A waterfall that defies everything from physics to expectations to definition.

Cactus zeroed in on a strategic question: how could we get all the various types of people that frequent Lakeside to stop and take a moment to share in something fun and thought-provoking? Digital Mist is an interactive waterfall that reacts to people’s movements with customized flow patterns. The design is ultra-minimal: a stream of water pouring from somewhere out of sight above, falling through the atrium and into a cut in the floor to somewhere out of sight below. At first read, this is a simple, artful architectural element. But as visitors approach nearer, they discover that the fountain is highly interactive and moves with them in a playful fashion. To understand how the system works requires experimentation. What happens if you walk right up to the water? What happens if you walk through it? What happens if multiple people approach together? 

Digital Mist engages strangers and friends alike in a public space, fostering serendipity, spontaneous play, and a sense of community.