Maurer United Architects
Dropping Science

The MUA are known for their examining of the boundaries of the architectonic discipline by experimenting with techniques and images from other design disciplines. This sometimes results in architectural designs, but can just as likely produce proposals in the fields of graphic design, interactive media and interior design. The aim of this interdisciplinary research is, in addition to the actual commission, to formulate a number of individual game rules. It is a way in which to highlight ideas and concepts. The Maurers themselves refer to it as a ‘game attitude’.

’Dropping Science’ is a virtual and interactive sculpture that reveals the sources of inspiration for MUA’s entire interior design plan. MUA toys with the concepts of Science and Knowledge and certain shapes that symbolize Maastricht, Europe and the University of Maastricht. In a three-dimensional environment, these elements dissolve into a world in which the concepts of time and space have received a new dimension. The actual game can be played by two players with the help of game controllers. The game is projected onto three super-size screens in the entrance area. The point of view of each of the two players is projected onto a screen and the third screen displays animated game instructions.

The game starts when players X and Y are shot high above Earth into an asteroid cloud, like balls in a pinball machine. Once the players have recovered their orientation, they need to search this virtual sculpture (‘Knowledge’) for lightening bolts (‘Science’). The players manoeuvre themselves through the asteroid cloud, occasionally colliding with an asteroid. The asteroids are made up of polyhedral icons in which the stars of the European Union flag, the star of Maastricht and the triangles that make up the logo of the University of Maastricht, have become merged.

The players need to roll up the bolts of lightening in order to collect as much ‘Science’ as possible. However, players also need to make sure that they don’t stay in the asteroid cloud too long since too many collisions with asteroids or other players can cause them to explode and lose all their ‘Science’. The aim is to return to Earth with their collected 'Science'.

Once they’ve returned to Earth, the players must try not to roll off it and to find a star-shaped crater, which will lead them to the city of Maastricht. Once they’re in the city, they can distinguish the university complex by its yellow color. One of the buildings is the Visitors' Centre, which the players need to find. Once they locate it, the players roll inside and now find themselves in the same interior space that they are physically in. Here the players can cash in their collected 'Science' by ‘dropping’ it. Then they are sent from a pyramid located in the middle of the interior, back to the asteroid cloud. Once there, players must search for more 'Science' and the player who collects the most 'Science' and cashes it in within a certain amount of time, wins the game.