The MicroNature Pavilion officially opens to public at the much-anticipated Design Shanghai / Xintiandi Design Festival 2022, an annual art event which aims to promote public art and forging connections within the historical urban center in Shanghai. Located at the threshold in-between city’s old town and new developments, this installation by Atelier Ping Jiang I EID Arch creates a futuristic, canyon-like void within a 10x10x10’ geometric cube. Conceived as an abstract MicroNature in urban setting, this pure cubic outer shell with an organic, curvilinear inner void, represents the juxtaposition of artificial and natural elements, the mixture of rationality and sensibility. It articulates the contrast between nature and artificiality. MicroNature offers visitors an immersive experience to discover the inner void that reveals a sense of wonder and mystery.
An open apparatus for visitors to explore its multiple spatial definitions in their own ways, MicroNature is parametrically designed and digitally fabricated with PLA, providing an urban furniture for visitors. The internal space of MicroNature is designed to provide diverse experience for visitors with intimate humanistic scales. Children can't wait to climb in the installation and play among the internal folds. Adults can easily find a "chair" of a suitable height to rest, or find an ideal spot to experience the futuristic atmosphere created by the changes of shadow and color. MicroNature is not only an artificial natural landscape, but also an urban furniture that promotes human-urban interactions.
The urban environment in China is mostly composed of high density fabrics that reveal various linear geometries. Conversely, nature is filled with complex and organic forms. These different sceneries create a strong contrast between linear geometry and organic form. Traditional Chinese architecture combined the geometric linearity from the architectural system and the organic vocabulary from the landscape system. Through integrating the pure cube form with the inner curvilinear void, MicroNature reinterprets the artistic conception of traditional Chinese architecture by representing the duality of nature and artificiality.
Meanwhile, the wormhole-like inner void of MicroNature echoes the form of rockery in traditional Chinese gardens with contemporary design language and digital fabrication technology. While integrating natural, technological and futuristic elements, the installation of MicroNature becomes a "micro park" in the urban environment that reflects on the city’s past, present and future.
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