Artist prints "flying carpet" for airport

So, you like the fact that your inkjet can print iron-on transfers for t-shirts? Iranian artist Seyed Alavi has you topped in a big way. Alavi decided to create a 150-foot long carpet for a pedestiran walkway in the Sacramento Airport that would be imprinted with aerial imagery of the region — a modern take on the "flying carpet." Alavi's carpet was created by Ulster Carpets, using imagery provided by the Geographical Information Center at Cal State Chico. Oh, and don't feel too bad about those inkjet t-shirts; the artist is willing to throw you a bone: "It is truly amazing what is possible to print images on these days," he told Gizmag. "Of course, for home use the cost is still somewhat prohibitive, but that is slowly changing as well. I think mostly you're seeing it starting small in the world of crafts such as printing your own t-shirts …" Go for it; as Alavi proves, the sky's the limit.

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Norman Foster's City Hall in London (built in 2002) has a great aerial map of the city at the bottom of the spiral ramp. It's a large carpet that you can also walk on. There's a sculpture in the center that points down to the building you are standing in.

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/cityhall/

It's open to the public and definetly worth a look if you're in the city.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Wallpaper is next!

[Whiplash @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Too cool... it makes me want to run through that hall with my arms spread making plane noises. :)

[Man @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

So this is where they filmed the new King Kong, I knew the trailer was a bit odd.

[Steven Fisher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I wonder if anyone's afraid to walk over it due to acrophobia...

[TheCheeks @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

hey i live in sacramento! gotta go check that out...

[Samuel Lago @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

This is all well and good, but I want that carpet some hotels were trialling that is electronic. When a fire alarm goes off arrows or footsteps appear illuminated or (highly visible) in the carpet to show the way to a fire exit.

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

they should paint planes on the ceilings...