Games for Cities
Smart Blocks (2015)
Delft [NL]
Developed by:
A digitally-integrated design tool that allows stakeholders to rapidly prototype economically feasible spatial configurations.
Cities are notoriously complex and understanding how the many elements present in any given urban environment work together to produce favourable outcomes is no small feat. There are massive heaps of data to process and many interdependent relationships to understand and take into consideration. This complexity can often obstruct smooth design and execution processes. Smart Blocks is designed specifically to intervene in this complexity, offering an accessible and rapid toolset that allows stakeholders to collectively prototype the development and design of urban areas.
Using a custom set of wooden blocks and a local data-set, Smart Blocks can be applied to virtually any location. The blocks are tagged and relay their signal back to a central computer which determines which data to visualise. Available data includes: building age, building surface area, F.A.R., and expected construction time (for new blocks). As stakeholders add or remove blocks from the site map the visualised data adjusts automatically, in this way offering players an instant indication of the consequences of their actions. Smart Blocks is currently available in three different versions: two ‘light’ versions in which the blocks are manually tagged (or tapped) as well as a ‘full’ version which employs 3D scanning and projection mapping for a smoother and more flexible process.
Smart Blocks is a versatile and accessible tool which allows a wide range of people to collectively shape urban space. Offering real-time feedback to the stakeholders as they take their actions, the game contributes to creating a more efficient and informed design process.
