space-craft book - LAb[au]

Space craft

Editors: R. Klanten, Lukas Feireiss
Die Gestalten Verlag, Berlin

Release: September 2007
Price: 50,00 Euro
Format: 24 x 30 cm
Features: 240 pages, full colour, hardcover
ISBN: 978-3-89955-192-1

LAb[au] featured project:
Touch - interactive urban installation
in the chapter 'showtime' page 210 -211

About the book:

Spacecraft presents projects that meet the changing spatial needs of our modern lifestyles and that are simultaneously expanding our current understanding of architecture. On the one hand, the book features flexible, fleeting structures that only exist for a limited time. On the other hand, Spacecraft focuses on spaces that are used temporarily. Whether vacation homes, urban hideouts, art projects, pavilions or studios, all of the included work is distinguished by a playful, unconventional use of space.How and where we work and spend our leisure time has changed dramatically in recent years. The increased mobility and global networking that pervade all aspects of our lives have had a considerable impact on the spaces in which we live, meet and work.

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Spacecraft presents projects that meet the changing spatial needs of our modern lifestyles and that are simultaneously expanding our current understanding of architecture. On the one hand, the book features flexible, fleeting structures that only exist for a limited time; these include pavilions, art projects or exhibition spaces. On the other hand, Spacecraft focuses on spaces that are used temporarily such as studios, offices or vacation homes. These structures, which are often used as hideouts from our hectic lives, can either blend in harmoniously with their surroundings or seem as exotic as a spaceship that has just landed.

The book documents original work by architects, artists and others that is distinguished by a playful, unconventional use of space. Many of the projects are experimental interventions within urban environments that are strongly influenced by a street art context. As Spacecraft proves, it is this contemporary influence in particular that is currently redefining the boundaries of architecture.

Spacecraft presents work that expresses our current modes of work and play. The book is thus inspiring both for architects and interior designers, and also for all creatives who work with space.

About the editor:

In the words of editor Lukas Feireiss, Spacecraft: Fleeting Architecture and Hideouts is "a very playful book that arouses curiosity through the experimental and joyful diversity and visual power of its projects". The same can be said about our interview feature with Lukas. He gives us further insight into the background of the publication that shows roundabout 200 installations and buildings at the cross section of art, architecture and design that is distinguished by a playful, unconventional use of space.

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About the publisher:

Gestalten specialize in developing content for aficionados of cutting-edge visual culture worldwide. The company is best known for the more than two hundred fifty books we have published that document and anticipate vital design movements for our own title list as well as customer publishing projects. Gestalten also provides Curation, Art Direction, Consulting, Production, Distribution and Design Services to international clients such as Volkswagen and Diesel. Always working directly with talented young designers and artists, Gestalten brings a deep understanding of visual culture on a global level to whatever we do and remains firmly committed to presenting visual trends with timeless substance. The company has 40 staff members through offices in Berlin, London, New York and Tokyo.

publication-text about LAb[au]
Touch Brussels, Belgium, 2007

The Brussels-based design collaborative Laboratory for Architecture and Urbanism { LAb(au) } creates interactive artworks, audiovisual performances and scenographies that examines the transformation of architecture and spatio-temporal structures. This particular project centers around the 145m Dexia Tower in Brussels. The tower's 4.200 windows can be individually lit in colour, thus turning the building into an architecture of light. The lighting pattern is based on the tower's architectural and urban characteristics using parameters such as orientation, volume and scale.

From a specially designed pavilion at the bottom of the tower, people can interact with the light installation through a multi-touch screen in real-time, either individually or collectively. Both static (touch) and dynamic (gesture) can be recognized by the installation's program to generate an elementary graphical language of points, lines and surfaces.