Symbiotic Urban Furniture Project

City of Protrusions Diverse spaces and versatile components make up the experience of daily life in a freely growing city. People can make use of the opportunities offered in contemporary society without constraint. They can unleash their imagination on these protrusions into the urban fabric. It allows new and unique possibilities to happen. Creative people can use these protrusions to make spaces that are no longer dedicated to a single purpose, but multifunctional spaces with temporary activities instead. In that moment, the sense, of life and home, is created. Smooth City Most modern cities have gradually lost their local texture and protrusions. We have lost our ability to shape cities, and our lives have become regimented under efficient operating rules. The interaction between people and cities is no longer as diverse as it used to be. With the decrease of individual activities, the transient sense of home has also disappeared. Symbiotic Relationship A symbiotic relationship is defined as such: when two creatures live together closely, one is gaining energy from the other, or they are benefiting mutually. To meet people s diverse requirements, we bring individual life and urban space together through designing new urban furniture. We call this multi-functional facility Symbiotic Urban Furniture. Through this furniture series, we hope to bring back a sense of home to urban public space. The furniture relies on the urban spaces, and the urban spaces become lively because of the furniture. Symbiotic Urban Furniture Project The first version of Symbiotic Urban Furniture Project was exhibited at UCCA Lab in Beijing. The second version is showed at the 9th Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture in Shenzhen. The main materials of the first version in Beijing are steel and walnut. Five different urban scenes were installed in the exhibition to show the symbiotic relationship between the furniture and the city. Symbiotic Urban Furniture Project is in the section More-than-Human Adventure and the special section Shelter for Urban Animals. In More-than-Human Adventure, the furniture is on the outdoor stairs, offering space for people to enjoy the sunshine and meet new friends. On the large stairs, a large table and a long table are for gathering. The long benches also offer space for people to sit together. If anyone wants to be alone, the individual chair and the small bench are the best choices. When a handrail which people always pass by meets a small table hanged on it, the handrail becomes an attractive space for people to stop, stay, and have a cup of coffee. When the large rough column is embraced by a chair and a table board, it becomes popular. the bird view of the furniture the shelf and information board hanged on the wall In the special section Shelter for Urban Animals, a shelter for people and cats relies on an easily ignored corner near the equipment of fire hydrant. The corner becomes a comfortable space because of the furniture. The shelter embraces people and the lower space made of soft cloth is the comfortable home for cats. People and cats become roommates and good friends here. a cat in the shelter After the opening, people use the furniture in their own way. They have a cup of coffee and enjoy food here. Also, some people sit and turn on their laptops to work on the tables. Near them, someone is reading a book with music in the headphone. Occasionally, people who is painting can be found here.