jí architects' colorful exhibition in chengdu pairs modernist geometries with furniture craft

step inside the immersive ‘a modern moment’ show in chengdu

Entrusted by Forge Curates, a curatorial agency under Marie Claire, Jí Architects has designed the space for ‘A Modern Moment’, the debut exhibition for MC House at Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu in China. Located on the B1 floor, the show steers away from conventional displays — paying tribute to masters of modernist architecture and furniture designers through multimedia installations, colorful compositions, and spellbinding space replicas.

By resorting to new media technologies, the studio provides the audience with an immersive and poetic journey throughout. 

all images © MC House

a theatrical composition from start to finish

Originally a blank, roughcast space with a gray cement surface, the B1 floor quickly acquired a theatrical backdrop with abstract geometric forms coated in a palette of bold colors. Jí architects (see more here) and the curatorial team replicated those geometric elements within the space to celebrate the beauty behind their simple architecture. Besides serving as a background, the geometric forms also function as spatial boundaries across the ‘A Modern Moment’ show. 

Meanwhile, the use of different colors reinforce the distinctive theme set in each exhibition hall, keeping visitors emotionally alert, and curious, every time they walk out of a room and step into a new one. 

paying tribute to masters of modernist architecture and furniture designers through multimedia installations

Moreover, in the narrow space between Halls 2 and 3 and between Halls 3 and 4, two mirror corridors are set as special sections along the visiting line, breaking the monotonous composition of the exhibition ‘boxes’ by projecting infinite reflections on both sides. ‘The kaleidoscope-like corridor provides a momentary detachment for the audience,’ comments the studio. 

multimedia installations, colorful compositions, and spellbinding space replicas

industrial aesthetics, geometric forms, and craftsmanship

For the display system, Jí Architects was inspired by Le Corbusier who once placed a handicraft sculpture on a hollow brick as home decoration. The studio adopted almost the same approach by exhibiting the posters and furniture on stands made of hollow bricks, revealing a balanced contrast between the finely crafted products and rough, industrial blocks. ‘The rationality and logic embodied in the geometric forms, the industrial aesthetics oozing from the bricks, and the gentle craftsmanship defining the furniture are all presented to the audience in the same space, at the same time,’ concludes the team. 

Jí Architects was inspired by Le Corbusier’s hollow brick home decoration setup

an immersive spatial experience from start to finish 

projecting infinite reflections 

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project info:

name: A Modern Moment

type: Exhibition space design 

location: MC House, Jinjang, Chengdu, China

completion date: 04.2022
total area: 1,000 sqm 

client: Forge Curates
architecture: Jí Architects
team: Lu Wenhui, Li jieran
graphic design: co-Design

construction: Fei Tao
photography: MC HOUSE

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom