Take a behind-the-scenes look at big-city life! 13 interactive installations provide fascinating facts about what goes into this city and what comes out. The focal-point themes are social life, culture, residential living, leisure, health, sports, nature, infrastructure, the future and international relations.
The theme of this year’s Autumn Fair is Energy and Quality of Life—enormously relevant issues, as we’re all well aware! This is a terrific opportunity to get detailed, comprehensive knowledge about energy efficiency and smart energy-saving tips. Plus, you can compare Linzers’ lifestyles and ways of life with those of other folks worldwide. If all-encompassing insights and multiple perspectives are what you’re looking for, then this is your one-stop shop.
13 interactive scenarios on 700 m2 exhibition space
…constitute a unique parcours through Linz. The setting of this presentation of Linz is a 20×37-meter pavilion, a striking venue designed by ANY:TIME. On the exterior, a 6½-meter-tall cube is completely surrounded by a strip of artificial turf, a green band meant to symbolize the successful environmental protection measures that have so tremendously enhanced the quality of life in Linz. On both sides of the entrance, this façade seems to have been rolled away to open up a view of the mirrored metal interior. This material transition from green artificial turf to polished metal alludes to the numerous layers on which the so-called “Linz System” is based. Plus, it reflects each individual visitor, who thus becomes a part of the whole.
Linz from Above
As soon as visitors step inside, they get a one-of-a-kind look at Linz—a high-definition, 150-m2 print spread out across the floor showing the entire city from a bird’s-eye view.
We Are Linz
“We Are Linz” was inspired by a beloved children’s book. A picture is taken of every visitor inside an illuminated photography cube. Then a computer divides each image into three horizontal segments—head, trunk and legs—and displays them on a projection screen. But here, they’re randomly combined with segments from other installation visitors to create a seemingly infinite series of variations.
(In)Sights
This installation takes visitors on a fascinating excursion into Linz’s past. Postcards featuring pictures of Linz in bygone days are arrayed on an interactive table that also displays the contemporary view corresponding to each historical image. Old and new perspectives create interesting contrasts and bring out the city’s tremendously dynamic development. Some older guests will recall the Linz of their childhood; the city’s younger residents will be able to discover elements of the cityscape that seem familiar and strange at the same time. This installation is based upon the Ars Electronica Solutions product (In)Sights.
Finger Marathon
The Finger Marathon invites visitors to test their sports abilities. 1 to 4 perople can run a section of the marathon distance with their fingers.
Linz in Numbers
Linz in Numbers presents different facts about the city and the work of “Unternehmensgruppe Linz” (UGL). The slide shows displayed on the screens can be selected by topic: Future Linz, Social Aspects, Life, Education, Traffic, Infrastructure, Health, Sports & Leisure, Culture. The visitors can skim through the facts, according to their interests.
Panorama
An extremely high-definition panorama wall measuring about 16 meters in length invites visitors to embark on a most extraordinary tour of Linz. This trip around town literally takes in the entire area within the city limits. At every destination you choose, you can zoom right in and examine the minutest details.
Vital Signs
The “Vital Signs” installation provides uncommon looks at everyday life inside Linz General Hospital. Each visitor’s heartbeat is electronically linked to statistical data from day-to-day operations at this metropolitan trauma center—thus establishing a connection to the medical pulse of the city.
Energy & Quality of Life
The Energy Revolution—phasing out fossil fuels and atomic power; privileging renewable energy sources—is one of today’s highest priority tasks. And making a few small, simple changes in our behavior can often yield big benefits. Here, we offer some good ideas on how to do it. And we also present comparisons of quality of life in various places around the world. This is a fascinating installation; checking it out is a good way to spend some time.
Solar Potential Registry
The use of solar power as an alternative energy source is becoming increasingly widespread. Owners of many residential buildings have even set up solar energy production equipment on their roofs. Visitors to this installation can access an interactive map of the City of Linz to consider the suitability of a particular rooftop location.
SimLinz
SimLinz is an interactive data pool that interlinks historical and contemporary city maps, statistics and photos. The result is a graphic depiction of the city’s utilities & transportation networks—electrical conduits, district heating pipes, public transit lines and much more.
Energy Missions
A responsible handling and an efficient use of our available energy is a key factor for our future quality of life. The installation “Energy Missions” at the “Linz Changes” tent conveys in a playful way how each one of us can save energy and money in addition to reducing environmental impact. Energy saving tips are communicated in the form of energy missions connected to power saving, heating, and mobility, which are carried out by the participants.
Linz. Together. Life.
The project IMPORT/EXPORT introduces employees of the City of Linz and its municipal services and enterprises with a migration background in the form of video portraits.
Futuristic Linz – Shadowgram
There is probably no other city in Austria where a focus on the future exerts a more powerful influence on political and cultural life than in Linz. “Shadowgram” spotlights Linzers’ plans, hopes and aspirations for the future. First of all, each visitor poses behind a wall of light and is photographed—the result is a shadow image showing a human silhouette. This shot is then printed out as a miniature sticker that is applied to a map of Linz. There, it is augmented by a speech balloon in which the individual depicted can make a statement expressing what’s on his/her mind.
Workshop
This workshop proves that conserving energy can be lots of fun too! It also shows that toy cars don’t necessarily have to run on batteries—they can get a real charge out of pure solar power just as well. Workshop participants will learn how to turn a toothbrush, a tiny solar module and some arts-and-crafts material into peppy sun-driven beetles, and thus racing vehicles that leave behind an infinitesimal environmental footprint.
Made possible by the generous support of Heinz Polanski, PEX Logistics
PIKA360
PIKA360 is a 360° panorama photo kiosk featuring on-the-spot print-out capability. Like the photo booths you see at train stations, PIKA360 can be installed anywhere. The 360° image is available immediately—a hardcopy can be printed out, or it can be uploaded to an online gallery. Access via smartphone offers not only an impressive interactive image display but also a nice array of functions to make sharing and downloading a breeze. To celebrate the system’s market launch, all features and print-outs are free-of-charge.
Made possible by the generous support of Ricoh
Project Credits (AE Solutions):: Chris Bruckmayr, Cecile Bucher, Stefan Fuchs, My Trinh Gardiner, Yvonne Hauser, Barbara Hinterleitner, Christoph Hofbauer, Martina Karrer, Petros Kataras, Fadil Kujundžić, Kathrin A. Meyer, Harald Moser, Benjamin Olsen, Andreas Pramböck, Gerald Priewasser, Roland Reiter, Vanessa Schauer, Markus Wipplinger, Claus Zweythurm
Complete Project Credits: Please see here.
Foto Credits: rubra, Florian Voggeneder, Martin Hieslmair, Robertba, ANY:TIME Architekten
The LINZ CHANGES exhibition is being produced jointly by the City of Linz and its municipal services & enterprises: local government agencies, the utilities, the general hospital, the senior center, the concert hall, Ars Electronica, the real estate development corporation, the information & communications technology provider, the Tobacco Processing Plant development corporation, the security patrol, the municipal housing authority, the Design Center management company, the local light railway and the airport. The exhibition’s interactive installations were created by the Ars Electronica Futurelab; the exhibition architecture is the work of ANY:TIME, a Linz firm; Messemanagement Linz GmbH set up the exhibition tent.
