HavObservatoriet (“Sea observatory”) is an installation produced in response to a commission from Vejle Kommune and Statens Kunstfond (the Danish arts council) for a permanent sculptural data work for the new Klima Park (“Climate park”) in the town.

We designed a 3m high, 7m diameter circular steel building which contains a giant panoramic screen on which is displayed a real time simulation of ocean waves. The building is intended as a meditative space within the park, sheltered from the wind and weather, but connected to the power of the ocean..

The system is connected to the latest ECMWF near-term ocean wave spectrum forecasts, which predict the sea state around the world. We convert the spectral data from these forecasts into an animated simulation of the ocean surface, and then render this surface using a non-photorealistic particle-based rendering system. The screen shows the “view” from a single location at a time, changing the location every few minutes to a new semi-random location around the coast of Denmark. Sometimes the screen will be showing 10m high storm surge from the north sea, sometimes the tranquil waves from the east coast of Jutland.

The building surrounds the viewer in a panoramic image of the sea, which is displayed at 1:1 scale – so a 1m high wave appears 1m high on the screen. Because the screen wraps around the viewer, you can see a wave approaching from one direction, feel it wash over the building, and then disappear in the opposite direction. The slow rhythmic movement of the waves is surprisingly calming – even during very rough seas. No one has been seasick, yet.