Ephemeral Space and Acculturation

 

The project envisions how an ordinary urban space could be altered to enhance social engagements and cultural interactions for young generations and beyond. It is designed for a cultural event inviting New York neighbors, especially children, and was aimed the children to experience traditional Korean cultures. The design invites users as protagonists in an ephemeral space transformed by performative installations combining virtual and actual experience. It is composed by reinterpreting archaic elements and executed by zero waste design strategy preventing wastes after the event. It is a showcase of ACCULTURATION and RETHINKING RESOURCES in design.

 

Usually, an event space generates significant wastes during dismantling. The idea is to create an EPHEMERAL SPACE by zero waste design strategy synchronizing virtual and physical activities while providing a safe playground for toddlers and kids. The design is conceived for a REUSABLE PERFORMATIVE INSTALLATION with a reinterpreted-archaic element both on the floor and the LED wall displays. It enriches traditional vibes in an urban setting as well as allows more immersive experience for young visitors. The installation makes more active and holistic space while evoking kids’ engagement between virtual and physical experience during the event. The design creates performative installations implying love of nature. Inspired by mountains and knolls found in Korean traditional paintings, the design is integrated in a series of free abstract forms resembling grassy knolls. Smooth forms matched to children’s body size encourage kids’ proactive interaction of touch-and-feel along the installations which enables audiences to get hand-on-experience. Rapid production and Installation are applied for this low-budgeted and temporary project. CNC milling technique and a ready-made product allows to combine sustainable materials of particleboards and recyclable pool noodles more easier way.

 

This performative installation is developed to respond for children’s basic actions of crawling, clambering, toddling, sitting and leaning. Shaped in bumpy and lumpy forms with cushioned covers and set along the perimeter of a zone on the floor equipped with a wide drawing board, the installation plays multiple roles of safe fences, seating benches and playful rides simultaneously resonating with kids’ movements. The 2D-archaic element is transformed into 3D-shapes and serves for promoting the children’s engagement into the space. Eventually children become protagonists during the event while playing and experiencing along the installation. The entire design is initiated with eco-conscious mind from manufacture to demolition. CNC-milled factory production allows to minimize construction waste and time. Combined with sustainable materials of particleboards and recyclable pool noodles, all parts are composed by NO-GLUE assembly. Build up curb-cut frameworks with joinery technique and simply slip in flexible pool noodles using its slit tightly along the edge of the frameworks. The product can be disassembled and reused as benches or partitions after the event and extending its life-cycle. This approach not only achieves aesthetic harmony but also aligns with eco-friendly practices.

 

The project is pursued an ephemeral space of ZERO WASTE after the event. It was implemented by RAPID PRODUCTION AND INSTALLATION techniques along with sustainable solution while using ready-made materials which allow easier assembly of curved free-forms. Since the form has been designed to serve for multiple functions and occasions, it is reusable and reconfigurable across different times and locations. By blending traditional elements to the design, it promotes acculturation for the young generation. This holistic urban setting rethinking resource use connects virtual and real, tradition and modern, and cultural custom and new generations.