Lighthive | ATMOS

LightHive (subtitled "luminous architectural surveillance") was an interactive installation at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, installed May - June 2007 - and later recreated at its generous main sponsor's headquarters - Zumtobel, Dornbirn, Switzerland.

The installation consisted of a constellation of 1,024 suspended LEDs, arranged to recreate the position of every light source in the AA building. Each LED replicated the intensity, colour and direction of the real light sources, combining to form a 1:6 model of the way light plays through the building. The LEDs were controlled by a vast network of sensors - Passive InfraRed detectors, infra-red cameras, and wireless door and seat sensors - all switching on and off and changing in intensity in response to changes in light use throughout the building.