Step Up! Roll up!
Street Pixel is a magical interactive pavement that transforms urban spaces through play.
What is Street Pixel?
Street Pixel is interactive pavement that transforms the urban landscape and connects people through light, sound and play.
Street Pixel is software, hardware, behaviour and architecture- it uses playful technologies and recycled materials to connect people and spaces.
Street Pixel has been designed and made by Biome Collective and was showcased at Playable Cities, July 2023 in Bristol.
What does Street Pixel Do?
Street Pixel connects people to their environment and to each other- from kids to grownups, local residents to visiting tourists, Street Pixel brings people together.
Simply step- or roll! - onto Street Pixels to activate colourful lights, sound and interactions. Play favourite childhood games like hopscotch or whack-a-mole, make music with Street Piano, or simply sit back and watch as the pavement animates with light, colour and music.
Street Pixel injects joy and life back into the urban landscape, encouraging everyone to step outside their routine and embrace their playful side. From kids to grownups, local residents to visiting tourists Street Pixel brings people together.
“Street Pixel combines playful technologies with architecture to reinvigorate the relationship between people and places. ”
Street Pixel has been designed for a future we want to live in.
It embodies our dedication to making real, long term and meaningful change in the urban landscape with engaging, accessible, and environmentally responsible design.
Our cities need to be more….fun!
Street Pixel brings people together, sparking creativity, teamwork, and friendly rivalry. It's all about joyful expression through movement, dance, and laughter.
Light, sound and games transform public spaces into areas of creative play, making powerful connections between people and their environment.
Our cities need to be more….accessible
Accessibility benefits everyone. Alternate body co-design was part of our process from the beginning with guidance from the lived disabled experience from artist Joseph Wilk.
Street Pixel engages the senses of sight, sound and touch, providing information and opportunity to play no matter who you are. It fits seamlessly into existing paving or can be built into ramped, low profile platforms, ensuring all accessibility standards are met.
Our cities need to be more….sustainable
We have prioritised the use ofrecycled and recyclable materials, and have been monitoring the environmental impact of the electronic components we use (read our report about sustainable prototyping here).
Sustainability consultant Tommy Perman helped to track and guide our development process, and we partnered with Smile Plastics to ensure that Street Pixels are made with from the highest quality, eco-friendly plastics in the market.
Sustainable prototyping report, written by Tommy Perman here
How does Street Pixel work?
Street Pixel has been designed to work so you can play. Each pixel is a self contained wonder of sensors, lights, speakers and software all housed in durable, eco-friendly materials that people can roll, step or jump on!
One pixel is fun, but when they are connected together they form a dynamic game space across the street.
Its got layers of experience
Street Pixel is not just a technology project. Layers of thought, love and care- as well as a broad range of experiences have gone into making it work. A single Street Pixel is built from custom hardware containing everything it needs: power, connectivity, input sensors and output LED’s/ speakers- all housed in eco friendly materials.
But the magic happens when you put them together…
It’s well connected
Integrated into our hardware is a software layer that connects individual Street Pixels to another- and another! The software layer allows us to program- and update- Street pixels with infinite games and behaviours and in any configuration.
Eco Housing
Street Pixel is designed for our urban landscape, so it has to be built for the future. We worked with Smile Plastics- the UK’s most innovative manufacturer of recycled plastics- to find the perfect materials to house our Street Pixel modules; durable, stylish and recyclable.
Configure it
Street Pixel brings video games to the street- providing endless opportunities for playful interactions.
It can be configured to any area, making it perfect for bespoke public spaces and new games.
Street Pixel can work in any space- indoors or outdoors.
Our vision is to transform the streets into creative playgrounds.
“It is vital to prioritise environmental impact when designing for our urban landscape.”
Positive feedback
I bloody love it. I want to do a cartwheel on it 🙂
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Haven’t had this much fun in a while! Wish all the streets were like this <3
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I love these! A way to make cities safer and more interactive.
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Every Street should have one! <3
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I bloody love it. I want to do a cartwheel on it 🙂 〰️〰️ Haven’t had this much fun in a while! Wish all the streets were like this <3 〰️〰️ I love these! A way to make cities safer and more interactive. 〰️〰️ Every Street should have one! <3 〰️〰️
Who made this?
Biome Collective
Street Pixel is created by Biome Collective, an interdisciplinary studio dedicated to pushing the boundaries of playful media. Our projects redefine the relationship between audiences and public spaces.
We design and produce unique, multi sensory experiences and interventions that transform cultural spaces into responsive artworks- accessible and dynamic environments that break down social barriers and create playful opportunities.
Creative Producer: Malath Abbas
Designer: Tom deMajo
Creative Technologist: Niall Moody
Unity Developer: Claire Morwood
Creative Technologist: Sarah Selby
Sustainability Consultant: Tommy Perman
Our partners
We could not have made Street Pixel without partnering with some of the most forward thinking organisations in the UK.
The project was commissioned and funded by Research and development was supported by watershed who also showcased Street Pixel at playable cities 2023. Recycled plastic and material expertise was provided by Smile Plastics. The physical objects and platform were fabricated by Old School Fabrications. The city of Bristol was kind enough to host the first Street Pixel installation in July 2023. Space to build and test throughout our development was a provided by NEON digital arts.
Funded by: Watershed, Playable Cities, Our World, UNESCO City of Design Dundee,
Fabrication by: Old School fabrications
Materials provided by: Smile Plastics,
Additional support from: NEoN Digital Arts Festival, Bristol City Council, Dundee City Council