[COM] Rundle Lantern

[SRW]

This is turning out to be even more innovative than I thought. It has great potential to revitalise the area, as well as give it a distinct character. I can only hope that the project may be expanded and made interactive, a la Dexia -- then it would be a significant icon and drawcard.

[vozdra]

I have to say some nice photos!

The colours look fantastic. It should look great once it covers most of the building. I think it will create a good atmosphere and will no doubt ad to the 'life' of the area.

[Bulldozer]

Be gentle with it please folks.

I think the pixels will be able to handle the thrashing they're going to get

It takes a lot of guts to do something really creative like this. Council and Fusion are really sticking their necks out here by taking the risk of doing something that has never been done before but will be astounding.

Yes, my hat is off to you for proposing to do something with the intersection. It is certainly something that will put Adelaide on the map. I must admit that I didn't think it would ever amount to something so cool when the proposal was first made. I think there's a lesson for all of us who immediately knock proposals without looking into them more and allowing them to develop.

Looked at coldly you might say it wont work for video, of sport or whatever, but I believe it will in a really fantastic giant pixelated way which will turn video footage into giant public art. If this works it will be an absolute ripper! so stay with it, it needs a lot of moral support on the way.

I've mentioned it before in this thread, but in case you or anyone else hasn't seen it - check out "Arcade" by the Chaos Computer Club. They did a thing similar to this with the French National Library, except it wasn't in colour. As well as playing video and animations you could dial in with your mobile phone and play games like Tetris or Pong. Freakin' awesome, here's the video they made about it.

Some of my friends and I who were at uni at the time wondered about getting an arts grant to try and do something similar with the State Bank/Santos/Westpac building, but alas/thankfully it didn't progress beyond a drunken conversation.

[Matt]

Is that the real Harbo, or an imposter?

Can I just answer this on behalf of Michael. He's no imposter.

And let me just say it's good to have individuals like him here who are in touch with the common people. It's much appreciated.

Fantastic... thrilled to see that he's seeing our debates and ideas first hand.

[Omicron]

That looks fantastic. I can't wait to see it upon completion.

[MaximumForce]

Hmmm, this is good stuff, I think the only way they could get it wrong is if they didn't cover the entire exterior of the car park. Projects like this one are important. Money really does need to be put into things that enliven a city and excite/entertain people who use the city.

[Matt]

At this stage, the plan is only to cover about 30% of the car park from what I've heard.

[aussie2000]

thats true, its definatly not going to cover the whole carpark which is a bum

[Omicron]

thats true, its definatly not going to cover the whole carpark which is a bum

I'll put in five dollars.

[dbsa]

We would love to have covered the whole carpark with the panels, and the original lantern idea that won the competition for Fusion was just that, however practicalities, budget, structural issues, air flow and ventilation, fire issues, etc mean that it is not possible. The building still has to function as a carpark - and needs ventilation - covering it with aluminium panels kind of restricts the air flow. The more of the building we covered, the more problems there were to solve. It is an old building and was actually designed to be pulled apart and moved at some stage - that obviously didnt happen, but the cost to upgrade the building would get out of control if it were to be completely covered. Bringing a concept like this into reality has meant a few reality checks and compromises on the way, but we are wildly excited by what is going ahead!

[Norman]

Good thing is the Target store will get refurbished very soon, from what I've heard.

[Paulns]

Bringing a concept like this into reality has meant a few reality checks and compromises on the way, but we are wildly excited by what is going ahead!

Oh well, atleast its going ahead?? Can't wait until its complete!!!

[rhino]

Very exciting stuff - congrats to ACC and Fusion on this one! And to Harbo for getting down with the common folk and listenning.

[Harbo]

Some inside info on the Lantern.


The Dexia building had a remote touch screen to interact with the lighting, this was proposed for the Lantern, but currently is not going to happen (budget constraints). It can always be added later.

I'd say never mind the touch screen, the essential thing is to get each pixel wired individually to a cpu, from there blind freddy can make anything happen, onto the web, write your own apps, into your phone, a touch screen any where for a few hundred dollars. Being pre-occupied with a touch screen now is likely to see the thing hard wired to a limited interface at great expense and cutting the screen off from the opportunity of input from every geek in the world.
Can you imagine sitting in Ibiza, watching the people in rundle st respond to your input from your PDA on the dance floor?
the mind boggles. and it is so easy, I say, just keep the doors open at this stage.

[Pikey]

Hi Micheal,

Is there any possibility of the entire carpark being covered to maximise effect? Obviously it's all about budget, but with the amount of potential interstate/international exposure this precinct will receive once the Crowne Plaza is open, I feel that this intersection should really scream out to our visitors and the "hub" of Adelaide. One way you have world class shopping, the other, fine dining.

Also, is this just the first part of the precinct? Anything planned for the Centrepoint carpark?

Thanks!