Eye Pod by Cermak Rhoades Architects
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04.28.08
It's not just a pretty building, it's a camera obscura!
From the architect's website: "When the University of Minnesota's Landscape Arboretum put out a call for entries for a collection of "Secret Gardens," inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett's well-known children's book, Chris Wegscheid had an idea that didn't include a single plant: build a body-sized camera obscura that would bring an ever-changing view of the arboretum into a secret indoor space."
"The camera is a walk-in box with a single glass lens that projects an image of the outdoor activity onto a big blank wall. It is among 20 Secret Gardens chosen for construction at the arboretum. Upon finishing it's stay at the arboretum, the Eye Pod will be headed for the Science Museum of Minnesota for placement as an outdoor exhibit."
Lens detail. ::Cermak Rhoades Architects via ::Materialicious and ::Shedworking
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I remember many years ago a photographer made a pinhole camera out of a semi truck trailer, and took it around taking photographs.
He and his assistant actually stayed inside the trailer while taking photos to change the rather large sheets of film.
I would think that with some glass that goes transparent or opaque with electricity applied, one could make one of these in a room and have it function as a normal window too.
I've been in there before (I live about 5 miles from the arboretum). It was pretty neat. We didn't know what it was when we went in, it just looked like a weird, out-of-place box. It was fun watching people walk by upside down. :p
Better be careful with that name, His Steveness will soon be sending his lawyers to have a chat with you.