Thousands of electronic toys were repurposed to create Reorient, an immersive installation that highlights the blend of physical space and modern technology. This project, displayed at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, exemplifies the approach of Adam Somlai-Fischer, a Budapest-born architect and computer scientist who focuses on mediated environments and the creative hybridization of existing digital tools.
Academic and Professional Development
Somlai-Fischer completed his studies at the Architecture and Urban Research Laboratory at KTH in Stockholm. His early career included teaching roles within the architecture and media technology departments at KTH. He also contributed as a guest researcher at the Smart p studio, now known as the Interactive Institute, and conducted research at MOKK Media Research. These formative years established his dual expertise in physical structure and digital interaction, leading to guest lectures and workshops at institutions such as the Domus Academy in Milan and Goldsmith College in London.
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In 2007, he co-founded the Kitchen Budapest medialab, serving as its program director until 2009 before transitioning into an advisory role. Within this environment, he championed peer production models where participants balanced personal projects with collective tasks. He emphasizes horizontal collaboration, often working with figures such as Bengt Sjölén, Usman Haque, Tamas Szakal, Massimo Banzi, Peter Halacsy, Peter Hudini, Andras Kangyal, Attila Nemes, and Anita Pozna. He views individual identity as something that emerges more strongly through participation in these loose, community-driven networks rather than through singular authorship.
Mediated Environments and Installations
As the director of aether architecture in Budapest, Somlai-Fischer oversees projects that integrate spatial projections and interactivity. His portfolio features works like Ping Genius Loci, an outdoor analogue pixel field, and Brainmirror, which renders MRI data through a reflective interface. His experiments, including the Induction house and Low Tech Sensors and Actuators handbook, have reached audiences at international venues such as the Ludwig Museum in Budapest, the China International New Media Arts Exhibition, and NTT ICC in Tokyo. His practice is defined by a commitment to openness and the ability of design work to be reconfigured by its users.
Technological Philosophy
The core of his professional outlook involves inventing creative applications for recent technology rather than manufacturing new hardware. This methodology relies on hacking and hybridization to elevate culture. At the Royal College of Art in 2008, he defined his primary objectives as achieving openness, facilitating user customization, and pursuing freedom within a technological society. He maintains a public record of his research, providing software samples and concepts for download on his website, intentionally avoiding formal manifestos in favor of collaborative contribution.
Fast facts
- Born: 1976, Budapest
- Citizenship: Hungary
- Occupation: Architect, computer scientist
- Company: Co-founder of Prezi
- Studio: aether architecture
- Kitchen Budapest role: Program director (2007–2009)
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Somlai-Fischer's design work?
He focuses on mediated environments, interaction design, and the creative repurposing of existing technologies through hacking.
What is his approach to collaborative projects?
He prioritizes horizontal collaboration where the project itself is the center of action, emphasizing collective effort over individual authorship.
