Micro-machines & Transformers

This studio investigates the role of sensors in data collection and as environmental inputs for affecting transformation of spatial qualities. Studio projects have critically interrogated the pros and cons of the “smart city”, and investigated positive citizen participation in controlling their environments, rather than top down control. Smart City’s technologies potentially encourage the control of behaviour, consumption and lead to further marginalisation of vulnerable citizens. Thus, the brief for the studio is to reimagine a citizen data i-hub and fab-lab/maker space that encourages citizens to actively improve their lives. These spaces enable people to visualise the environmental and spatial systems affecting their lives. Groups such as uber-eats drivers could use the space for maintenance, or environmentalists building a case against mining corporations.

Studio Leader: Peter Charles

Image:  Sensor Map from Microprocessor Data Input, Lucas Butler, Matthew Sanderson,Eli Salia Dickter, Regina Rubio Hernandez