Next Project
Commendation

Digital Intimacy

Part 2 Project 2009
Stephen Townsend
University of Nottingham | UK
The ‘Kinesthetic Interaction Space’ is conceived as an interactive architectonic intervention aimed at children with autism, providing sensory stimulation to assist with intervention methods and aid interaction with other children through shared kinesthetic experience. The focus of the thesis is on the development of dynamic material systems that could enable new forms of interactive environment. Architecture is conceptualised as an embodied interface and physical space has been fused with digital media in order to stimulate the imagination of inhabitants. K.I.S. is intended to facilitate playful explorations and fluid dialogues between people. The user learns to interact with their environment through an intuitive process, engaging the physical presence of inhabitants and forming spatial narratives.
The system is flexible, transformable and fully demountable, meaning that the same kit of parts can be assembled to adapt to a range of spatial requirements. Rather than one design solution, an infrastructure has been designed for the creation of architectural space, centred upon environmental experience. The thesis was developed through a full-scale prototype that was constructed to enable the experience of the qualities of the surface, both visual and tactile, and the observation of its use, including people’s responses.

Stephen Townsend

Tutor(s)
Mr Graham Farmer
Mr Bradley Starkey
Mr Jonathan Hale
2009
• Page Hits: 44172         • Entry Date: 27 July 2009         • Last Update: 02 December 2009