The Weather Café

THE WEATHER CAFÉ was an immersive experiential café based in Leeds, UK. Inside, the shifting environment evolved through digital technologies that responded to the changing climate outside. The wind blew, the rain fell and thick clouds unfolded around the audience. THE WEATHER CAFÉ presented the voices of over 100 people living and connected to Leeds. The café acted as a barometer to reflect the emotional climate of the city and provided a free space of contemplation in the city. The event attracted over 2500 visitors in three weeks.

Working with creative technologist Daniel John Jones and composer James Bulley, the piece was inspired by the weather conditions of the moment. The sound responded to the shifting winds, the light changed with the visibility of the sky and the rain fell with the rising humidity – the space became its own digital microclimate. Real grass and moss covered the floors and walls to create a biologically living space .