Lumières Sonores. A new digital parametric approach for urban renewal of abandoned areas

Abstract

The paper presents a new parametric approach for the renewal of blighted urban areas through the design and the implementation of interactive installations. Said installations are based on a precise algorithm able to capture the sound waves, emitted by the visitors, and to translate them in light signals. The syntesis process is elaborated with digital computation: microcontroller Arduino for the correlation between the sound impulses acquired (input) and the coloured lights emitted (output); parametric software Grasshopper for the control of the output variability. The digital technological system allows users to customize the installation by tuning the colours and the intensity of the lights. The model designed through such a parametric approach (envisaging these fields: technical and technological; social; economic; environmental) could be implemented in different social and urban context, guarantying versatility, repeatability and sustainability.