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Innovation> Living Science

Living Science

"Instead of creating enclosed museums, as are all museums in the world...create artistic, scientific, and educational sculptures, in the open air, in order to demonstrate with more freedom, so that it is much more exciting. We call this a park of "living science." Paolo Lugari


Rain tower

The following are models of Gaviotas-designed Living Science exhibits, some of which have been constructed in parks in Colombia.

Interactive Hydraulic Sculpture
The top of this high tower has several arms of different lengths, each ending with a large sphere. When visitors move the balance beams up and down, they pump water by means of the beam's jacket pumps. The water is pumped to the spherical tank of the longest arm and, when the tank is full, its rotating effort will overcome the rotating effect that the other two spheres exercise on the system's axis, making the arm drop until the sphere with water reaches the lowest point and starts sprinking the water through its orifices. Some daring visitors will make the arms rotate 30 degrees several times, causing the whole area (including the visitors) to be sprinkled with water.

Gigantic Mermaid
This module has seven tubes the length of which are sized to form a complete musical scale. These tubes are assembled horizontally and parallel to each other on a circular structure which is able to rotate horizontally to point one end of the tubes into the wind. This end of the tube is cut on a slant like the mouthpiece of a wind instrument. The unit has a movable lid that can be carried from one tube to another, sealing the downwind end. Upon orienting the structure by rotating it on its central axis, the breeze aligns the mouthpieces and the lid in the one tube causes it to play a musical sound.

Hot Air
This module makes a metallic tube "sing" with the help of a strong draft of air, utilizing the same principle that we use when blowing into the mouth of a bottle. The display consists of 8 metallic tubes, of different lengths, located verticaly; a metallic net under them, and a set of gas burners heating the net. When you move a gas burner it will turn on for about ten seconds. When the net gets hot, the heat will create a quick air draft, which will make the tubes "sing." The tone produced depends on the length of the tube. As you select different tubes you will notice that the longer the tube, the deeper the tone.
One of the tubes could be charnged to a horizontal position. This will stop the tone because the hot air cannot go up. once the tube returns to the vertical position, the tone will return. Likewise, the tone will vanish when the net gets cold.

Hot Air Balloon
Hot air is lighter than cold air. When air is heated, the increase in temperature causes the gas molecules to move faster and occupy a larger space, expanding the volume of the gas and reducing its density. With a stationary gas burner, this balloon will rise when heated, the same as any other hot air balloon.

Communicating Ducts
The force exerted by a fluid (called "pressure") is the same in all directions. This pressure can give fluids (whether liquid or gas) the special characteristics of being highly efficient energy convertors. However, the force produced by a piston is directly proportional to the piston area and the distance moved is inversely proportional to the same area. The smaller piston will move a greater distance while the larger piston will move only a short distance, but with greater force.

Pyramid of Hydraulic Rams
High technology can have a friendly environmental impact. This is magnificently displayed in the hydraulic ram, a very simple machine used to raise water without the aid of combustion motors or any type of electricity.
It operates by using some of the energy of moving water to pump a small part of the water to higher elevation. The water rushing through a tube slams a check valve closed. The momenum of the moving water is converted into pressure, forcing a small quantity of the water to a great height. When the water stops moving, the check valve reopens and the rushing water repeats its cycle. The Gaviotas type ram can elevate water to 25 meters for each meter of head in the incoming water.
This shining, interactive sculpture, containing musical, dynamic, artistic, technological and environmental elements is symbolized by the Pyramid, one of the oldest geometric shapes created by optimistic human beings.

Balancing Banister
The operation of the Balancing Banister depends on your weight, because is you are lighter you have to move further out on the arm until your weigh overcome the other side with the banister's counterweight. You will move from one bar to the next until you reach the point corresponding to your weight; then the handrail or banister will tip until you reach the ground.

Interactive Water Mobile
When you pump the water to the top of the mobile with the aid of Gaviotas water pumps, you will be able to see what can be achieved with the potential energy you have put into the water. When the water falls back down through the mobile the fountain will come alive and you will be rewarded with the enjoyable spectacle of a waterfall full of surprises.

Solar System Game
This module represents the solar system. In addition to explaining the motion and position of the planets, it converts the solar system into an amusing game for all to enjoy. At the center we have the sun. Around it are movable rings representing the planetary orbits, each ring carrying a planet. Each planet can be moved by riding a bicycle attached to its ring. Visitors will enjoy this interactive solar system because from the bikes they will be able to see how each planet rotates around the sun at its particular speed.

Solar Rotor
This large, exotic model of a solar rotor has colored blades, black on one side and white on the other, that spin inside a transparent sphere containing very little air. This rotor turns quickly when the sun illuminates it directly; but when clouds appear, or when it is shaded by the module's umbrella, the rotor loses speed and will eventually stop rotating.