The Installation

Our model involves an interactive light installation on the Opera House back walls in which audiences of all ages will 'splash on' water and fill the wall to refer to the slowly rising sea levels that will affect the site. Music will also be implemented in the work as the site is significantly used for the musical performances and events that are held. As more water accumulates, the music will begin to playing will begin to deteriorate and produce bland, dissonant sounds as an indication of the rising waters creating a barrier of from the music being heard. The aim of this installation is to provide insight on the possible future of the Opera House site as we as humans continue to damage the environment, continuing global warming which creates climate change and triggers rising sea levels which may eventually drown the site, taking away the cultural landmark of Australia and depriving musical and theatrical artists of a significant place to perform. There will be a year counter on the side to convey the level rise against the years.

Materials/Equipment

Arduino Tracking System
- open-source prototyping platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software; "like a little computer you can program to do things, and it interacts with the world through electronic sensors, lights and motors. In essence, it makes some truly hardcore electronics projects accessible to anyone – so artists and creative types can concentrate on making their ideas a reality. It’s the ultimate tinkering tool."
- able to read inputs and turn into outputs e.g. touching a sensor to turn on an LED
- apparently simple and accessible; been used in many projects
- Designers and architects build interactive prototypes, musicians and artists use it for installations and to experiment with new musical instruments


Projection Mapping/Projector Hire
- since it's a large scale projection we may need 2-4 Projectors to show our work


Microsoft Kinect (Possibly)
- for the motion sensing/tracking. This is to enable the audience to 'splash' the water onto the Opera House wall



Speakers
- P.A System including Main Speakers, Subwoofers and Monitor Speakers
- Speakers will be placed left and right of where the projection will be placed

 

Rising Sea Levels

Sydney Opera House will be 'Lost to Sea Level Rise'

World Heritage properties are important to all people and have a universal value that transcends national boundaries. Nearly one-fifth of world cultural heritage sites would be affected by global warming as the ice sheets melt and warming ocean expands.

From Skeptical Science, we are given that with rise in global warming and with the added factor of the ice loss from Greenland and Antarctica accelerating, the estimated sea level rise by 2100 is between 75cm to 2 meters. If the current trend of sea level rise continues, temperatures will increase 3C over the next 2000 years, thus leading to the Opera House being fully immersed in water. (taken from Gizmodo)

With the given information, we can attempt to calculate the level in which the sea level will reach per year. without the acceleration of the ice loss taken into consideration, the sail on the furthest left should be immersed by 4500.

Zoomed in Print of measurements Here

Inspiration

Vivid MCA Interactive 2011

DESIGN & PROGRAMMING: Rene Christen

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Jake Soper

CLIENT: Events NSW AV: Electric Canvas 

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) was turned into an interactive creative canvas for Vivid Sydney, May 2011. Spinifex  created an engaging  interactive projection, mapped onto the front facade of the iconic MCA building in the Rocks, Sydney.

Participants of the VIVID festival used colours and gestures to ‘spray paint’ the building. The interaction is simple: movement creates paint. Different aspects of the motion (size, speed, acceleration, curvature) all have an effect on the outcome (strokes, splashes, drips, spirals) and is left up to the users to play and discover.

Site Analysis – Sydney Opera House

The Opera House is an iconic architectural marvel located in Bennelong Point, Sydney that attracts over 7 million people a year, with 300,000 people participating in guided tours of the facility. It features several theatres and restaurants and souvenir shops which surround the area below. There are several staircases, lifts and escalators that allow more navigation through and around the upper and lower levels of the site, giving an exquisite view of Sydney in every angle.

This iconic landmark hosts various events and ceremonies, holding 1500 performances and in-house productions including but not limited to Opera, Ballet and Orchestral concerts each year. With this big of a number, it is certain that the site is always occupied and guarded with patrol officers constantly circulating the area.

The environmental considerations we are focusing on is the rising sea levels as a result of climate change which may affect the structure, accessibility and condition of the Opera House and the restaurants, shops and facilities that are located on the lower levels of the wharf. According to http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/environment/our_approach.aspx the site is currently managed under an 'Environmental Sustainability Plan' which commenced on 1 July 2013. The plan aims to:

1.       Use Resources Efficiently and Responsibly

2.       Minimise Waste

3.       Improve Environmental Risk Management

4.       Embed, Engage and Inspire Change

To lose such a beautiful establishment would be devastating. It is one of the most iconic locations to take a photo of in Australia and provides a scenic gateway between Circular Quay and Royal Botanic Gardens. We would be stripped of a significant cultural destination, as the grand site will not be able to host such exquisite, meaningful performances.

The Opera House is the youngest cultural site to ever be included on the World Heritage list by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), well known for representing a masterpiece of human creative genius. Being one of the greatest home of music, theatrical and dramatic performance, to be able to place yourself within the amazing structure of the Opera House and to actually perform within those walls would be a great honour.

A Timeline of a few iconic moments within the Opera House’s history

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-20/40-years-of-the-sydney-opera-house/5025816

Site Visit

Opera House
Slightly crowded area with varying audiences

 

Man 'O' War steps:
Side view of the Opera House. various litter found

Animals Found around the Opera House

 Wide Space and advertising for various events

Articles and Resources

Opera House Articles:

• Climate change
• http://www.architectureanddesign.com.au/news/industry-news/sydney-opera-house-at-risk-from-climate-change
• Rising Sea Level
• http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/05/sydney-opera-house-statue-liberty-sea-level-climate-change-unesco
• Pests/biological infestation
• http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/the-dining-companions-no-one-wants--sydneys-hungry-seagulls-20140919-10i0bg.html

Environmental Resources:

• https://d16outft0soac8.cloudfront.net/uploadedFiles/About_Us_(new_nav)/Sydney_Opera_House/Greening_the_House/SOH_ENVIROMENTAL%20SUSTAINABILITY%20PLAN_2013_ONLINE.pdf
• http://www.wsud.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Presentation-FINAL-Geoff-Hunter_CCI-Stormwater1.pdf
• https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/0e1207d8-6078-43e0-8f48-d17100efe786/files/worldheritage-climatechange.pdf
• http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/environment/our_approach.aspx

Brainstorming

Mind map Outline: 

Site analysis questions

• Where is the site? What are its boundaries?
• Why have you chosen it?
• What is the site’s current use?
• Audience: Who goes there? When and how much is the site used? Who is invested? How do they move through and around the site? Do you want to work with or against the site’s everyday uses?
• What are the specific environmental considerations around this site? Is it being managed sustainably? If it’s not being managed, what could the consequences be? (The future of the site). - What is the historical background of the site?
• What are the cultural, social and political associations or resonances surrounding the site? Are there varying perspectives on this? Is the site contested?
• Describe the media ecology of the site.
• What is the site’s mood and emotional resonance? How does it make you feel, what memories or personal associations do you or others have?
• What are the affordances of the site - e.g. what use does it suggest or invite? (such as the AMP tower inviting an oscillation between scales in Bown’s ‘Solstice Lamp’ project). Do you want to work with or invert these affordances?
• Include any documentation of the site you’ve found or created e.g. photos, sketches, maps, interviews, environmental data, historical material (archival images, newspaper stories etc).