Petting zoo Frac centre, developed by Minimaform, The Petting Zoo at the FRAC center, Orléans, France is a futuristic spin-off to the traditional concept. In this unique installations creatures of artificial intelligence have been developed to mimic animal-human interactions. In doing so, this project raises new awareness about the future of communications and stimulative environments.
Courtesy of Minimaform
The installation consists of three robotic arms or tentacles called pets which interact through movement, illumination, and sound. These pets have internal mechanisms of recognition which allow them to track gestural activity and identify multiple users by real-time cameras and blob tracking. The responses generated thus are not repetitive and help them evolve personalities over time.
Courtesy of Minimaform
The environment consists of a darkened room with the 3 pets being the center of attention. Stepping into the installation, the viewer feels transported into a space-age setup.
Courtesy of Minimaform
The pets are highly evolved and exhibit a multitude of emotions including even boredom if the humans around are not interacting. A new form of human sensory reaction is thus explored and the boundaries of technological application in the art also reach a new high.
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.