The Showtime Network's show house
The United States of Tara
The United States of Tara
Pod Design was selected as one of 5 design studios, including the likes of Bruce Mau and others, to design spaces based upon programs on Showtime. POD collaborated with Perlin Studios and designed a space inspired by dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia, the primary focus of the program the United States of Tara. In the space, the Loft and Roof spaces are transformed into interior spaces and exterior ones, inverting traditional notions of stability of both space and, by adding both interactive video and wireless headphone audio, time.
P.S. then created an interactive video wall, where Tara’s 3 personality-shifting characters tracked viewer’s faces and bodies, and followed them around the room. We also made inverse surveillance, with a proprietary video switcher, between roof deck surveillance and modified surveillance video of the show itself.
In addition, an audio work called “Voices in my head” was created. This work could be heard on wireless headphones, giving the spectator a chance to wander the spaces, further creating a sense of disorientation and instability.
Here's our description (for the nerds)
A space inspired by dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia, the United States of Tara Loft and Roof is an audible, transformative space -- one that compliments and encourages a re-examination of stable positionality of the viewer and the viewed.
How do you create a space for multiple identities of a single person? You create their subconscious. The architecture IS the cavernous space of audible delusions, intended to disorient and destabilize traditional positions of power and perception.
The raw plywood is meant to reflect an everyday object; something familiar and common. The sculptural formation of the material however removes it from its traditional context and referentiality, and instead gives a sense of an uncomfortable cocoon, a difficult womb, a troubled mind.
The pattern created by the 8 inch rhythm of the plywood ribs in front of a solid institutional blue plane creates a counter-intuitive sense of claustrophobic comfort. This is complimented by reverse surveillance. Gazing at yourself gazing at yourself or selves.
Post-surveillance, pre-modern, post-coital. People like to feel strange and comfortable.
Pod Design worked with Perlin Studios to create an interior space with modular, laser cut wood that looks both like the interior of the brain as well as an audio waveform.
P.S. then created an interactive video wall, where Tara’s 3 personality-shifting characters tracked viewer’s faces and bodies, and followed them around the room. We also made inverse surveillance, with a proprietary video switcher, between roof deck surveillance and modified surveillance video of the show itself.
In addition, an audio work called “Voices in my head” was created. This work could be heard on wireless headphones, giving the spectator a chance to wander the spaces, further creating a sense of disorientation and instability.
Here's our description (for the nerds)
A space inspired by dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia, the United States of Tara Loft and Roof is an audible, transformative space -- one that compliments and encourages a re-examination of stable positionality of the viewer and the viewed.
How do you create a space for multiple identities of a single person? You create their subconscious. The architecture IS the cavernous space of audible delusions, intended to disorient and destabilize traditional positions of power and perception.
The raw plywood is meant to reflect an everyday object; something familiar and common. The sculptural formation of the material however removes it from its traditional context and referentiality, and instead gives a sense of an uncomfortable cocoon, a difficult womb, a troubled mind.
The pattern created by the 8 inch rhythm of the plywood ribs in front of a solid institutional blue plane creates a counter-intuitive sense of claustrophobic comfort. This is complimented by reverse surveillance. Gazing at yourself gazing at yourself or selves.
Post-surveillance, pre-modern, post-coital. People like to feel strange and comfortable.
RESOURCES
POD DESIGN+MEDIA // Architectural and Industrial Design, Brooks Atwood, Eric Behr, Lindsay Kuhnz, Avrami Rakovsky
Perlin Studios // Media Artist, Daniel Perlin with additional programming by Michael Zick Doherty
New Jersey Institute of Technology // Fabrication, production, cutting, material forming and assembly, Gene Dassing, Steven Santander, Chris Morello, Matt Lynch
Carvart // Fabrication, production, cutting, material forming and assembly
Jungle Design // Landscaping Design for the Roof
JW Building Solutions // General Contractor
Universal Laser Systems Inc. // Laser Cutter
Storefront for Art and Architecture // Sennheiser Headphones
Tara De Porte, Actress for the United States Wall
Toshiba // TV's and Blu-Ray disc player
Fine Paints of Europe // Pantone Paints
Pantone // Pantone Paints
Dagr-Nott and Associates // Video Camera
POD DESIGN+MEDIA // Architectural and Industrial Design, Brooks Atwood, Eric Behr, Lindsay Kuhnz, Avrami Rakovsky
Perlin Studios // Media Artist, Daniel Perlin with additional programming by Michael Zick Doherty
New Jersey Institute of Technology // Fabrication, production, cutting, material forming and assembly, Gene Dassing, Steven Santander, Chris Morello, Matt Lynch
Carvart // Fabrication, production, cutting, material forming and assembly
Jungle Design // Landscaping Design for the Roof
JW Building Solutions // General Contractor
Universal Laser Systems Inc. // Laser Cutter
Storefront for Art and Architecture // Sennheiser Headphones
Tara De Porte, Actress for the United States Wall
Toshiba // TV's and Blu-Ray disc player
Fine Paints of Europe // Pantone Paints
Pantone // Pantone Paints
Dagr-Nott and Associates // Video Camera
