Deriving its name from the arrangement of leaves on a stem, Digital Phyllotaxy is a physical metaphor for a tree. The artwork uses technology to bring an essence of the natural world inside Hankook Tire’s Technoplex in Pangyo, Seoul. Layered edge-lit LED units and liquid crystal shutters create delicate volumes of illumination and obscuration representing the way light filters through leaves.

Inspired by the vertical journey through the Hankook Tire Technoplex, Digital Phyllotaxy explores the idea of split-level experiences. As people ascend through the vast architectural ‘oculus’ they witness the interplay of dappled light below, within and above a tree canopy. There is an ordered chaos found in nature that is difficult to recreate. Jason Bruges Studio undertook in-depth research to design an integrated system (hardware and software) to emulate an arboreal crown. The artwork required an organic design, therefore complex computational design processes were used to develop the physical structure. 16 meter in diameter, Digital Phyllotaxy uses a bespoke media assembly comprised of edge-lit LED units and liquid crystal shutters. The layering of each component is choreographed to create delicate volumes of illumination and obscuration representing the way light filters through leaves. A palette of live data inputs including the movement of passersby, sun paths and wind speeds, trigger generative colours and textures to mimic the behaviour of rustling leaves and the transformation of a tree through the seasons.

https://vimeo.com/653663723

https://www.jasonbruges.com/art#/digital-phyllotaxy/

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Details

Building or project owner : Hankook Tire

Architecture : Foster + Partners

Project artist/ concept/ design/ planning : Jason Bruges Studio

Descriptions

Urban situation : Designed for Hankook Tire’s new headquarters in Pangyo, Seoul, Digital Phyllotaxy is a site-specific artwork that compliments the architecture of the building by embracing principles of biophilia to create a restorative workplace that promotes wellbeing. Located within a vast architectural oculus, the immersive media artwork responds to the vertical journey through the building and explores the idea of split-level experiences. As people ascend the escalator they witness the dappled light below, within and above the tree canopy.

Participatory architecture & urban interaction

Mediacredits

Giraffe Pictures courtesy of Jason Bruges Studio

Giraffe Pictures courtesy of Jason Bruges Studio

Giraffe Pictures courtesy of Jason Bruges Studio

Giraffe Pictures courtesy of Jason Bruges Studio

Giraffe Pictures courtesy of Jason Bruges Studio

Giraffe Pictures courtesy of Jason Bruges Studio