Self-sufficient architectural installation Phototropia lights up and moves by itself

Phototropia is a solar-powered architectural installation made of “smart materials” that move and light up when someone is nearby. Designed by the Master of Advanced Studies class at the Chair for Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) in Zurich, Switzerland, Phototropia is a combination of electro-active polymers, electroluminescent displays, bioplastics, and thin-film dye-sensitized solar cells. The installation is completely self-sufficient, using solar energy stored in batteries below the platform to power the movement of the polymers and to illuminate the displays. The goal of the project is to demonstrate a type of architecture that “can decay while actively being renewed” using eco-friendly materials. Be sure to watch the really cool video that shows how Phototropia was made and what it looks like in action below.