Ars Electronica Center
The designated Ars Electronica Center (AEC), also known as " Museum of the Future ", was opened in Linz- Urfahr 1996. It has set itself the goal of making the technologies of the future generations to experience for every age group already in the present. Visitors have the opportunity to play with interactive installations and virtual 3D worlds to explore in the Cave.
Once a year, the Prix Ars Electronica is awarded for computer art in the AEC. 1999 donated the AEC and the City of Linz and ORF to Marianne von Willemer price.
In view of Linz 2009 - European Capital of Culture, the AEC was rebuilt for around € 30 million and reopened the turn of 2008 /09. It now has a total area of 6,500 m² and includes exhibition halls, and, test rooms and media archives and the research laboratory Futurelab.
On 1 May 2011 the Austrian Post AG expended as part of the Definitive series Art houses a stamp to the object.
Museum of the Future - Ars Electronica Center
The Ars Electronica Center is the world of digital interaction. It is discussed that change how information and communication technologies today's life, from the working world of the arts through to leisure.
Even the lifts are not only transport but designed as media rooms. Projections that are precisely coordinated with the movements of the lift, open surprising perspectives and insights.
In cyberdeck is the dream of true flies. " Humphrey II" takes visitors on a flight through virtual worlds. The visitor is moved by pneumatic muscles and can control its flight maneuvers with the poor. Using force feedback to simulate physical forces during flight. The installation uses the graphics engine of the computer game " Unreal Tournament ".
In the basement, visitors enter the " Virtual Reality ", a world between scientific simulations and computer games. In the " CAVE " you can immerse yourself in virtual worlds. Here, the world of the Renaissance, visions of contemporary artists, Design and Architecture studies or industrial projects are to choose from.
Digital data and information flows all around us like a second environment - a data sphere that remains invisible and hidden without technical aids. The projects of " Hidden Worlds " approach this hidden virtual world of bits and bytes in a playful way. With the help of augmented reality technologies are emerging aesthetic and sensory observatories for the performance of these virtual realities. An exhibition about the interfaces between man and machine has "Get in Touch". How to select the physical form of digital information and data will be made directly manipulable and perceptible, is the subject of this exhibition: communication with and through digital technologies as a design task.
The Cubus offers a daytime cafe, a bar in the evenings, in addition, it serves as an observation point on the Danube and the panorama of the city of Linz. An outdoor lift allows the visit of the Cubus even without visiting the museum.
Rebuilding
On 1 March 2007 the reconstruction of the Ars Electronica Center began on three times the size, after which the AEC recently began operations on January 2, 2009. The reconstruction was carried out with expansion of the City of Linz, the architects Treusch architecture ZT GmbH was selected based on a competition.
In addition to the previous building a second multi-storey building was built, both of which were covered with a glass facade, which is used at night as a light sculpture. A forecourt, which is again higher at the eastern end, and is provided at this point with seating steps, runs parallel to the Danube.
The construction cost of the 6,500 -square-foot building amounted to 30 million euros and was paid by the city of Linz and the Province of Upper Austria. The cost of the glass façade provided with luminous bodies were 8 million euros.
The 40,000 LEDs (red, green, blue and white) that illuminate the façade six hours a day, consume 60 kilowatt hours per day. Where the annual electricity consumption of 22,000 kWh is the average consumption Linzer seven households, and thanks to the energy-saving lamps far superior technology only costs 3,000 euros a year.
Views before and after conversion
Ars Electronica Center at night (before renovation )
Ars Electronica Center during the day (after conversion )
Ars Electronica Center at night ( after renovation )