Roots for the Digital Future
Project as part of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) in Setúbal during the 2nd semester (academic year 2024)
The theme of the project was Digital Botanical Garden
by Lena Gattinger & Mascha Lebedew
As part of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) in Setúbal during the second semester of 2024, a digital art project was developed that closely engages with the local urban environment. The final result is a fragmented digital garden, a creative interpretation of the cityscape that blends real-world impressions with digital design techniques. The project was shaped through interdisciplinary collaboration and aimed to explore the relationship between physical space and digital expression.
The concept was based on the idea of collecting visual, material, and atmospheric impressions from the city and transforming them into a digital environment. Rather than aiming for realistic reconstruction, the garden was designed as an abstract and associative space. It does not resemble a traditional garden but instead takes the form of a poetic digital landscape where urban elements are rearranged in imaginative ways. Inspiration came from facades, textures, surfaces, small objects, and chance encounters with everyday surroundings, which often go unnoticed in the real world but gain new relevance in a digital context.
To build this environment, a variety of objects, surfaces and architectural fragments were scanned on site using the Polycam app. These digital pieces were then assembled in Blender to form a complex, layered composition. The resulting space is not meant to be a literal representation of Setúbal, but rather a creative reinterpretation. Graffiti, broken walls, pieces of architecture and everyday materials were combined into a new visual narrative that reflects both the character of the city and the imagination of its observers.
Sound also played an essential role in shaping the experience. Ambient noises were recorded in different parts of the city, including traffic, voices, birdsong, and wind. These sounds were processed using artificial intelligence to enhance and transform them into a unique soundscape. The result is an auditory environment that feels local, digital, and open to interpretation at the same time.
This project explores how digital media can reflect a sense of place and memory without relying on literal depiction. It shows how artistic approaches can translate everyday surroundings into imaginative spaces. The garden that emerged invites visitors to reflect, feel, and discover, while connecting the physical present with a digital future.