We dwell in an individualistic digital world the place we’re typically so locked into our private screens that we neglect to search for and respect what’s round us. Want Fountain, a brand new venture by San Diego experiential design agency SOSO, doesn’t essentially see this as a foul factor. This digital water fountain conjures up folks to take pleasure in moments of shock and delight whereas nonetheless honoring the connection with private screens.
Guests just about reply to prompts displayed on screens all through the area by speaking their needs as a picture or textual content message. Every want is a secret between the sender and the fountain, creating animated waves of colours throughout the bench and screens. To everybody else, the want simply seems to be like a lightweight present touring throughout the area’s furnishings and partitions, visually translating the essence of water after a coin hits the floor of a wishing effectively.
By leaning into what people are related to most (their telephones) to create an interactive exhibit, SOSO has confirmed that even probably the most private displays can construct a community-inspired area.
Regent Properties is an actual property developer based mostly in Los Angeles dedicated to creating dynamic and delightful properties out of contrarian, out-of-favor, advanced, or distressed belongings. When reviving 1 Columbia Place, the developer aimed to draw newcomers and generate social media buzz by making a “shock and delight” second for guests. Regent turned to artistic studio SOSO to create Want Fountain, a nature-inspired, technology-infused interactive set up that transforms guests’ needs despatched by way of SMS into a colourful, water-like mild present throughout a ripple-shaped wood bench and wall-mounted screens.
Impressed by San Diego’s pure atmosphere and ocean panorama, Want Fountain conveys the undulating floor of the water after a coin hits the floor of a wishing effectively. Guests share their needs by way of SMS to a posted cellphone quantity, as a picture or textual content, in response to a immediate displayed on the screens. The needs then are reworked into a lightweight present rippling throughout the set up.
Every want is a secret between the initiator and the fountain, leading to a singular and charming animation of colours throughout the bench and screens. To maintain the prompts well timed, the constructing proprietor has entry to a cloud-based Content material Administration System, permitting them to replace the want prompts to mirror present occasions, holidays, or vital native themes.
The cloud server powering Want Fountain attracts from on-line visible sources to decipher the content material of every customer’s textual content. Then, the set up adjustments its colours and show impressed by the want, leading to reflective and distinctive shows of every customer’s ideas and emotions. The constructing supervisor can replace the immediate for the Want Fountain so new and returning company can have new experiences every time they go to 1 Columbia Place.
Want Fountain connects folks, builds neighborhood, and displays San Diego’s pulse. The set up is seen to all entrances and ranges of the constructing, inviting anybody to view and take part with their very own needs. Not solely does it give onlookers the power to affect their environments and a way of respite, however it additionally serves as a brand new social gathering area to share their marvel. Regent’s dedication to creating distinctive, enjoyable, and dynamic environments was the proper catalyst for these immersive experiences.
Want Fountain is part of a sequence of distinctive digital artworks for Regent Properties that construct neighborhood, give guests a canvas to affect the area, and mirror on native San Diego tradition. SOSO labored hand in hand with Tecture on fabrication and set up, Digital Ambiance on LED/electrical engineering, and Performant Superior Manufacturing on wiring and electrical set up for Want Fountain.
