The public ‘Sensor Valley 8.0’ by Studio Roosegaarde is Europe’s largest interactive sensor artwork. As a red carpet for the new Cultural Center in Assen (NL) the interactive pillars breath light and sound in response to people. The local citizens in Assen already call them 'knuffelpilaren' (hugging pillars) as they interact with human motion and touch.

The city of Assen is called the ‘Sensor City’ of Europe with its longstanding history in sensor technology scanning the universe. Studio Roosegaarde's innovative LED and social design was selected from 125 other candidates.

The interaction of ‘Sensor Valley’ is unique, playful and stimulates the social interaction within an urban environment. The pillars ‘breath’ a soft blue light, and get more colorfull when people interact. Excessive movement and specific touch of visitors will trigger the pillars to burst into an explosion of light, before picking up their soft ‘breathing’ again (see video).
 

This connection between ideology and technology results in what Roosegaarde calls “techno-poetry”. Roosegaarde: “We use technology to make environments more human again”.

Embraced by the city as their new cultural icon, ‘Sensor Valley 8.0’ enhances local social interactions; creating a tactile landscape of people, city and light. Even a local restaurant became inspired, and made a special “Sensor Pillar” jelly dessert.

Where:
The public artwork ‘Sensor Valley’ is open for public at night and located here at the entrance of the cultural palace 'Nieuwe Kolk’ in Assen (NL).