The Kelvin Grove Urban Village Project Team conducted a design competition that sought ideas and proposals for an installation (or multiple/distributed installations) at the Kelvin Grove Urban Village that would ‘display visual evidence of connectivity within the community’. The competition was open to students and professionals who had an interest in the visual and multimedia applications of Information and Communication Technology. The entries have now been assessed and the successful applicants chosen.
The winner of the Open category was a joint submission from Wesley Dennis and Gav Stevenson for their 
Maemuki entry (537Kb). This entry focused on the Japanese term Maemuki meaning ‘forward-looking’ – positive frame of mind and attitude; optimist. The entry outlined installing interactive free standing concrete sculptures throughout the Village that would have touch responsive panels on top that cause the face to glow and other installations to deliver audible responses. When all Maemuki are simultaneously activated, the sound of children’s laughter will be heard.
The winner of the student category was Greg Young for his Virtual Fish Community entry (986Kb). The entry outlined installing one or more touch screens around the Kelvin Grove Urban Village that will allow residents to have their faces transferred onto a fish. Internet access is required for this to occur. Other objects and features can be ‘installed’ into the fish tank to represent the rich cultural and military history of the Kelvin Grove Urban Village.
Feasibility studies will now consider practical requirements and develop plans for implementation of these innovative ideas. If feasible, implementation is expected to be underway by the end of 2007.
