[Presence experiences need not match our experiences in the ‘real’ world (i.e., the mediated stimuli need not be perceptually or socially realistic), as demonstrated by the walk-through kaleidoscope described in this story from New Atlas. See the original version for a second image and a 1:27 minute video. DesignTAXI’s coverage (drawing on a press release) adds this:
“The result appeared way more expansive than the space allowed, presenting solutions that can be replicated in areas beyond the realms of art. ‘Our kaleidoscope is meant to represent how a simple and considered design, when supported with a material that can scale as intended, can return an experience that is far larger than what was built and what is anticipated,’ said STUFISH partner MAciej Woroniecki. ‘We feel this is the epitome of efficiency and sustainability in architecture.’”
Architect’s story adds that “The firm’s entry is one of a spate of similar designs that have graced our pages in recent years“ and “There were no plans for the future of the installation shared at press time.”
For the best selection of images (and the video) of the kaleidoscope, see the project page on the Stufish website. –Matthew]
World’s biggest walk-through kaleidoscope delivers psychedelic visuals
By Loz Blain
February 6, 2022
London company Stufish laid out a spectacularly trippy experience for visitors to this year’s One Giant Leap technology conference in Saudi Arabia, in which visitors could walk through a colossal kaleidoscope tunnel, surrounded by wild LED visuals.
The 40-m (131-ft) tunnel measured 6 m (19.7 ft) tall and 3 m (9.8 ft) wide, although its clever use of seamless, warpless mirrors makes the space look cylindrical as huge LED panels under the floor and in the wall tiles push out a series of slowly expanding, wildly psychedelic geometric designs, interspersed with visuals from a range of different environments “from the bottom of the sea to the sky and stars.”
Its size doesn’t win it the “world’s largest kaleidoscope” title outright – a converted silo in New York State has a larger diameter, and another exhibition piece built for the 2005 Aichi Expo in Japan featured a tube 47 m (154 ft) long. Both of these, however, were vertically oriented. The Stufish design is the biggest kaleidoscope ever built for people to actually walk through.
Stufish says designing a 40-m-long mirror without any seams or warping wasn’t the only challenge – to maintain the illusion of infinite space, the team had to design triangular entry and exit portals at either end that wouldn’t disrupt the reflections.
Unfortunately the conference has wrapped up so you won’t be able to walk through the kaleidoscope tunnel yourself, but you can check out the effect in the video [in the original story or on the Stufish website].
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