SPINE: Interactive PVC Art Installation by Kollision | FORMUFIT
Danish architectural firm Kollision found a unique artistic and structural medium in FORMUFIT PVC pipe and fittings for their interactive art installation, SPINE. Installed at Godsbanen in Aarhus, Denmark during the Media Architecture Biennale 2012, SPINE showcases how creative engineering and modern art can merge through the flexibility of PVC design.
Using 160 FORMUFIT 3/4" 3-Way PVC Elbows and more than 800 feet of plastic pipe, Kollision created a dynamic architectural sculpture that responds to sound and movement from visitors. The massive 50-meter (164-foot) structure moves and glows, appearing almost alive as it reacts to its surroundings — sometimes shy and subtle, other times bold and expressive.
How SPINE Works
The installation is composed of twenty illuminated cubes suspended along a PVC “spine.” Each cube is powered by dual computer-controlled motors that move in fluid, synchronized motions. The sculpture’s behavior — its light, motion, and sound — changes dynamically based on the position and activity of people nearby.
“Spine is an interactive installation based on twenty glowing cubes and an atmospheric sound composition. Each cube is moved in fluid motions by two computer-controlled motors. The installation reacts to nearby visitors, forming one coherent expression — a fifty-meter-long spine floating in space, continually displaying new movements, light scenes, and sounds. Spine is moody, sometimes shy and avoidant, at other times more curious and almost aggressive.”
Behind the Scenes
Kollision led the design, engineering, and programming for SPINE, integrating a custom sensor-based 3D engine that controls cube positioning, lighting, and sound playback. The technology behind the installation included:
- 40 DMX-controlled winches
- 20 DMX-controlled light sources
- 2 laser tracking systems
- A sound PC with multiple MIDI interfaces
- 11 strategically placed speakers
Beyond its advanced technology, the use of FORMUFIT PVC pipe and fittings gave SPINE its flexible skeleton — a lightweight yet durable frame that could be easily assembled, adjusted, and supported over long spans.
Learn more about this extraordinary installation at Kollision.dk or watch SPINE in action below:
