PlayLab.
Vision for a new high-tech experimental media performance &
research space in downtown Skövde
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PlayLab is an in-progress collaboration between Skövde Municipality, Culture, and University, facilitated by the Future Media Theaters Initiative. PlayLab is a new high tech performance & research space in Skövde, focused on experimentation at the intersection of games, game technologies and performance, as well as collaboration between researchers, professional artists, youth and community members, located on the top floor of the Kulturlabbet youth culture house in downtown Skövde.
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The vision for the renovation of the PlayLab space is a design for maximum flexibility, to support experimentation with a wide range of technologies sustainably and safely. A large space (approx. 20M long x 10M wide x 7M high) is available on the top floor of the Erik Uggla theater (now Kulturlabbet) and Skövde Municipality is enthusiastic to have the space utilized in this way. Fortunately, since the building was previously used by Gothenburg Opera, there are some support spaces still in place (carpentry shop, paint shop, dressing rooms, laundry) that can still be utilized in support of this newly proposed space. The space itself, however, does require renovation, which could be accomplished by building a room within the room, to avoid touching aspects of the Uggla building with historical designation.
We have gathered advice from the founding director of EMPAC, who was also involved in the design of that building, and had prior experience in related facility design at ZKM, as well as sought counsel from the Technical Director of Riksteatern, Riksteaetern technical leads, and members of the Electronikmusik Studion:
We have gathered advice from the founding director of EMPAC, who was also involved in the design of that building, and had prior experience in related facility design at ZKM, as well as sought counsel from the Technical Director of Riksteatern, Riksteaetern technical leads, and members of the Electronikmusik Studion:
- Maximally reconfigurable space to accommodate many types of experimental performance and game events
- Ancillary storage space for multiple technologies (computers, lighting, electrics, scenography elements, etc.) audience seating and other support system
- Uni-strut or other system for flexibly attaching equipment to walls
- Wire tension grid maximizes safety and provides more flexibility than traditional pipe grid; another possibility is a motorized grid (which can also contribute to lowering or raising ceiling height, to influence acoustic possibilities in the room)
- Maximize electrics connectivity and network connectivity with outlets at floor level on walls (not on floor) and outlets in grid
- Consider sound separation and acoustic turning capabilities of space, to support multiple types of performance (including electronic and acoustic music) and prevent interference with other building activities
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There are other spaces like this around the world (Ars Electronica, ZKM, EMPAC) but their focus is not on Games, Youth or Inclusion. Skövde’s PlayLab is unique because of the focus on Games, Youth, and Inclusion. This high-tech black box provides a platform for focusing on process of production, with a central ethos of inclusivity. In this case, Inclusivity means inviting in those who often do not have access to high-tech performance spaces: youth and other non-professional cultural producers, women and minorities including those with disabilities or neurodiversity, and senior community members. The ethos of inclusion emphasizes bridging connection between groups, intergenerationally, and between community members, professional artists, media engineers, and researchers. |
What Happens at PlayLab?
We envision a funded residency program for PlayLab, open to any applicant to propose a project in the space. One requirement will be that projects meaningfully engage youth in Skövde. PlayLab will function as a meeting place bringing together local, national and international people and organizations at the nexus of games, game technologies, and performance.
We envision a funded residency program for PlayLab, open to any applicant to propose a project in the space. One requirement will be that projects meaningfully engage youth in Skövde. PlayLab will function as a meeting place bringing together local, national and international people and organizations at the nexus of games, game technologies, and performance.
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PlayLab Stakeholders
Many organizations in Sweden are excited to participate in PlayLab. These are some of them.
Many organizations in Sweden are excited to participate in PlayLab. These are some of them.
PlayLab Long-Term Vision
Our long-term goal is the creation of an international research and community arts production center focused on Future Media Theaters, based at University of Skövde. The aim is for this research center to bridge theory and practice, connecting the academy with the regional and local community and industry. We envision an interdisciplinary structure for the center, to facilitate collaborative research in related disciplines including theater, performance studies, art, cognitive science, games, and human computer interaction. We see media theater as a flexible and accessible platform through which research can also be shared with the public, and community invited into dialogue with us and our work. This first year of funded activities, generously supported by Region Västra Götaland, is an initial step toward building the Future Media Theaters network, identifying key research questions to pursue, developing new collaborations, and seeking future funding.
Our long-term goal is the creation of an international research and community arts production center focused on Future Media Theaters, based at University of Skövde. The aim is for this research center to bridge theory and practice, connecting the academy with the regional and local community and industry. We envision an interdisciplinary structure for the center, to facilitate collaborative research in related disciplines including theater, performance studies, art, cognitive science, games, and human computer interaction. We see media theater as a flexible and accessible platform through which research can also be shared with the public, and community invited into dialogue with us and our work. This first year of funded activities, generously supported by Region Västra Götaland, is an initial step toward building the Future Media Theaters network, identifying key research questions to pursue, developing new collaborations, and seeking future funding.
Work in Progress: Immersive 360-degree VR CAVE system
As part of our initial experimentation with developing PlayLab, we are working to design, create, and implement an immersive 360-degree Virtual Reality (VR) CAVE system in the space. Unlike a head mounted display (HMD) which requires users to wear cumbersome VR goggles, the CAVE configuration requires no special equipment for the user and can support collaborative interaction from multiple users together.
Our 360 CAVE is designed to be relatively lightweight and modular, so that it can be packed up and and moved to be in installation in other locations as needed. The system design and implementation is being led by Maurice Lamb and Mikael Lebram, who are both faculty members at the University of Skövde, with collaboration from other Future Media Theaters team members Rebecca Rouse, Lars Kristensen, and Thomas Oldrell. Long-term goals for the 360 system include networked connection with other immersive spaces, to enable experiments in live remote participation and collaboration both in artworks and immersive simulation research contexts.
Our 360 CAVE is designed to be relatively lightweight and modular, so that it can be packed up and and moved to be in installation in other locations as needed. The system design and implementation is being led by Maurice Lamb and Mikael Lebram, who are both faculty members at the University of Skövde, with collaboration from other Future Media Theaters team members Rebecca Rouse, Lars Kristensen, and Thomas Oldrell. Long-term goals for the 360 system include networked connection with other immersive spaces, to enable experiments in live remote participation and collaboration both in artworks and immersive simulation research contexts.
