mapping space
Projection Mapping Space in VVVV
18/08/2011
DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
New media artist Pablo Valbuena expresses the interior as well as the exterior of architecture by
projections that transform architectural parts, urban furniture such as concrete benches, tiles into
mapping surfaces and augmented sculptures. The spatial mapping projection onto building’s
facade and objects becomes an extension of the facade, by ‘wrapping’.
Pablo Valbuena, (left to right) Augmented Sculpture, Entramado urban installation Spain, and The Hague City Hall projection
Netherlands, 2007-2008
Some examples of earlier projection mapping
Projection Mapping as Design Method
18/08/2011
DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
Slitscan is another multimedia moving image manipulation method adapted from traditional celluloid film
photography which (skins) ‘unwraps’ a facade or a moving object onto a 2D scene, freezing movements.
Dual-Video Viewport &
Time Phase and Slice
Quantities
Temporal Control Ribbon
Course Slitscan
Fine Slitscan
Phase Control Ribbon
Temporal Warping
Dual Slitscanner experiment 2009, temporal
unwrapping of facades and film frames
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Dual Slitscanner Interface
DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
555 Kubik (2009) projections on Gallery of Contemporary Art for the client Kunsthalle in Hamburg was
realised by German company Urban Screen is an example of trans-morphed (act of temporal change)
on the materiality of a building in direct relation to filmic space, time, as digital mapping algorithms.
The square gridded building is dynamically wrapped and warped‘ by geometric data from structural
analysis of the building into newly interpreted freely conceptual and geometric approaches.‖
• Form of cinematic aided
architecture where in one the
architecture becomes the
dynamic entity through the
flux of moving image and
multimedia techniques that
puts the user in a new
perspective to the space from
different viewpoints.
555 Kubik (2009) projections mapping
urbanscreen.com
Projection Mapping as Cinematic Aided Design Method
18/08/2011
DMS 2011 Florence
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Mapping Architectural Appearances, Affects, and Amodality
Amir Soltani
Cambridge University
Conclusion
•
The appearance of architecture can be altered temporarily without altering the
building using projection mapping.
•
The city architecture can be used as urban screens to communicate
information to wide reaching audiences.
•
The amodal qualities of zero degree language communicates with the viewer
to instantly visualize the design of the buildings and spatially understand and
complete the perception of the new forms.
Digis (Digital Studio for Research in Design,
Visualisation and Communication)
www.expressivespace.org
THANK YOU
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DMS 2011 Florence
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