Windows Into the Woods

The installation brings nature into the heart of Roche’s state-of-the-art pRED laboratory and research centre. The images show sections of a forest bathed in the light of the moment, whilst a rich soundscape creates a natural atmosphere. Thanks to sensors and sophisticated imaging techniques, the actual weather conditions outside – such as sunshine, wind, rain or snow – can be experienced in real time on the screen. As they walk past, Roche employees can sense the current time of day and season and experience the natural environment as the foundation of our existence.

The four buildings of Roche’s Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development Centre, known as pRED, are connected by a covered alley. It runs from north-east to south-west and is flanked by the four projections of our installation (with two of the projection surfaces facing each other in each case). The content is precisely tailored to the alley’s location, so that throughout the year the position of the sun in the projected forest corresponds to the position of the sun on site in Basel.

As the day and seasons progress the installation captivates viewers with subtle changes to the natural scenery. This flow of nature is based on weather data collected from the roof of the pRED building. This data is read and used to influence the weather conditions in the image, with rain and snow seamlessly integrated as computer-generated layers into the video of the forest.

In addition to the ‘Forest Mode’, which exudes a natural sense of tranquillity, the installation offers two additional modes. ‘Science Pictures’ displays a giant strand of DNA containing interactive elements at various points. When staff members pause at these points, oversized microscopic images from pRED research appear. This serves to highlight the work of the research teams working here. In ‘Patent Stories’ mode, on the other hand, real patients have their say, reminding us of the vital importance of this research for thousands of people.