Netflix Tokyo Lobby - Digital Noren
Building on The Threads installation in the Netflix on Vine office LA (and because the client was so pleased with the work of the team), the Gensler DXD team was tasked with reshaping the concept to fit within the previously designed and already nearing completion Tokyo lobby interior.
From the start, this project was under a time crunch and layered with the challenge of not being permitted to travel the space for an installation.
It was my task to steer the team through design, shipping considerations, and fabrication. Joing OAC calls to communicate status to the Tokyo-based install and construction teams, lead prototyping, and partner with a fabrication producer at VT Pro to build out the final product.
My Role - Client, Vendor, & Budget Management, Production Management, Scoping & Scope Management, Technical Production, Installation Training
Partners - VT Pro Design
Team - Gensler DXD
Prototyping
In partnership with VT Pro Design, we quickly started prototyping with housing and fabric options, exploring shipping timing and setting the stage for a virtual bilingual installation.
We explored projection options, shown in the vide on the right, but ultimately decided to keep the look streamlined. These are the first two prototypes with housing that were created for approval and initial testing.
Fabrication
As we were quickly rolling towards a ship date and building on the learnings of the prototype, the housing and fabric were finalized. The videos below are testing ahead of final powder coating, so you will see some reflection on the housing that isn’t a part of the final product.
The nine custom Noren and hardware rack were assembled in LA, then crated and shipped to install in Tokyo. Heavy installation documentation was provided and translated for the local AV installers. It was a nail-biter, but the pieces came together for shipping and were delivered to Tokyo via well coordinated air freight.
Virtual Install
After shipping the Noren to Tokyo, we worked with a local AV installer to hang, wire, and map the Noren via Zoom.
Once in the space, the Digital Noren mirrored the colors playing on the display, ultimately filling the lobby pavilion with colors driven by Netflix content. The team on the ground provided these photos, the distance made it hard to capture the full scale through the install process, we were being carried around on laptop to confirm mapping was correct.
