atelier bow wow, michael lin + andrew barrie's model home made from paper

atelier bow wow, michael lin + andrew barrie’s model home made from paper
all images courtesy of the auckland triennale

first installed on the rooftop of the rockbund art museum in shanghai (see designboom’s coverage here), ‘the model home’ project made its way to the auckland triennale, where it is being presented as a life-size paper replica of the original structure. architects atelier bow wow, and artist michael lin, have collaborated with professor andrew barrie, a specialist in okoshi-ezu (folding drawing)–the japanese technique of paper model building– from the university of auckland to realize this delicate construction of the dwelling. the light, visually weightless structure occupies the main hall of the auckland art gallery to realize this edition of the dwelling.

the visually weightless structure occupies the main hall of the auckland art gallery, the home’s frame defined by panels of white paper with details of dimensions and materials suggestions printed onto their surface to indicate the possible means of building the house. paper cut outs of people and objects found inside, such as potted plants and hanging clothes, offer an idea of how the space might be occupied.

the ‘model home’ is made from paper executed using okoshi-ezu (folding drawing technique)

michael lin began the ‘model home project’ in 2006, when he was observing the rapid architectural developments in china, particular in the form of towers, but what he also noted was the bounty of shack-type dwellings around the country, used to house the large community of migrant workers from the countryside. the ‘model home’ is a response this speedy construction. the rockbund art museum presentation of the building has been reconstructed on this occasion in new zealand using inexpensive materials, and represents the philosophies and working aesthetics of the three creative teams involved; the resulting ‘model home’ standing as a three-dimensional architectural drawing.

the work occupies the main hall of the auckland art gallery and stands as a three-dimensional architectural drawing