Pandemonium | Spring 2020
ETH Zurich
Preface
This project explores spatial design through designing experiences, environments, characters, stories and emotions. It uses poetry, dialogue, monologue, music, coding, photography, scenography, stage design and world building to bring out inherent tangible and intangible viewer/user experiences, with an intent to make it a fully immersive experience. Physically situated in the hustling Buenos Aires, the project attempts to break through its absolute chains of reality and physicality in order to discover new ways of engaging with time, space and stories.
Tools: Python, Mathematica, DaVinci Resolve, Unity, Rhino 3D, Blender, Quixel Mixer, Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, SketchUp
As you proceed to read on, you will take on the role of a visitor, hence having the opportunity to converse with the devil - through words, emotions, sounds, environments and ultimately space. Without further ado, welcome, my friend. Welcome to:
Pandemonium.
Or should I say the house of the devil himself.
Welcome to this house of fury. Of uproar. A lawless inferno. An amalgamation of various tastes. Freihaus thrives on sins. Ideas. Opinions. Memories. Freihaus retains nothing, foresees nothing; Freihaus embraces this ocean of possibilities, or maybes and the in-betweens. It allows for multiple truths to exist. You must be ready to stand up against the face of society, the laws, the mind's desires, the rituals, the media. The Devil accepts you. All of you. Your confusion, your dilemma, your doubts, your beliefs. All S/He asks is for you to hold onto your opinions, and take on a new form, your inner true form. A new face, with the same voice. Freihaus asks that you summon your conscience. Freihaus is your conscience.
Freihaus is you. You are Freihaus.
You are the chaos. The mess. The pandemonium.
Because, Where else can such confusion reign, but in devil's temples?
Site
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair. Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light. My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night.
- Hotel California, The Eagles
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Chamber of Inscriptions.
Let go of your fears, walk with me through this darkness, into a new light
Don’t worry, you can think out loud, just hold onto your ideas, don’t lose sight
Here, take them down, honor them, on stone They’re safe now, let them out, you’re here, and alone.
-
Chamber of Faces.
Let me guide you through, to the halls of the strange men. Each one cast out for being different, time and again.
Go ahead, pick your face, don’t hesitate, don’t be shy. You’re free now. To speak, to joke, to repent, to lie.
For your voice remains, ever so clear, so strong. And as none can judge you, you can reign for long.
-
Chamber of Discourses.
Take my hand, let us venture into the depths of the blazing sea Allow yourself to let go, speak your mind, be free.
Immerse yourself In conversation, express yourself at peace
Discover new secrets, unlock new doors, find new keys.
-
Chamber of Judgements.
Brace yourself now, prepare for the best. Its time to Celebrate your opinions, put them to test
The five faces of death await you on the other side. Ah! Death is our friend, sweet child, no reason to hide
There are no right answers, there is no single way. We’re all here to explore, to learn, to uncover, with each day.
Chamber of Inscriptions
The Walls: Overpowering. Solid. Strong. Firm. Determined. Rough. Tingly, deceptive walls scream out radical thoughtd, provoking you.
The Floors: Challenging. Slippery. Sharp. Hard. Heavy. Dark, cracked floors warn you and keep you alert.
The Ceiling: Immortality. Endless. Cold. Dark. Mysterious. The deep, suspicious tunnel tests your curiosity and willpower.
The Chamber of Inscriptions prepares you for the cold brutal truths and experiences, by heightening the sense of touch and hearing.
Chamber of Faces
The Walls: Overwhelming. Neat, Sharp, Organized, Rough. Made up of bones and skulls, the walls prepare you to face “death”.
The Floors: Challenging. Quicksand sinking, Burning, Flooding. Rough bare floors make you immune to the dangers to come.
The Ceiling: Cyclonic. Silent, Covered with faces, Hypnotic. Spinning in circles, the ceiling directs you to ways of liberation, allowing you to completely give in.
The Chamber of Faces provides you with an opportunity to let go off everything that holds you down, allowing you to be born with a new face and clean slate with only your one true argument to hold onto. It activates the sense of touch, allowing you to pick from the many faces.
Chamber of Discourses.
The Walls: Interactive. Shiny, Moving, Holding Surprises. The walls hold various hints, riddles and puzzles, leading to new discourses.
The Floors: Dynamic. Subjective, Changing, Colorful. Ever changing floors guide you through the chamber, leading you to the greater interaction with the desired cube.
The Ceiling: Encouraging. Indicative, Bright, Uplifting. The colors and the life reflected by the ceiling aims at heightening all the senses for an ultimate experience.
The Chamber of Discourses marks your transition into a devil, unfolding the wonders of the Pandemonium. With every step, every touch, every word, this chamber guides you, opening up new passages and discourses. It stimulates all five senses as a grand welcome into the heart of Hell.
Chamber of Judgements
The Walls: Testing. Black Screen, Soundproof, Lifeless. Made from big black screens, the walls would serve as a portal to interact with your old self.
The Floors: Dynamic. Shape shifting, Ambiguous. Depending on what kind of performance you would choose, the stage would change shape.
The Ceiling: Amplifying. Creating Illusions, Deceptive. The deceptive mirrored ceiling fuels greater doubt and confusion.
The Chamber of Judgments is the last task. Its the dance with the devil. A conversation/ confrontation with your old self. A test of your determination, of how much your argument has evolved.
