Shortlist 2013

The Balloon-ometer

 

We all need to play. Play spaces in the city tend to be formal and designed primarily for children, but adults have a great capacity to play and to be playful too. The Balloonometer is our invitation to you; it's your permission to play; whoever you are.

The Balloonometer is a colossal crowd-controlled device that uses microphones, balloons and fans to create an engaging spectacle both day and night.

This incredible vehicle for play is made by joining the industrial and transformative stuff of a city with the whimsical stuff of play. The Balloonometer combines a scaffolding structure with large bright balloons to create something very special; a game for everyone that transforms the city space and the people who join in.

The Balloonometer installation will encourage audiences to become players and work collaboratively: a balloon is released into the enclosed scaffold structure and players must move the balloons towards one of two containers - a safe house and a container with spikes.

Which end will the players chose for the balloon?

Players move the balloon using fans which are controlled via a variety of technologies to enable as wide audience engagement as possible. These might be a telephone number that enables you to talk to keep the fan blowing, microphones embedded into the structure to shout into, sensors around the structure that require arm flapping or even a Smartphone application where players blow into their microphone inputs to spin the fans.

The rules are simple and require no descriptive explanation. The goal, the aim and the reward are in clear sight at all times. It is not possible to complete the task alone, so collaboration and communication between strangers become key.

The Balloonometer asks the people of the city to remember their playfulness. We are inviting play into their lives through our provocation and allegory.

This Playable City Award idea is brought to you by:

Ludic Rooms
Transforming spaces through technology and play, Ludic Rooms work has at its heart a participatory approach. All our work is interactive, enabling the audience to co-create and author their own interpretation. We play with technology in the real world to create a unique individual experience.

In partnership with:

Splash & Ripple
Splash & Ripple are ‘Purveyors of Fine Experiences’ - using a combination of street gaming, theatre and clever digital media to create award winning productions. We like to create a bit of a splash; something that is remarkable, something that inspires excitement, intrigue and wonder in participants.

Talking Birds
Since 1992 Talking Birds has been producing thoughtful, playful, resonant, mischievous and transformative meditations on people and place. Our work, which we call Theatre of Place, is characterised by a distinctive blend of humour, music and visual flair in venues both conventional and unconventional across the UK and internationally.

Comments

Wow! I need this to happen. Imagine if located centrally the amount of fun (and late back to) lunch hours that we could have playing this.
It's also ageless, I know my gran would have just as much fun playing this as me or my young niece.

Posted by Mrs Cat (not verified) | 17 Dec 2012 at 20.16

I am super psyched about this idea. I remember one spending a whole evening playing with helium balloon that I'd weighted to be... weightless. I could make it rise with the just the heat of my hands. Balloons are awesome. a universal symbol for fun.

Posted by Dann (not verified) | 17 Dec 2012 at 21.13

This would be amazing!! It's about time we took Bristol's iconic relationship with balloons and gave people the opportunity to actually engage with it instead of just taking endless photos of them floating over the suspension bridge. Great!

Posted by Leah (not verified) | 18 Dec 2012 at 09.32

This would be amazing!! It's about time we took Bristol's iconic relationship with balloons and gave people the opportunity to actually engage with it instead of just taking endless photos of them floating over the suspension bridge. Great!

Posted by Leah (not verified) | 18 Dec 2012 at 09.32

This looks like it could be street art at its best, combining visual effect with participation - give these guys a chance. Give me a balloon and I will play!!!

Posted by mrjackal (not verified) | 18 Dec 2012 at 22.10

A brilliant idea and should definitely win.

Posted by Rachelle Corker (not verified) | 19 Dec 2012 at 15.52

Frankly this will be an inspiration, a spectacle that will leave by standers gawping & without doubt that Bristol is THE place in the UK for a) balloons, b) creativity and c) the city where you can interact with your local art work and have an effect. I implore the powers that be to make this astounding idea happen. Immediately.

Posted by Aaron (not verified) | 20 Dec 2012 at 18.31

Many thanks for the supportive comments.

We would really love to make this idea happen. Please spread the wonderful word of the Balloonometer and encourage your friends to leave comments too.

Posted by Ashley Brown (not verified) | 20 Dec 2012 at 21.01

Love this idea! Great combination of creativity, novelty and interactivity. We've all played with balloons at various times in our lives..but never like this, or on this scale. Needing help from others and the two possible fates for the balloons is genius. Really hope this installation happens

Posted by Manny (not verified) | 20 Dec 2012 at 21.07

anything that is outdoors, fun, engaging and creative such as this, gets a thumbs up from me. and who doesnt like balloons!!

Posted by Mike ashworth (not verified) | 20 Dec 2012 at 21.11

You are quite right ! Who doesnt LOVE balloons. :-)
Thank you for the comment

Posted by Ashley Brown (not verified) | 21 Dec 2012 at 09.43

completely brilliant because its complexity is all in the making and not in the playing. No alienating, audience-reducing techology to master but a perfect medium for making friends with passers-by. Anarchist co-operative play with unpredictable outcomes and lots of permutations. Kindly install one in my workplace now.

Posted by Garden Ghost (not verified) | 21 Dec 2012 at 13.13

This looks awesome. Hope this one happens. It looks like a lot of fun. Plus, ya know, there's giant balloons. How can that be wrong?

Posted by Andrew Rodger (not verified) | 23 Dec 2012 at 21.37

Sounds fascinating, very good for people with disabilities too.

Posted by Jon D (not verified) | 25 Dec 2012 at 10.03

thank you, yes we give a lot of thought for our audience on every project we do and wanted to make something that engages and excites absolutely everyone that lives within the city. Its all about bringing a smile to as many as possible.

Posted by Ashley Brown (not verified) | 2 Jan 2013 at 11.29

I love this idea! I think of all.of the ideas thisbis the most democratic - it will be big and unmissable, meaning people can come across it and join in without having to know about it first. I also like that this idea includes, but doesn't at sll rely on, smartphone technology. Believe it or not there are many thousands of people out threre who don't have one!
This idea will be playable by toddlers and grannies and everyone in between which is why it gets my vote :)

Posted by katherine (not verified) | 3 Jan 2013 at 07.10

Thank you this is very much something in our minds for all projects; especially for the Playable City proposal.

We dont necessarily want people to need to read a manual, download and install software onto certain devices etc before they are allowed to engage ... of course for those who like to play that way we can certainly offer interesting and exciting experiences too! We want as many people as possible to have fun, smile and do something that they will remember and tell their friends/family over dinner that night.

Posted by Ashley Brown (not verified) | 5 Jan 2013 at 21.25

Wow, can't wait to see it alive!

Posted by Matee (not verified) | 3 Jan 2013 at 12.40

Superb idea - an ingenious way of generating spontaneous interaction, creativeness and fun between strangers within the vast expanse of the city, where despite the high population number and density of people, it may often feel quite lonely. Go for it Bristol! Then please bring it on tour! :o)

Posted by snowkirsten (not verified) | 3 Jan 2013 at 13.04

Thank you very much. Hopefully if successful it will go on tour...who knows where ? :-)

Posted by Ashley Brown (not verified) | 5 Jan 2013 at 21.22

This is SUCH a cool idea - PLAY is so often overlooked for children AND adults - this will be great slap bang in the centre of an urban environment. Can you tour it to Coventry too?

Posted by Julia O'Connell (not verified) | 3 Jan 2013 at 13.23

Brilliant! Completely addresses the need for easily accessible play spaces that cater for adults as well as children. City developers could learn a lot from these guys. Hope it prompts an urban revolution! Please build asap

Posted by Matt (not verified) | 3 Jan 2013 at 13.28

Excellent idea! Who wouldn't want to play with this? Everyone needs a little more fun in their lives, and having fun while also working with strangers for a common goal is even better!

Posted by Steve (not verified) | 3 Jan 2013 at 15.35

This sounds the most playful and fun to me! It would look fabulous and feels accessible.

Posted by Hannah.higginson@watershed.co.uk (not verified) | 4 Jan 2013 at 13.34

I do like the sound of this idea. Will you stream this so that people can play online or do you want it only to be playable by people in the physical space?

Posted by Simon Whitehouse (not verified) | 4 Jan 2013 at 16.06

love the collaborative, interactive and just plain silly fun of this one. It is a big toy placed in the city that many citizens can play with. It's a shame that it doesn't also in some way pay with the city...

Posted by rach (not verified) | 5 Jan 2013 at 19.34

Thank you...and you never know what secrets might be unveiled if the project is succesful..

Posted by Ashley Brown (not verified) | 5 Jan 2013 at 21.20

I will fallow up on rach's (rachel's?) comment.
Ballon scaffolding on the street really doesnt seem to relate in any way to the city. The location and context of Bristol as a city seems insignifacant to it as the scaffolding could have been installed literally anywhere. It just seems like a short breath surface kind of entertainment, not really innovative or inspiring.

From a design perspective, the use of scaffolding on the street just seems rigid, intrusive and alien. Also I'm curious how this will look when people aren't playing with it.

Posted by Mary B. (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 06.54

Hi Mary thanks for your input - I've hopefully answered your questions below.

Scaffolding generally denotes a coming change of the urban landscape - the construction of something new and potentially exciting. This happens every day in our cities and generally people seem uninspired by the potential changes. Buildings are created, not communities.
We are all often too busy to play, sometimes finding 5 minutes in a hectic daily life can seem a challenge. We understand this. We are using the balloon as a recognisable symbol of play and fun that requires no instructions or permission to engage. Balloons are fun!

We are wanting to create something new to combine these artistic ideas and to change perceptions, giving people that chance for 5 minutes of play to raise a smile and possibly talk to someone you have never met before.

We agree that scaffolding can look plain and uninspiring, the ballonometer will be covered and colourful with lights and sounds - much more akin to a vibrant installation piece. With music and lights the ballonometer will still retain an interest without any interaction.

And yes, it may not be site specific however many of the other pieces are not too; if the winning piece is to tour then it makes sense to keep it ambiguous and transferable.

Thanks for the comments / questions :-)

Ashley

Posted by Ashley Brown (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 14.34

Hi Mary,

Dom from Ludic Rooms here.

I'm going to take the somewhat peculiar step of completely disagreeing with my lovely colleague Ashley on this one.

One of our fabulous project partners, Splash and Ripple, are based in Bristol. We spent a fair old while in the earliest stages of the project working with the them to try and define the needs of Bristol as a location for the commission. There were lots of Bristolian factors that inspired the project, not least the ascents and nightglows of the Balloon Fiesta that have been gracing the city for the last 35 years.

It is true, however, that one of the stipulations of the bid was to create something that has the potential to tour and find a new relevance in different locations.

With regards to the appearance of the scaffolding, we will be working with the fabulous designer Janet Vaughan from Talking Birds, to create a printed scrim that completely surrounds the scaffolding tower* (which I tried to 'suggest' in my sketch for the bid). This will be a bold and imaginative spectacle, designed to entice potential players and develop the mystique of the industrious Blow Up Corp.

*Insider note - The decision to do this was, incidentally a cheeky nod to the controversy that ignited debate among the Bristol community over the Union Jack scrim that was erected on the Colson Tower this summer.

Thanks a lot for your comment, hopefully we might be able to welcome you to play with us some time :-D

Dom

Posted by Dom Breadmore (Ludic Rooms) (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 17.41

Grrr typo. Colston Tower.

Posted by Dom Breadmore (Ludic Rooms) (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 21.12

Brilliant idea. Outdoor play to confined to ground level.

Posted by Ian H (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 09.48

That is of course "not confined to ground level"

Oooppps

Posted by Ian H (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 09.49

Phew! ;-)

You're bang on with the idea though, a lot of our work is heritage inspired and one of the lessons I've learned from exploring the architecture in urban areas is to 'look up'.

We've tried to do something that encourages people to look up and around, rather than staring down at their feet... or their phones.

Posted by Dom Breadmore (Ludic Rooms) (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 17.44

Ahh, It reminds me of those Wonderful Waterful games that I used to play when I was a wee one, but better because it's massive! If you build this I'll be stationed next to it all day, with a look of child-like wonderment plastered all over my special little face. Winner!

Posted by Harrington (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 15.24

Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant idea! Can't wait!! Sounds as visually exciting as the game itself.The sooner the better - should be a really fun experience - especially for all of us big kids!

Posted by Linda G (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 16.18

Amazing! The city needs this!!

Posted by Michelle Roche (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 17.26

I want to play! it's big boys (and girls) toys...we all love balloons and building with Lego (we'd have scaffolding but it's too big) and then to make it all digital and let us take charge...hope this wins, I WANT TO POP!

Posted by Richard Harrison (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 18.05

We all do love balloons.

I recently went to Disneyland Paris (lucky me). More than 65 rides and attractions, four parades a day, 50+ eateries and dozens of shops selling 16000 different items of merchandise. What does my 5 year old nag me for all day every day? A balloon.

Posted by Dom Breadmore (Ludic Rooms) (not verified) | 9 Jan 2013 at 18.32

Dom & Ashley,
Thank you for your quick response. Here let me expand upon what I was saying, When I said that it is uninspiring I meant that this proposal seems like a obvious answer to making a city playable i.e insert a big balloon toy in the middle of a city that is a flashy version of the well understood "pin ball machine."

Don't get me wrong, I always value a moment that can bring people together and get them off their phone (even if it's just for a second), but I wish something more of this. I do not see how this can be anything more than a one-trick pony; once people play with it, they will forget about it within seconds.

Once again thank you for your reply I always appreciate dialogue about public work.

Posted by Mary B. (not verified) | 10 Jan 2013 at 06.00

Hi Mary,

In the past we've made projects that engage players for 2 minutes, and others that have engages players for 20 hours.

I wouldn't like to try and compare the value of these experiences on the behalf of the players, only to hope that both might plant the seed of a memory, a transformative effect, or perhaps a smile.

A friend of mine tweeted this, from Richard Herring's Metro column earlier today, and it made me think of you.

"I am becoming more of the opinion that the best art lives and dies in the moment: a laugh, a tear, an orgasm, an old tune played by a man with a walking stick in an unexpected place ... it’s not how many people you reach, it’s what effect you have on the ones that encounter you."

I'd like to think even fleeting moments can leave eternal memories.

Regards,

Dom

Posted by Dom Breadmore (Ludic Rooms) (not verified) | 11 Jan 2013 at 18.08

Ace! this sounds flipping cool... please please make this happen!

Posted by Tom M (not verified) | 10 Jan 2013 at 09.26

I think this sounds like a great idea!
If this project is commissioned I will definitely take a trip to Bristol to see it.
After experiencing other Ludic Rooms installations, I know Dom and Ashley will do a stunning job. Let's make it happen!

Posted by Jen Devaney (not verified) | 10 Jan 2013 at 20.10

The whole concept of play across a wide spectrum of age groups is something rarely achieved, in my honest opinion. However with Balloonometer, I think that the iconic city of Bristol would embrace such a fun way for everyone to interact and let them forget what age they are - for a few minutes or longer. There has obviously been a lot of hard work and decision-making already, PLEASE give this brilliant concept a chance to show what it can bring to the public. A tour to the Midlands if possible too?

Posted by Rich Harrison (not verified) | 10 Jan 2013 at 20.33


Supported and sponsored by: