Unexpected Contradiction
Architecture for Animal
The Olympic Forest Park, Beijing, China
2016 September - October
The design explores an architecture for animals rather than for people by investigating the variation of scales, forms, materials, structures and environments. The process of design not only considers different sizes of space visually, but also attempts to simulate a comprehensive experience involving different senses of hearing, smelling, temperature and humidity, etc. In order to find a more appropriate relationship among the users, their shelters, and nature, my design captures the animals' physical demand for water by featuring a structure that flows along a meandering river for two opposing species, lion and zebra. While this seemingly creates an uneasy atmosphere between the two, the design aims to facilitate cohabitation and sharing of natural resources.
Sou Fujimoto said, “Nature is the nearest space of no intention. Its uncertainty has provided multi-functional space for people. They are the ones who actually define the space.” It is the users who define the space, while the users can be human, animals or anything else.
The intensive relationship between species are rarely revealed in zoos, leading to the vanishment of the animal nature. In my design, animal aggression is reflected on the three-dimensional apertures protrudes though the walls. The design also allows people to observe both animals' behaviors and emotions. The wall, constructed with different materials and density, are to some extent transparent, creating a closer relationship between animals and humans, architecture and nature.