ENERGYM

ENERGYM, a portmanteau of energy and gym, is a 4,580 square foot space created by 23Design to demonstrate the beauty and sustainability of renewable energy through interactive technology.

We started this project in 2018 upon the request of the sole energy provider in Taiwan, the Taiwan Power Company (TPC): aiming to transform itself from an electricity supplier into an advocate for smart living and sustainability, TPC established TAIPOWER D/S ONE in 2019. As the first green-energy exhibition center, TAIPOWER D/S ONE was designed as an interactive platform to convey scientific knowledge and advocate for green energy policies through digital art and interactive technology. While the ground floor functions as a makerspace organizing regular creative events fusing DIY and creativity, the second floor was transformed by 23Desgin and Cogitoimage into the “ENERGYM.”

The idea behind ENERGYM is for visitors to connect micro individual wellbeing to macro environmental health. To visualize this connection, visitors are turned into “energy makers” once they enter ENERGYM. Their physical movements are tracked through a wristband and translated into an virtual energy storage system. For example, visitors are invited to pedal a spinning bike, flick battle ropes, and play basketball to generate energy for the system. At the final stop of the journey, the visitors can discharge the accumulated energy and convert it to an immersive digital experience through interactive projection mapping.

A virtual yoga space is also included in ENERGYM. An LED screen, equipped with the data of global carbon dioxide emissions and the motion-capture technology, suggests visitors to cease their movements for a while to allow the Earth to restore its balance. It is through this on-site digital experience consisting of eight interactive installations that visitors are encouraged to question the impact of society’s power needs and consider the suitability of renewable energy.

As the world turns its eyes to issues of energy efficiency and sustainability, 23Design, Cogitoimage and TPC took on their local responsibility by creating the ENERGYM. This forward-thinking space is the epitome of science and technology embodied in a playful and interactive exhibit design.