Kaleidoscope
Client: Sto
Year: 2024
Kaleidoscope was an architectural mockup commissioned by Sto, as a continuation of themes explored in our collaborative work on the Material Game Platform.
The piece explored the relationship between physical and virtual materials, drawing on our experience of working with Sto’s PBR material library and our own development of custom shaders and materials in game engines.
Inspired by the many layers of ‘maps’ that combined together to make a virtual material, the mockup unpeeled those layers into a series of custom material finishes developed by Sto. Image maps common to computer graphics like Normal Maps, or Ambient Occlusion maps were turned into physical material finishes through close discussion with Sto’s material technology team.
These materials were also developed with the intention of blurring the boundaries between physical and virtual architecture. The aim of this was to make the mockup appear as a 3D render in the real world.
Kaleidoscope was built by Sto in Germany, combining CNC fabrication with hand applied and expertly finished material coatings.
The project featured in Sto’s print magazine, an exhibition, a documentary interview and online campaign.
Curator: Amy Croft