Obscura Digital: Architecture As A Technicolor Canvas

For the grand opening celebration of the Exploratorium’s new location in San Francisco, acclaimed creative technology innovators, Obscura Digital, transform the façade of the historic Pier 15 into a luminous portal revealing unseen dimensions of complex micro and macro phenomena.

Emergence takes people on a dynamic visual journey, evoking a sense of wonder about the nature of order in our universe. To capture these marvels of nature, Obscura designed and fabricated a series of miniature replicas of the Exploratorium’s façade to contain unique experiments involving fluid dynamics, wax liquefaction, particle interactions, microorganisms, living systems, crystallization, and growth in time lapse.

Documented in ultra high-definition video, non-computer generated real-life visualizations of compelling natural subjects are projection mapped back on the surface of the building, creating the illusion of being contained within its structure.

Unique, non-digital sounds, arranged and composed by Obscura musicians, converge with their architectural projections to form extraordinary harmonics, elevating the experience to a new level. 

Obscura is a San Francisco-based creative technology studio that orchestrates entertaining, informative, and educational experiences with interactive installations, large-format architectural projections, and immersive environments that generate a sense of awe and inspiration for live audiences.

Emergence Credits

Obscura Team:

Garth Williams, Creative Director, Concept & Design

Tim Digulla, Art Director
Marc Melzer, Director of Media & Art

Jennifer Spratt, Producer
Susan Ali, Media Producer
Matty Dowlen, Head of Production
Barry Threw, Head of Interactive
Ana Herruzo, Lead Interactive Engineer
Andrew Plourde, Sr. Technical Director
Gaston Albanell, Technical Director
Bryan Sullivan, Technical Director

Tom Sepe, Prototyping and Practical Effects
Desmond Shea, Systems Engineer

Hoss Ward, Lead Fabricator
Phillip Briggs, Director of Photography

Jim Ellis, Lead 3D
Alexi Alexaieff, Production Artist
Joshua Brott, Photography
George Rosenthal, Media Technician

Sean Holt, Director of IT

Travis Threlkel, Founder, Executive Creative Director

Special Thanks to:

Dr. Karen Kalumuck Biology Consultation (Exploratorium)
Ben Stokes Cinematographer, Designer (Mission Control)
Dr. Richard Weinberg, Ph.D. (Digital Cinema Microscopy

Darren Kraemer & Saied Rezaei / Attodyne, Inc.

Derivative TouchDesigner

FLIR Systems, Inc.