In 2015, Dokk1 opened as the central library and citizen service center in the city center of Aarhus. On the outdoor deck of Dokk1, visitors can find a large playground with installations for children of all ages. The Ice Floes consist of ten spring-mounted platforms that invite visitors to jump and balance - mimicking the sensation of moving across real ice floes. Since then, many of DOKK1’s visitors have leaped from floe to floe, enjoying the playful installation.

December 12, 2024, The Ice Floes installation at Dokk1's outdoor playground officially re-opened with a technical augmentation, including sensing of movement, interactive light and sound. The augmentation has been created in collaboration between Dokk1, Lighting Aarhus, Aarhus Kommune and CAVI.

Now, the ten spring-mounted platforms respond to movement with rippling sound and over 7,000 individually mapped RGB LEDs, creating a glowing, kinetic landscape. Sounds of crystalline tones and waves of color that evoke drifting ice, sudden snowstorms, and the dancing northern lights, make play on The Ice Floes become a fully immersive experience of light, motion, and sound.

The project investigates whether adding interactive light and sound to a playground installation can increase play, both during the day and after sunset.