INVISIBLE CITIES - ERSILLA
This project is based on my interpretation of stage design, utilizing my expertise in design workflows to create a stage design inspired by one of the cities from my favorite book, Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. The project incorporates digital modeling, parametric design, and mixed reality technologies to craft an immersive and seamless fusion of virtual and physical stage experiences.
I plan to develop this project into a series, exploring diverse design approaches to present different cities from Invisible Cities across various types of stages, aiming to create richer forms of expression and visual experiences.
Programs/Technologies: Rhino, Grasshopper, V-Ray, Midijourney, Fologram, Laser Cutting, 3D Printing, Hand Modeling
Image generated using Midjourney AI.
DESIGN NOTES
STAGE
1:50 stage model
I created a proscenium stage as a venue for the design.
DESIGN PROCESS
Generate ropes (Demonstrate with MR)
Conceptual Resonance with Ersilia
Ersilia is defined by its complex web of ropes, symbolizing the relationships that sustain the city. Randomly generating ropes in Grasshopper aligns with the city's narrative and its themes of chaos, order, and relational complexity.
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Symbolizing Relationships: Random generation ensures the ropes appear organic and unpredictable, mirroring the evolving nature of human connections (blood, trade, authority).
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Dynamic and Infinite: Grasshopper's algorithmic design allows for endless iterations, reflecting the perpetual cycle of creation, abandonment, and reconstruction in Ersilia.
Highlighting the Intangible Core of the City
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The ropes are not merely a visual element but the essence of Ersilia’s existence. By using MR to project these ropes:
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Focus on the Abstract: The virtual ropes shift the audience's attention from physical structures to the relationships they symbolize, emphasizing Ersilia’s metaphysical core.
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Layering the Real and the Virtual: The contrast between the solid parametric blocks and the ephemeral projected ropes enhances the theme of tangibility vs. transience in Ersilia's narrative.
Connecting Past, Present, and Future
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MR technology is inherently futuristic, yet it also connects to Ersilia’s history of layered cities and relationships. This duality enriches the narrative and design.
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Past: The virtual ropes serve as remnants of past cities, intangible yet persistent. cycles of reinvention.
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Present: The ropes’ real-time projection highlights the city’s current state of flux.
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Future: MR and algorithmic design point toward an infinite horizon of possibilities, mirroring Ersilia’s endless
Generate buildings
Reflecting the Chaos of the Rope Networks
The defining visual element of Ersilia is the tangled web of ropes symbolizing the relationships among its inhabitants. Randomly generated parametric blocks can visually echo this sense of disorder yet purposeful interconnection.
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Random Generation: Algorithmically controlled blocks mimic the complexity and diversity of the rope networks.
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Unpredictability: The irregular forms of the blocks suggest a non-traditional, dynamic architectural language, emphasizing the fluidity of Ersilia’s structure.
Emphasizing Ropes as the Core of the City
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In Ersilia, the buildings are secondary, while the ropes are central to its identity. Parametric blocks can help shift the focus to the ropes by serving as a subdued yet meaningful backdrop.
Theatrical Impact and Visual Drama
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Onstage, parametric blocks provide a powerful visual experience, immersing the audience in Ersilia’s distinctive character
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Exaggerated Scale: Using blocks of varying sizes can create a surreal “architectural ruin” effect, amplifying the dramatic tension in contrast with the rope network.
FINAL RESULT
1:50 Model
3D Printed buildings
MR demonstration
Scan the QR codes with Fologram or Hololens to view
1:50 Model
1:1 Display
MR technology creates a visually immersive and interactive stage environment that transforms the audience's experience. MR allows the ropes to extend beyond the physical stage, creating an infinite web that immerses the audience and blurs the boundary between real and imagined.