Natural Container

2018

“Natural Container” is an experimental piece of furniture, which meditates on the crossroads of “Nature” and “Artificial Nature”. This work is inspired by two pieces of architecture: Azuma House by Tadao Ando and Swiss Sound Pavilion by Peter Zumthor.

Foreword

In Azuma House, Ando used three separate spaces to emphasize the fact that people cannot and should not avoid the relationship between humans and nature. In Swiss Sound Pavilion, Zumthor sought to create a new indoor natural system by absorbing the air, sound and, light from outside and combined these with smell of wood from construction materials.

I utilized these concepts as a medium to create a new means to discuss nature and humanity. In this instance, I was inspired by Peter Zumthor's artificial natural system. I then turned to my attention to focus on the distinction between artificial natural systems and nature, as opposed to the general discussion of nature and humans. In order to study this topic in greater detail, and to emphasize the theme of "artificial nature," I posed an experimental question rather than a conclusion: “What do natural species think about artificial nature?”

Concept: Natural Container

The idea behind this design was based on the topics that I study and the questions that I ask. I followed the form of Swiss Sound Pavilion and created a mini structure to embody artificial nature in this piece of furniture. The purpose of the bottom is to allow other natural species (such as puppies or plants) to remain in this chair as part of an experiment. When people sit on this chair, what do the puppies or the plants think about this "natural" space? To pose the question a different way, when a puppy or a plant sits on a chair and the user puts his head into that space, what do they think?

There is no conclusion for this design.