Animate Architecture: The Surreal and Elusive 555 Kubik

Author: Katrina Yulo
Posted on: Monday November 16, 2009 at 9:00 AM

Back in the day, talking, moving buildings would probably be the product of lights, smoke and mirrors or an army of elaborate visual tomfoolery. Today however, modern technology can make it seem that so inanimate objects are no longer just that - anything that can’t breathe, fart, react, or have a mind of on its own. Like this surreal piece called 555 Kubik:

A mind-blowing video projection makes it appear as if these virtual hands were massaging the facade of Hamburg’s Kunsthalle Museum. Collapsing, breathing, and inflating, the building seems to have taken on a life on its own.

It’s a reaction to the magician behind the grand illusion, Daniel Rossa, who asked himself ‘How it would be, if a house was dreaming?’

Watch the clip to see the illusion in action:

555 KUBIK | facade projection | from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

Working with the light and projection masters of Urbanscreen, they assembled a montage with a sound accompaniment to complete the video experience. The visuals that follow make it appear as the exterior was unfolding to reveal the interior space. How's that for adding an entirely new dimension to art?

(I mean they may as well have called it the Kubrick 555....it's as freaky yet fabulous as the filmmaker's famous perspectives!)

Seen any other digital works of art that seem too good to be true? Share the goods!

Via Interactive Architecture

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