The city of Santa Monica is defined by low rise buildings with an occasional parking lot or high rise structure. What I propose to do is to break away from this mundane planning, and introduce a new element into the urban landscape: an urban Sony park. The idea is to create a place that stands out as innovative and progressive, further developing the image of Sony. The park will be a retail hub that sells Sony products 24 hours a day via the internet and Sony representatives during the day. The anemones will be equipped with multi-functional projectors allowing for terminal access as well as projection of products or light shows. At night the park can become a hipster lounge, playing trendy beats and lighting from the anemones. The park can be used to host receptions or whatever event is needed, as open space is limited.

Interaction with the anemones is straight forward, when a person approaches an anemone as a “window shopper” the anemone displays products and moves toward the user. When a user is interested in a particular product, only the products in review are brought towards the user. The user can then use either the online purchasing or talk with a Sony representative. When the anemone park is empty it sways to preset rhythms, and at night changes color. When pedestrians walk past, the anemones track the motion of them, as to show interest in them coming into the park. When no pedestrians are present, the anemones track cars. When kids are present the anemone goes into play mode, which reacts to the kid, but with playful movements, encouraging exploration. During intense weather, such as rain and strong sunlight, people can take shelter under the anemones cover, as the upper portion of the anemone will expand to catch rain and provide shade; in the meantime, shorter anemones provide the same access to Sony’s products.

The anemones will have a thick weatherproof cloth that can stretch and adjust to the expansion and contraction of the anemone. There will be product mounts just below the LCD screen, and the LCD screens will be mounted to the end of the hydraulic arm that controls the movement of the anemones body. The hydraulic system does not need to be all that robust, but would just need to be able to withstand normal human body weights (including gravitational forces). Storage for products can be accommodated for by topographical shifts, creating a secure place to lock valuables, creating the same security provided for by a traditional storefront.

The site is located next to a 24 hour café and several other late night venues. These places could provide the clientèle to have anemone farms that are places across the city, creating Sony hubs across the city, which provides internet to those in need, albeit a traveler, businessman/woman, or a person needing directions. Thanks to Sony, their needs would be met. Sony would be investing into potential clients, and be able to receive the advertising as well as direct revenue from the proposed project.