Architectural Projection Mapping · 2019 · UNHCR

World Refugee Day
Gaddi Baithak

Gaddi Baithak, Kathmandu

Project overview

The classical facade of Gaddi Baithak in central Kathmandu became the surface for a UNHCR World Refugee Day film. My work covered the 3D model, animation and five-projector playout.

5
NEC PA903X projectors, edge-blended
46 m
Total width of the south facade
4
Render passes: ID, light, AO, wire
Watch the film See it on site

The content

UNHCR blue, cut to the architecture

Content render, 20-second excerpt. Shown flat, before projection. The full film is on Vimeo.

The facade is filled with UNHCR blue and the building's own openings are left as black voids, so the windows read as windows. White diagonal bands sweep across the elevation, and diamond forms open out from the arched windows.

UNHCR branding runs along the frieze with the line “Take a step #WithRefugees”. The end pavilions carry “World Refugee Day 2019” and “#StepWithRefugees”, with a row of walking figures along each plinth.

Content frame: white diagonal bands crossing the blue facade, with diamond outlines around the outer arched windows.
Content frame: a large white diamond outline opening around the central arched windows.

The show

In the square

The pavilion panels appear in both Nepali and English, and the film played to people gathered in the square in front of the building.

Show footage. The full run, filmed from above the square, cropped to the facade and the crowd. No sound.
Night photograph of the facade in UNHCR blue with white diagonal bands crossing the walls and UNHCR logos on the pavilions, seen across a crowded square.
Diagonal bands. White bands sweep across the elevation while UNHCR logos hold on the pavilions.
Night photograph of the facade with “World Refugee Day 2019” and “#StepWithRefugees” panels on the right pavilion, and the frieze text partly revealed.
Frieze text mid-animation. The right pavilion carries “World Refugee Day 2019”.

Creative challenge

A classical facade with a lot of edges

The elevation is heavily articulated: pedimented end pavilions, seven arched windows framed by paired Ionic columns, a balustrade parapet and stepped plinths.

Site measurements became a 3D model. Its separate parts became masks for animating the columns, windows and other details independently.

Design & technical approach

From model to five projectors

Site surveyLaser distance readings on the facade
3ds MaxFacade elevation modelled and rendered as passes
Render passesID map, light, ambient occlusion, wire
After EffectsPer-element masks and animation
Resolume ArenaPlayout across 5 projectors, edge-blended

1 · Site survey

I based the 3D model on measurements I took on site with a Leica DISTO S910 laser distance meter.

Daytime photograph of the white Gaddi Baithak facade across a brick-paved square: two pedimented end pavilions and a central run of seven arched windows with dark blue frames between paired columns.
The building by day. The white facade with its dark blue window frames, the surface behind every render below.
Leica DISTO S910 display reading 76 feet 8 5/8 inches at an angle of 38.9 degrees.
Leica DISTO S910 display reading 118 feet 6 31/32 inches, with the facade visible in its viewfinder.
Leica DISTO S910 display reading 151 feet 11 9/32 inches.
Leica DISTO S910 display reading 38 feet 0 3/16 inches.

2 · Previsualization model

Untextured 3D render of the Gaddi Baithak facade elevation: two pedimented end pavilions and a central arcade of seven arched windows between paired Ionic columns, under a balustrade parapet.
Untextured 3ds Max render. The model is the base for every render pass below.
Wireframe of the facade model in white lines on black, showing every column, cornice and window frame as geometry.
Wireframe. Columns, cornices, balusters and window frames are all modelled as geometry.

3 · Surface ID map

The same facade rendered in flat colours, with a separate colour for pediments, roof blocks, balustrade, columns, window frames, glazing, wall fields and plinths.
Flat-colour ID pass. Each architectural element has its own colour, so it can be selected as a matte in After Effects and animated on its own.

4 · Window layers

Grey render of the facade with the window openings in white, used as a matte.
Window matte. The openings isolated from the wall, so glazing and stonework can be treated separately.

The seven arched windows also sit on their own layers, so the content can address all of them together, the centre window alone, or the six around it.

Line drawing of all seven arched windows.
All seven
Line drawing of six arched windows with the centre window omitted.
Six, without the centre
Line drawing of the centre arched window alone.
Centre window only

Alignment on site

Colour by colour, onto the real building

Colour-coded frames on the building itself, one colour for each architectural element, with thin grid lines visible across the walls.

Night photograph of the facade from above, with pink, green, purple and cyan colour blocks and thin grid lines projected onto its walls, windows, frieze and plinth.
Alignment frame on the facade. Each element carries its own colour.
Night photograph of the curved corner of the building with the same colour-coded projection wrapping around its columns and balustrade.
Wrapping the curved corner. Colour blocks follow the columns, frieze and balustrade.
Night photograph of the building across the square, with projector beams visible from an upper-floor window.
Projector position. Beams leave an upper floor of the building across the square.
Close night photograph of a pavilion with a purple frieze band, blue-lavender window surround, green plinth block and pink wall, projected onto the stonework.
Pavilion detail. The projection sits on the cornice, columns and window surround.

Final deliverables

What went into the show

Content
Animated UNHCR World Refugee Day film, built to the facade's architecture
Model
3D facade elevation with ID, light, ambient-occlusion and wire passes
Setup
Five NEC PA903X projectors, edge blending and architectural alignment
Playout
Live playout through Resolume Arena
3ds Max After Effects Resolume Arena Edge blending Multi-projector alignment Live playout
  • 5× NEC PA903X projectors, edge-blended and aligned to the architecture
  • Per-element masks in After Effects, per-window layers for the seven arched windows
  • Pavilion panels in Nepali and English

Mentioned in The Annapurna Express, 1 December 2019, in a feature on EMAZING's projection mapping work. Read the article ↗