Max Tomasinelli (www.maxtomasinelli.com)

A
s part of Expo Zaragoza in Spain, the MIT-designed water pavilion was opened for exhibition on June 11. Three thousand digitally controlled solenoid valves direct walls made entirely of water to operate like curtains, which can also display text or images via the cascading water. The roof, which is actually a shallow pond made mobile by 12 hydraulic pistons, can rise or fall, adjusting the height of the ceiling in the pavilion or meeting the ground completely when the pavilion is closed or at night. Rooms, or interactive spaces within the building, can be modified and walls can be altered to create or eliminate doorways with sensors.