BIG transforms its website into a classic 1980s arcade game

Bjarke Ingels’ firm has unveiled a duplicate version of its website that mimics 1980s video game Arkanoid (+ game).

BIG teamed up with digital programmers Ruby Studio to create Arkinoid – a website that takes its cues from the arcade game released by game developer Taito in 1986.

The original game invited users to move a digital platform from side to side, with either a joystick or control pad. At the same time, a virtual ball would be bouncing around the screen destroying bricks.

The aim was to keep the ball from dropping off the screen.

In BIG’s version, the bricks are replaced with the tiled icons that the firm creates to represent each of its projects. These tiles are arranged differently for each level.

The subtle change in name is a play on the Danish word for architecture, “arkitektur”.

“Arkinoid brings back the good old nostalgia by reinterpreting the famous classic Arkanoid, BIG style!” said the firm.

“The BIG version lets you destroy our website icons,” it added. “The icons are reconfigured in different ways depending on the level, and each level gets more complex and harder to complete, kind of like architecture!”

The game is available to play online at arkinoid.big.dk. At time of publishing the top score was 9,223,372,036,854,775,807.

BIG has developed a reputation for bringing an element of fun into its architecture, and founder Bjarke Ingels previously said that architecture could be more like computer game Minecraft.

The firm, which has offices in New York and Copenhagen, has recently completed a cloud-like pavilion, an “unzipped wall” Serpentine Gallery Pavilion and a triangular tower block.

Other projects underway include a power station with a ski-on roof, a Lego visitor centre and a Google HQ that will be built by robots.

Read more

• Design
• News