Yagan Square celebrates Western Australian culture by creating a unified, integrated digital media and lighting experience across Yagan Square Precinct.

An MRA developed project designed by Lyons architects in close collaboration with Indigenous Whadjuk leaders, Yagan Square commemorates Aboriginal warrior, Yagan, and celebrates Western Australian culture with a beautifully and sensitively designed public space. Ramus collaborated with project leaders to produce a lighting and digital media experience that told the deep cultural and traditional story of the site, through visuals, light and the moving image. From concept to development, integration, and integration, Ramus consistently grounded designs in the narrative of the site, the heritage and community. Ramus’ contribution is four installations, three low resolution and one high resolution. Content for the screen was produced by Ramus and is a collection of indigenous storytelling and the natural world of Western Australia. Curated works by community groups and established and emerging artists allow the screen to become a world first, public digital art gallery.

http://ramus.com.au/portfolios/yagan-square/

https://youtu.be/vvZg1ydLRPE

https://architectureau.com/articles/new-yagan-square-provides-a-major-focal-point-for-perth/

Details

Building or project owner : Lyons Architects, MRA

Architecture : Lyons Architects

Project artist/ concept/ design/ planning : Lyons Architects

Structural engineering : Hera Engineering

Facade design : Lyons Architecture

Facade construction : Doric Group

Kinetic engineering : Hera Engineering

Light design : Ramus

Technical layout light : Ramus

Display content/ visuals/ showreel : Ramus

Light hardware (LED hardware) : Light Application

Lighting control software : Ramus and Iion

Project co-ordination : Ramus

Membrane skin : Ramus

Interaction design/ programming : Iion

Descriptions

Facade type and geometry (structure) : Ramus’ contribution is four installations, three low resolution and one high resolution. The first two low resolution displays are integrated into the canopies over the amphitheatre and represent the ancient lake which once ran through Perth. The canopies are skinned with light on both sides and the movement and colour of the LEDs are programmed to gently act as a further activated texture.

Kind of light creation : Yagan Square is a series of integrated digital and light installations connected through the cultural narrative of the precinct. The high resolution large format screen is the core of the communal space, featuring curated visual content. The low resolution textures form visual shapes and ambient colour combinations that support the cultural narrative of the space.

Resolution and transmitting behaviour : Ramus’ contribution is four installations, three low resolution and one high resolution. The first two low resolution displays are integrated into the canopies over the amphitheatre and represent the ancient lake which once ran through Perth. The canopies are skinned with light on both sides and the movement and colour of the LEDs are programmed to gently act as a further texture in activating the

Pixel distance : Pixel distances are varied between high and low resolution. The high-resolution screen contains a high definition 6mm pitch.

Urban situation : The concepts are representative of the ideas of convergence of geologies, tracks, narratives, indigenous and non-indigenous people and culture within the Square. The digital media and lighting experience was delivered in collaboration with the Whadjuk Working Party, to provide a place for people to “meet, discover and celebrate Western Australia’s unique local produce, culture and heritage.”

Description of showreel : See the total immersive experience of Yagan Square. https://vimeo.com/139526174

Participatory architecture & urban interaction

Community or communities involved : For the high-resolution curved media screen, Ramus illustrated a digital artwork by Shane Pickett, who was one of the foremost Nyoongar artists. Combining his deep knowledge and concern for Nyoongar culture with a confident and individual style of gestural abstraction. Ramus undertook a culturally considered approach, the curatorial process for content created by cultural and social community groups began by engaging with community representational organizations. Ramus felt it was imperative to meaningfully and responsibly engage with diverse communities to generate and curate content that expressed the vision and voices of the people connected to the area. Ramus also engaged SAE Creative Media Institute students to create content in an ongoing commitment to not just serve, but also involve the community in the evolution of Yagan Square. Students had the opportunity to team up with Ramus Illumination to create content for the new digital tower, giving students a unique highly visible platform to showcase their works. 'The River Project' saw film and animation students creating short works highlighting the Swan River and it's presence in the City of Perth.

Host organization : Ramus

Legal form : Please contact me for more details.

Issues addressed : To ensure Ramus undertook a culturally considered approach, the curatorial process for content created by cultural and social community groups began by engaging with community representational organizations, This was to meaningfully and responsibly engage with diverse communities to generate and curate content that expressed the vision and voices of the people of Perth and Western Australia.

Impact : The curatorial process for educational institutions involved a two-fold engagement process. The first was to establish relationships and collaborate with University connected research institutes and design hubs to generate and re-image content; and the second was an opportunity for Departments and Faculty Heads to develop programs for students to respond to and utilize the innovative platform.

Next steps : There is a limitless potential to involve more emerging artists and push the boundaries by creating more purpose-built responsive new media art.

Mediacredits

Peter Bennetts

Peter Bennetts

Peter Bennetts

Ramus