2025 12th Taipei Fine Arts Museum X-site -Shortlisted
COLLBERATE WITH: PO WEI CHEN and SHEN WANG by Regulation Lab
This passage explores an intriguing idea by comparing "inflation," an economic phenomenon, to a "reverse architectural act." Inflation, although lacking a physical form, significantly impacts society and is strongly felt by the public. This contrasts sharply with traditional architecture, which uses physical spaces to influence users' behavior.
Xsite is pushing the boundaries of this concept.
The idea suggests that architecture can actively respond to and reflect collective behavior, challenging the conventional one-way influence of buildings. Instead of passively being shaped by architecture, people gain the power to control and interact with it, ultimately experiencing the cumulative effects of collective actions through the built environment. This approach redefines architectural authority and deeply explores how design can enhance the interaction between people and space.
「 The main space is supported by a helium balloon, connected by 16 high-strength cargo straps to anchor points filled with discarded concrete blocks. Two of these straps are linked to a central retractable steel table, which can extend from 5 meters when contracted to 15 meters when fully extended. The balloon is estimated to be an oblate spheroid with a projected diameter of 7 meters and a vertical thickness of 5 meters, with its equatorial circumference serving as the reinforced joint for the anchor points. The balloon is covered with a PVDC film measuring 15 by 25 meters, weighing approximately 240 kilograms, and secured separately to six additional anchor points distinct from those of the balloon. The weight of the concrete blocks inside each anchor point is adjustable, with an average weight of 75 kilograms per anchor. The metal table and anchor points are prefabricated in the factory and assembled on-site in a foldable and simple manner. In the second phase, the uninflated helium balloon is connected and covered with the film, while the inflation of the balloon and weight adjustments of
the anchor points are carried out simultaneously. 」