KRAM/WEISSHAAR

INFINITE DISPLAY

Tom Vack

INFINITE DISPLAY

INFINITE DISPLAY is a light installation in the underground swimming pool of a mid-century private home. Using high-fidelity microphones and custom designed lamps and mirrors, all activity in the pool is translated into a continuous and constantly changing light display that creates the illusion of a three-dimensional space beyond the boundaries of the room.

The surface of the INFINITE DISPLAY consists of two seamless, parallel mirrors that span the entire rear wall directly behind the swimming pool. Between the mirrors a series of custom-made LED lamps developed by KRAM/WEISSHAAR, and manufactured by Flos, are placed at floor level at regular intervals. The frontmost mirror is semi-transparent, allowing for a percentage of the light from the luminaries to pass through, and an equal percentage to be reflected back towards the rear mirror – this configuration forms an endlessly expanding light reflection that creates the illusion of a space behind the pool.

Size10 x 3,5m.
MaterialsMirrors, Aluminium and Steel Structure, Glas, NC Motors, 32 LED LIGHTS, DMX Lighting control, Hydrophone, Computers, Custom developed Code
Date2008
LocationCologne
Tom Vack
Tom Vack

A condenser microphone monitors the surface of the water in the pool and a scientific-grade hydrophone measures the sound levels below the surface so that each movement of the pool surface is captured in real-time. The amplitude and duration of these sounds are then translated into light signals – the louder the noise recorded, the stronger the subsequent light pulse. Acoustic sound waves in water are transformed into visually perceptible signals. The mirroring of these light pulses creates a virtual space – a digital visualization of man and machine, sound and movement.

While this interaction is taking place, the entire surface of the INFINITE DISPLAY mirror is slowly tilted by hidden, silent, linear motors that shift the angle of light modulated by the mirrors so as to bend the reflected virtual space between them. At an almost imperceptible rate, the angle of the front mirror tilts and adjusts the focal point of the reflections. Only when viewed over a considerable length of time is one aware of the constant shifting of the room’s vanishing point.

A scale 1:25 model with full optical, mechanical and computational functionality serves as a development platform.
The scale model allows for immediate feedback from KRAM/WEISSHAAR designers, programmers, and mechanical engineers while simultaneously serving as a presentation tool.
A scale 1:25 model with full optical, mechanical and computational functionality serves as a development platform.
The scale model allows for immediate feedback from KRAM/WEISSHAAR designers, programmers, and mechanical engineers while simultaneously serving as a presentation tool.
A full-scale mock up is built in order to evaluate a variety of mirror and glass combinations, and to test the scaled up computer and mechanical systems.
Testing and adjustments to the final system during the last stages of completion.
A full-scale mock up is built in order to evaluate a variety of mirror and glass combinations, and to test the scaled up computer and mechanical systems.
Testing and adjustments to the final system during the last stages of completion.
Execution drawings for the extra bright LED lights, and the optomechanical components.
Floor plans and Sections.
Execution drawings for the extra bright LED lights, and the optomechanical components.
Floor plans and Sections.