A plan to turn Bristol into a city of "secret, digital conversations" by allowing people to talk to lampposts, post boxes and bus stops was won a prestigious award.
The 'Hello Lamp Post!' project was declared the winner of Bristol's first Playable City award on Monday.
Created by the London-based studio Pan, the idea was chosen from 93 others from around the world.
Its creators will receive £30,000 to turn the idea into a reality by this summer. It will then be toured around the world.
Pan explains that 'Hello Lamp Post!' will allow people "to tune in to the secret conversations of the city ".
Instead of just hooking up digital message boards to post boxes, it will instead use existing codes on street furniture which are currently used by city councils to organise repairs and maintainance.
Pedestrians can use these codes to text a lamp post or bus stop, and receive a personal reply.
Playable City explains:
"Every post box in Bristol has a six figure code, every bollard has two, some of the benches have seven and the storm drains have 14. Text the word ‘Hello + the name of the object + its code’ to the special phone number and the item of street furniture will immediately text you back with a question. Will it be pleased to see you? Irritated at having been left in the rain? Or will it tell you a secret? The more you play, the more the hidden life of the city will be revealed."
Ben Barker from PAN Studios said in a statement:
"This is a huge surprise. When we saw the quality of the shortlist, with work from so many names that we respect, we never imagined being selected. We are really flattered and excited to continue to develop the idea with Watershed on what makes a Playable City over the coming months.
The full list of 10 shortlisted ideas can be found below:
