The Square

This prototype is designed & developed in collaboration with Nakayama Kazunori, Yamaoka Kaoru and Toda Yuto as members of DDL (Digital Design Lab), NIKKEN SEKKEI.

Concept

This project started with the aim of enhancing existing office environments with digital interfaces. In the wake of the pandemic, the potential for urban and architectural innovation has become increasingly apparent. Originally designed to maximize individual productivity, the role of physical offices has evolved to focus more on enhancing organizational performance. Although remote work has been effective for individual tasks, the opportunity for offices to facilitate collective achievements remains substantial.

By leveraging digital technology, this initiative introduces a new layer to the built environment, aimed at fostering serendipitous encounters and connections across remote locations. It proposes an innovative addition to current office environments, serving as a portal for information gathering and interaction, while also bridging the gap between distant or disparate office floors.

Prototyping

During the prototyping phase, concepts were visualized through sketches to develop an interface that seamlessly integrates with architectural design, rather than existing as an isolated digital signage as seen in most of today’s implementations. Through iterative prototyping, the initial prototype was developed, with a focus on details such as framing, reflection, and sensor integration to emulate a window, thus enhancing the interface's integration with the interior.

Tests of different interface methods during the prototyping phase

System

The system consists of a pair of monitors for display, a pair of Azure Kinect for RGB and depth sensing, and a pair of ultrasonic directional speakers and microphones, all interconnected to a PC on each side.

Software prototyping leveraged a combination of sensors and cameras to create real-time, depth-rich visual experiences through TouchDesigner. By analyzing and accentuating key information based on its importance, the system ensures that essential content captures attention at a glance.

System diagram

A demonstration of keyword highlighting

Prospectives

Looking forward, this approach has the potential to widen its impact by enlarging the display size for placement in communal areas such as office lobbies or hotel entrances. The incorporation of touch display features would allow users to highlight content of interest, promoting a shared awareness of common concerns and diverse viewpoints. The installation of such displays within elevators could further open up spaces and augment opportunities for accidental information discovery.

A demonstration of interaction possibilities and implementation in an elevator (via CG rendering)