ABOUT

MINN_LAB is a design collective composed of architects, landscape architects, and computer scientists. We engage and facilitate cross disciplinary dialogue through the collective creation of site-based installations that foster awareness and critical inquiry into the nature of our cities, and imagine their possible futures. Our projects challenge the conventional notions of design agency through our plurality of design voices, use of data, and user integration.

TEAM

PROJECTS

2017

Project: Orbacles

Team: Ross Altheimer, Andrea J. Johnson, Daniel Keefe, Maura Rockcastle, Marc Swackhamer, Aaron Wittkamper

Students: Patrick Moe, Mahdieh Mahmoudi

Collaborators: Justin Berken, Kirk Davis, Kristen Murray, John Rasmussen

2016

Project: Weather Report

Team: Ross Altheimer, Robert Hunter, Andrea J. Johnson, Daniel Keefe, Maura Rockcastle, Marc Swackhamer, Aaron Wittkamper

Students: Deuk-Geun Hong, Seth Johnson

2015

Project: Cityscope

We engaged the UMN School of Architecture in hosting a course, which connected students, faculty, and practicing professionals to each other and to Northern Spark. The course simulated a micro competition: student groups partner with local architects to conceptualize potential projects for Northern Spark, with one project moving forward in the second half of the course, dedicated to building the selected piece. The project was installed and staffed by the students for Northern Spark.

Team: Ross Altheimer, Robert Hunter, Andrea J. Johnson, Molly Reichert, Marc Swackhamer, Aaron Wittkamper

2014

Project: POSTography

MINN_LAB designed and built an installation at Northern Spark 2014, titled POSTography. The piece visualized the density of public thought related to places throughout the city. POSTography consisted of a grid of luminous balloons, which housed LED lights and floated above the heads of visitors, weighted by postcards written by each person passing underneath. As certain areas of floating grid received more postcards, they pulled towards the ground; this weight and detail of “thought” was sensed both from a distance and read up close. The postcards were collected and will be mailed back to the participants following Northern Spark 2015.

Team: Ross Altheimer, Robert Hunter, Andrea J. Johnson, Molly Reichert, Marc Swackhamer, Aaron Wittkamper