Derelict Borough High Street block becomes interactive House of Pain

Zenith House, which is due to be demolished under King's College London's controversial plans to build a new hotel on Borough High Street, has opened its doors to visitors as part of this year's MERGE Festival.

The public is invited to have a cathartic yell or scream inside the building. Each scream will generate an instant light composition that illuminates the entire building.

The unique quality of each scream will create the colour and movement of the light composition through a computer program which will analyse the sounds in real time.

"House of Pain is a perfect release of tension for people feeling the strain of city living," said Marcus Lyall.

"Sometimes a good old yell is a great way to let it all out. What better way to end a stressful working day than to light up a building with the force of your frustration?"

MERGE Festival director Caroline Jones added: "We are extremely pleased to have such a stunning, interactive artwork as part of this year's festival. The piece encompasses the ethos of MERGE; site-specific work that pushes the artists' and audience's boundaries alike."

The 'House of Pain' installation will be visible to thousands of passers-by on Borough High Street between 5pm and 10pm each night until 21 October.

Zenith House – and the adjacent blocks including the Shoefayre building – are currently the subject of planning applications by King's College London.

Objectors to the controversial hotel scheme include English Heritage, the Victorian Society, the Georgian Group, the Ancient Monuments Society, the Spitalfields Trust and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.