Introducing FLARE - a modular, computer-driven system that creates a moving skin for the facade of a building. Created by Christopher Bauder and Christian Perstl, the system basically consists of computer controlled metal flake bodies which can be tilted up or down with the help of pneumatic cylinders. When tilted up, the flake reflects incident sunlight creating a white pixel at that particular point. Similarly when it is tilted down it does not reflect light and turns into a dark pixel. Thus by programming the computer to control the tilting of each flake, the entire wall becomes a makeshift screen in which images can be displayed.
It’s a novel idea and perhaps would help companies drawing crowds to their buildings. I, for one, would definitely give this building a mesmerized stare should I pass by it. On an environmental level it does serve some use, saving on conventional and non-environment friendly large screens to draw attention to buildings. However I’m not sure how easy it would be to maintain a system like this in an area with extreme climates. But I still think it’s a cool idea! And to give you a demonstration on how awesome FLARE is, check out the video below!
via: Freshome
Comments
WOW! This is something very innovative.. but I missed the eco-friendlyness of this project?
I must admit it’s difficult to see any direct link to the enviorment, but if i were to hazard a guess i would say its saves on buying conventional large plasma TV screens to put the messages across. They would be an additional investment as well as drawing on more natural resources to make them. In this case the building wall in itself is the screen.
Plus I’m sure they would attract a lot more attention than a conventional screen! It’s just so cool!
Manish, The article says,
”When tilted up, the flake reflects incident sunlight creating a white pixel at that particular point. Similarly when it is tilted down it does not reflect light and turns into a dark pixel.”
So the whole thing gives you a giant hoarding that is only powered and sun by variations in sunlight. Yes, that puts even the latest wind/solar powered billboards to shame as this uses sun’s light with just shadow patterns to create image there by saving huge chunks of energy a giant screen of such size might normally consume. That’s the idea at least :)
I meant to say ”Powered and RUN by the variations in sunlight”, in the above comment; Typo :)
Yes Sameer, a valid point. In fact that sure would save loads of electricity.
But I wonder if you can make images (pictures, scenery, text) using this board of just show dark and light pixels making something like ”Mexican wave”.. the video shows flowing dark and light pixels.
I was thinking along those lines too. and i think it should be possible. You’ve seen how intricate the designs can get from the video. Its all a matter of time i guess. Building small flakes would ensure greater picture resolution. Perhaps if a prism was added to each flake such that at different degrees in tilt it would reflect different colors that would create a colored image.