Hypersky

The installation HYPERSKY is a 21st Century digital fresco, seamlessly integrated into the entrance hall ceiling of a private residence. An augmented reality skylight, HYPERSKY reveals all natural and man-made phenomena above the house in realtime: birds and weather patterns; position, origin and destination of airplanes; location, speed, altitude and owner of satellites, stars, constellations and galaxies.

HYPERSKY does not require human interaction beyond observation. Each mode of video imagery displayed on the giant LED screen provides the viewer with a further layer of reality that would otherwise remain unrevealed. This imagery is created by converting data into video animations, so that natural phenomena and man-made objects combine to create a multilayered visual collage in an unprecedented real time experience.

Size3 x 4m

MaterialsLED DISPLAY 5mm PITCH BLACK FACE, Aluminium Structure, Roof mounted sensors including Beacon Catcher, Rain Sensor, Wind Sensors, High definition Camera, Computers, Custom developed Computer Code

Date2009

LocationCologne

Throughout the day HYPERSKY displays a live video feed of the sky above the house including all weather and light changes and the flight patterns of birds and airplanes.

In the hours of darkness HYPERSKY automatically switches to a view of the stars in the night sky. Due to the light pollution that masks the stars and planets above most cities, their coordinates are calculated and animated in real time on the screen in order to create a live map of the astronomical conditions above.

Throughout the day HYPERSKY displays a live video feed of the sky above the house including all weather and light changes and the flight patterns of birds and airplanes.

During heavy winds HYPERSKY automatically switches to a thermodynamic visualization of the wind currents streaming around the house.

During rainfall HYPERSKY shows abstract displays of rain drops falling onto a virtual liquid surface.

During heavy winds HYPERSKY automatically switches to a thermodynamic visualization of the wind currents streaming around the house.

During rainfall HYPERSKY shows abstract displays of rain drops falling onto a virtual liquid surface.

A radar system picks up signals sent by airplanes, revealing their current position, origin and destination.

A satellite tracking system confers with online databases to show the location, speed, altitude and owner of each satellite as it passes by, hundreds of kilometers in space.

A radar system picks up signals sent by airplanes, revealing their current position, origin and destination.

A satellite tracking system confers with online databases to show the location, speed, altitude and owner of each satellite as it passes by, hundreds of kilometers in space.