Hardspace and Softspace.
Usman Haque has designed his practice around these two concepts, not as two separate ideas but rather one working in conjunction with the other. Aside from designing the physical constructs of real space (defined as hardspace), most of his work involves the creation of software systems, interactive inventions, as well as computer based virtual realities.
Most of his focus however, is involved in the non-physical (softspace), which include the human sense, date fields and wireless signals. The overlap of both hardspace and softspace create the opportunities of interaction.
Haque Design + Research is a London based practice, researching and designing interactive architecture systems. His practice states: Architecture is no longer considered something static and immutable; instead it is seen as dynamic, responsive and conversant.
Starting with his first project Moody Mushroom Floor (1996), Haque has been actively involved in the developing new architectural experiences based on human interaction, whether it is direct or through digital systems.
Even in his first project, Haque immediately tests human interactive with a physical architecture. Each of these mushroom floor panels is installed with a system of sound, light and olfactory sensors. However, his first investigation considers a counter-reaction by programming specific behaviors to these panels. No longer is it just the human causing an interaction, but the architecture reacts back.
From this point on, Haque has completed a number of projects that deal with interactions within hardspace and softspace. His attitude of transforming the static into dynamic and reponsive is evident in his research and investigations. And with each project, the overlap increases with new discoveries and inventions.
In the series of projects, Haques investigation begins with the human senses later incorporating computer based interactions of open-source software and the use of sensors and activators. This has elevated into a new discovery of atmospheric and environmental interactions, using electromagnetic fields, heat, humidity and carbon quality creating new interacting relationships between humans, computer systems and architecture.
London Burble
The London Burble project is a reocurring investigation that links human, computers and the environment. The spatial assemblage of helium balloons is dependent on a human foundation causing undulations , while LEDS in the balloons react to electromagnetic fields occurring in the atmosphere.
Reconfigurable House 2.0:
To Haque, the hardspace provides the physical framework of the interactive softspace, which encourages the people to become performers within the experience.
This project critiques the basic ideas of interactive spaces, using simple gadgets that are activated by sensors and actuators triggered by human interaction. There is a central nervous system, powered by custom software that allows different configurations of sensor to actuator relationships. For example, the sound generator can be triggered by laser sensors and can be reconfigured to be triggered by the call of a cell phone.
Haque continues to push the limits of interactive architecture, moving away from static systems to operative and responsive systems. "The new language of architecture would have to entice each of the five senses, because each culture understands space in a different way, using a different combination of the senses."
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