WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE

A network of luminescent nodes to display fire risk on fire Station 94.

This project provides a growth of vegetation over the exterior station walls. Although the usage of the word "jungle" has been commonly replaced by "rain-forest," our title stems from the station's use of the term "jungle" to describe their own placement within the urban concrete labyrinth. In this case, the vegetation "greens" the "jungle", with nodes that call to mind rhizomic plant structures. The network of vegetation is a system of nodes linked to the state of the county's fire risk. Each node contains a set of LEDs that illuminate in flickering colors that cycle from deep cool blues and greens to hot reds and yellows after dusk – the hue of the colors cued by the moisture in the county environment to indicate the current relative humidity and therefore the risk of brush fires. Those who stop and take a moment to look at the display may find a solitary tiger emerging from the "jungle" of nodes, which references the firemen of Station 94, who call themselves the "Tigers."

The installation encourages people to be aware of their surroundings. The red hues of the lights will remind people that its hot and dry they should take care with sparks and cigarettes. The lights are indicators of the habitat conditions that are normally invisible. The scintillation of the lights ripple across the building in response to the ambient air temperature or humidity, further animating the display and catching the attention of passersby, causing them to wonder– and eventually make the correlation of light color to fire risk.

Project currently in progress...

California 2008-09

Concept Design Oliver Hess and Jenna Didier

Business Development Marcos Lutyens