Inspired by the Metabolist ideas of self-adaptive, organically growing cities (Koolhaas, Obrist, Ota, & Westcott, 2019), the work consists of a thought experiment that raises the following questions: What if a city could shape itself after the emotions of every subject who lives in it? What kind of configurations could such a city adopt? Technically, the subjects are understood as free agents. Their behavior can be categorized as 'rest' or 'movement'. During 'movement', an agent's motivation is to reach a predefined destination. Emotions are modeled as states that modify the agents' behavior in terms of velocity and randomness. Every configuration of the city will try to optimize different variables to allow the agents to reach their destinations optimally, in terms of a mixed efficiency criteria of time, effort, and total distance covered.

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References:

• Koolhaas, R., Obrist, H. U., Ota, K., & Westcott, J. (2019). Project Japan: Metabolism Talks... London: TASHEN.

Year: 2020-ongoing
Technique: Thought experiment, Interactive Computer simulation. Python programming, projector, Computer, touch display (24”, Full HD).
Dimensions: Variable, minimum: 3m x 5m
Shows:

• September 25, 2020 (Online Lecture). Tama Art University, Tokyo, Japan.

Direction and concept: Yonlay Cabrera
Implementation: Lowiek Van den Stockt
Advisors: Akihiro Kubota, Luis Diago
Translation: Sachiko Onishi and Robert Weyland
Edition: Robert Weyland
Support: Tama Art University Graduate School, Information Design Department; Meiji Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematical Science (MIMS).