Project Background
Dynamic Patterns
Interactive Public
Impulse is a light and sound experience activated by and for the public. It was first conceived and developed for the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership in Montreal, Quebec in 2015 following selection from an international design competition.
Impulse is available for loan.
Contact us for more information.
The project is inspired by the collaborative nature of the see-saw and the patterned effects of light and sound repetition. Impulse can be played by the public to create a temporal, ever‐changing event. Impulse embodies ideas of serialism and repetition to produce zones of intensity and calm. Inspired by the iconic cover of Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures,” and Steve Reich’s serial music, which plays with repetition, rhythm and syncopation, Impulse explores phase shifting patterns through creative collaboration.
Open space is transformed into a space of urban play through a series of interactive illuminated see‐saws that respond and transform when put into motion by people. When not in use, the see‐saws will stabilize to the horizontal and remain at a lower glowing level. When activated by users and inclined, the see‐saws, augmented by LED lights and speakers, will increase in light intensity and emit a randomized sound sequence. This variation in intensity aims to animate the public space and its occupants during the cold and dreary winter.
Impulse can be customized to its site, with the arrangement of seesaws responding to its context. It has been arranged in a line, a row, two rows, a circle, a staggered bar code, and many others.
What can it become in your neighbouhood?
Awards
National Urban Design Award, RAIC, 2016
AZ Award, 2016
Engage Citizens and Visitors
Activate Urban Spaces
Public Engagement
Our streets and public spaces are typically most active when tied to consumer activities: shopping, restaurants, or unique urban events such as concerts or festivals. Impulse encourages people to engage in an immediate way with public space for the sheer delight of being together, to play and laugh collectively, decoupled with activities of consumption.
Our streets and public spaces are typically most active when tied to consumer activities: shopping, restaurants, or unique urban events such as concerts or festivals. Impulse encourages people to engage in an immediate way with public space for the sheer delight of being together, to play and laugh collectively, decoupled with activities of consumption.
The project has been a tremendous public success, being in near constant use at all hours of the day, and has been posted on thousands of Instagram feeds—with the public documenting themselves on it, laughing and playing despite cold temperatures. Intended to travel, Impulse can be reconfigured to varying public spaces, creating different urban experiences. The project imagines urban interventions as spaces of collective delight.
Impulse - World Tour
2024
Des Moines, IA, USA
Liverpool, UK
London, UK
Dunkirk, France
2023
Fort St. John, BC, Canada
Charlotte, NC, USA
Waterloo, ON, Canada
Niagara Park, ON, Canada
2022
Vienna, Austria
Kingston, ON, Canada
Chattanooga, TN, USA
Charlotte, NC, USA
Adelaide, Australia
High Point, NC, USA
Tucson, AZ, USA
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2021
Quebec City, QC, Canada
Westfield, NJ, USA
Buffalo, NY, USA
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Burnaby, BC, Canada
Seattle, WA, USA
2020
Garment District Alliance, New York, NY, USA
San Bruno, QC, Canada
Clematic Street, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Shawinigan, QC, Canada
2019
Winter Block, Baltimore, MD, USA
Downtown, Dallas, TX
Charlotte, NC, USA
Ottawa, ON, USA
Waterfront BIA, Toronto, ON
2018
Seaport, Boston, MA, USA
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
El Paso, TX, USA
Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia
2017
Piazza Bernardino Luini, Lugano, Switzerland
Canal Convergence, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, USA
Light City, Baltimore, MD, USA
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ, USA
Light in Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Downtown Detroit Partnership, Detroit, USA
Beakerhead, Calgary, AB
Design Week, Edmonton, AB
Blink Festival, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal QC
2016
Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal QC
Leicester Square Gardens, London, UK
Brussels, Belgium
2024
Des Moines, IA, USA
Liverpool, UK
London, UK
Dunkirk, France
2023
Fort St. John, BC, Canada
Charlotte, NC, USA
Waterloo, ON, Canada
Niagara Park, ON, Canada
2022
Vienna, Austria
Kingston, ON, Canada
Chattanooga, TN, USA
Charlotte, NC, USA
Adelaide, Australia
High Point, NC, USA
Tucson, AZ, USA
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2021
Quebec City, QC, Canada
Westfield, NJ, USA
Buffalo, NY, USA
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Burnaby, BC, Canada
Seattle, WA, USA
2020
Garment District Alliance, New York, NY, USA
San Bruno, QC, Canada
Clematic Street, West Palm Beach, FL, USA
Shawinigan, QC, Canada
2019
Winter Block, Baltimore, MD, USA
Downtown, Dallas, TX
Charlotte, NC, USA
Ottawa, ON, USA
Waterfront BIA, Toronto, ON
2018
Seaport, Boston, MA, USA
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Niagara Falls, ON, Canada
El Paso, TX, USA
Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia
2017
Piazza Bernardino Luini, Lugano, Switzerland
Canal Convergence, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, USA
Light City, Baltimore, MD, USA
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ, USA
Light in Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
Downtown Detroit Partnership, Detroit, USA
Beakerhead, Calgary, AB
Design Week, Edmonton, AB
Blink Festival, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal QC
2016
Quartier des Spectacles, Montreal QC
Leicester Square Gardens, London, UK
Brussels, Belgium