Sensing space: Responsive installation at Design Miami/ Basel

The installation, Triangular Series, is suspended from the ceiling of the Herzog & de Meuron-designed Basel Exhibition Centre. It is made from 59 tetrahedral forms resembling stalactites. Each object is a shard of light that is a synthesis of customised electronics including high-powered LEDs, advanced sensors and software that enable each form to communicate with individuals in the space as well as with each other.

Motivated by a life-long fascination with the re-occurring patterns found in nature, Zigelbaum set out to create a piece that could mimic the rhythms in the organic world. ‘It’s an interactive installation using technology to create forms that mimic human behaviour,’ Zigelbaum tells LS:N Global. ‘As you walk in the room the installation will sense you.’

In the digital age, designers are increasingly looking for ways to provide a sense of reconnection with nature. For more, read our Fauna Fetish design direction and look out for more of our on-the-ground coverage of Design Miami/ Basel 2014 in our Seed and Shows sections.