BROAD WALL
Summer 2017 | Kowloon, Hong Kong | Independent Competition
Collaboration with Alfred To
Broad Wall is not a wall.
A wall is opaque and introverted. Broad(wall)k is transparent and interactive.
A wall is private and creates boundaries. Broad(wall)k is public and nurtures communication.
A wall only has one function - it divides. Broad(wall)k is multifaceted. It uses its length and verticality to generate shade, provide views, and create a playful digital backdrop.
In hyper-dense Hong Kong, outdoor social space is a rare commodity.
In a city of supertall towers, endless shopping arcades, and underground passageways, social exchange occurs in the spaces in-between. Street food vendors, merchandisers, and elderly mahjong players occupy the narrow alleyways between walls, forming the backbone of local culture.
This social condition is manifested in the humble folding table. A ubiquitous item in virtually every family and cha chaan teng, the table folds up vertically when not in use, and it easily transforms from a square to a round table to accommodate large groups and families. No matter how tight spaces are, whether in tiny flats or narrow alleyways, people always find ways to gather around a round table. This shapeshifting table is an underappreciated vernacular design that deserves to be put on display; Broad Wall celebrates this everyday artifact by adapting it to the unique needs and programs of the site.
Collaboration with Alfred To
Broad Wall is not a wall.
A wall is opaque and introverted. Broad(wall)k is transparent and interactive.
A wall is private and creates boundaries. Broad(wall)k is public and nurtures communication.
A wall only has one function - it divides. Broad(wall)k is multifaceted. It uses its length and verticality to generate shade, provide views, and create a playful digital backdrop.
In hyper-dense Hong Kong, outdoor social space is a rare commodity.
In a city of supertall towers, endless shopping arcades, and underground passageways, social exchange occurs in the spaces in-between. Street food vendors, merchandisers, and elderly mahjong players occupy the narrow alleyways between walls, forming the backbone of local culture.
This social condition is manifested in the humble folding table. A ubiquitous item in virtually every family and cha chaan teng, the table folds up vertically when not in use, and it easily transforms from a square to a round table to accommodate large groups and families. No matter how tight spaces are, whether in tiny flats or narrow alleyways, people always find ways to gather around a round table. This shapeshifting table is an underappreciated vernacular design that deserves to be put on display; Broad Wall celebrates this everyday artifact by adapting it to the unique needs and programs of the site.
