UNStudio twists xintiandi installation through shanghai

UNStudio twists xintiandi installation through shanghai
photo © seth powers
all images courtesy of UNStudio

UNStudio has created a gateway installation for the xintiandi style retail mall in shanghai, part of the ‘RIBA shanghai windows project 2014‘. located in a prominent position along the city’s madang road, the design frames the entrance to the site, reflecting interactions that take place between the city’s occupants and the urban fabric. taking the form of an extended 30 meter corridor, the project transitions between wall and ceiling, translating occupants movements into a series of inverted reflections as they move throughout the space. the large scale mirroring at each end of the installation acts as concentration points, combining the effect into one moving image.

the scheme is a gateway installation for the xintiandi style retail mall
photo © seth powers

‘the installation is related to the culture of consuming, not with respect only to shopping, but to consuming images: images of our surroundings, of our city, of the buildings and the people around us and, of course, of ourselves,’ explained ben van berkel, co-founder of UNStudio. ‘we wanted to ‘dress up’ the public space as it were and to capture the public in this environment, almost in a kaleidoscopic catwalk – a place where you can see and be seen, but in surprising ways and within new perspectives of your surroundings.’

the scheme is located in a prominent position along the city’s madang road
photo © seth powers

the installation reflects interactions between the city’s occupants and the urban fabric
photo © seth powers

at night the pavilion takes on a difference distinctive appearance
photo © seth powers

the project translates occupants movements into a series of inverted reflections
photo © seth powers

the large scale mirroring at each end of the installation acts as concentration points
photo © seth powers

the installation under construction
photo © seth powers

the cladding of the 30 meter long structure
photo © seth powers

project info:

UNStudio: ben van berkel, hannes pfau with garett hwang, gil greis, and maya alam
advisers: arup shanghai – structure
client: china xintiandi
location: shanghai, china
program: temporary installation
length: 30 meters
width: 3 meters
height: 2.7 meters
status: realized march 2014
photography: seth powers