Screenshot of the VR environment for “Datum Line,” featuring fragmentary views of the planet and ocean.

Susan Narduli on “Datum Line”

Award: Best of Best in Temporary Exhibitions (C2A)
Project: Datum Line
Firm: Narduli Studio
Lead: Susan Narduli

“Datum Line” transforms real-time global sea-level data into an experiential narrative about the forces of nature and the future of our planet. Below, architect and artist Susan Narduli discusses how her team melded art, architecture, and technology to create this award-winning installation.

Wide-angle shot of the “Datum Line” immersive installation with lines of light and mapped projections.

1. Could you provide a brief background about yourself or your creative practice?

Susan Narduli: I’m a Los Angeles-based architect and artist. My journey began as a sculptor, then moved into installation art, and later into architecture. From there, I discovered my passion for creating large-scale public projects at the intersection of art and public space.

Today, my practice explores how technology, aesthetics, and meaning converge to form new types of public environments. The core idea is that the built world can become a platform where individuals drive an ever-evolving dialogue of engagement. That idea is central to most of what we do—crafting immersive experiences that merge the physical and virtual.

2. Could you describe the concept and goals behind “Datum Line”?

Susan Narduli: “Datum Line,” created in collaboration with MadLabs, is part of a broader inquiry into the visible and invisible forces of nature—in this case, global sea levels. Conceptually, it’s informed by the datum line used to measure sea level, highlighting the rise and fall of tides.

The project has two components: a real-world immersive environment and a virtual reality setting. Both are driven by data from Venice, Italy, and South Florida. In the physical space, projections map the planes of a digital construction to translate these tidal changes into a visual narrative. Meanwhile, the VR environment offers another viewpoint, framing the same data within fragmented images of our planet and drawing attention to the ever-shifting landscape of climate change.

The “Datum Line” installation on display at the 2023 Biennial exhibition TIME SPACE EXISTENCE in Venice.

3. What inspired this immersive exploration of nature’s forces?

Susan Narduli: “Datum Line” emerged from a prior project called “LIGHT CROSSING,” which involved a series of interactive, data-driven light installations spanning three bridges over the New River in Fort Lauderdale. That work explored how the rhythms of site and the rise and fall of tides could transform the urban experience.

Interior view of “Datum Line,” emphasizing the synchronized interplay of light beams, ambient sound, and data-driven visuals.

When we were invited to participate in the 2023 Biennial exhibition TIME SPACE EXISTENCE in Venice, Italy, I was struck by the parallels between Venice—a city of over 100 small islands—and Fort Lauderdale, often called the “Venice of America.” Both face serious climate challenges due to rising sea levels. Linking these two global locales provided the conceptual foundation for “Datum Line.”

A closer view of the digital construction planes, with sea-level data projected as shifting lines and shapes.

4. Could you talk about the challenges you encountered and how you overcame them?

Susan Narduli: Our original vision was even more ambitious: we aimed to launch a virtual portal simultaneously in Venice and Fort Lauderdale, effectively creating a real-time bridge between the two cities. However, implementing that concept in time for the exhibition proved too extensive.

We continue collaborating with MadLabs to realize this dual-city connection. Even though we couldn’t fully implement the portal at the Biennial, we showcased how powerful it could be to experience data simultaneously in different parts of the world. Ultimately, the “Datum Line” framework suggests a model for broader climate dialogue that transcends borders.

5. In what ways did this project mark an evolution or turning point in your creative journey?

Susan Narduli: “Datum Line” intertwined aspects of my work in both art and architecture—two threads I’d never connected in quite this way. As an architect, I saw it as an attempt to quantify nature’s vast complexity. As an artist, it drew me toward an almost indescribable beauty and power within nature. This synthesis sparked new questions and pursuits that will likely fuel my studio’s work for years to come.

6. How do you feel about receiving a Creative Communication Award?

Susan Narduli: I am honored. Recognition like this validates not only the final outcome but also the collaborative effort behind it—everyone who contributed to shaping the concept and bringing it to life.

Experience “Datum Line” in Action

Interested in seeing “Datum Line” for yourself?