THIS IS NOT A PIPE
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This project disrupts the traditional perspective of infrastructure in architecture by negating the distinction of architectural dichotomies: structure and ornament, superstructure and infrastructure, front and back, servant and served. Substantiated as pipes, ducts, and cables, the physical network of building infrastructure in contemporary architecture creates an overwhelming volume of hidden spaces that are off-limits to architects and the occupants. The increasing demand of sustainability and smart building technologies have enhanced the physique of a building infrastructure to a considerable extent, prompting the need to translate pipes, ducts, and cables into the architectural vocabulary.
Combining the mechanical and architectural to form everyday objects within a space, this project suggests five primary elements, establishing a new system of use based on shifting notion of health, comfort, and living. Housing serves as a vehicle to investigate the tension between service spaces and the served spaces. Following the physical property of delivered building services, heating and cooling, ventilation, electricity and communication, plumbing, downspout drainage become wall and floor, column, corridor and stair, fixture and façade. Having moved to the front of the stage, forms of physical infrastructure deals not only with architectural and mechanical concerns such as structure and ornament, sectional configurations, privacy, and service efficiency, but also with various environmental concerns such as daylight, natural ventilation, and materials. Every building infrastructure integrated with family living is activated becoming a meaningful stage for a living, providing a family with individual privacy as well as a family gathering.
This project serves as a quintessential manifestation of SS2 Architects' approach to architectural inquiry. By reframing space as an experiential and interpretive construct rather than a mere physical enclosure, SS2 challenges conventional architectural paradigms while gesturing toward new trajectories for contemporary architectural practice.
At its core, "THIS IS NOT A PIPE" raises fundamental ontological questions about architecture: What constitutes architecture? How is space experienced? By doing so, it expands the discipline beyond its pragmatic confines, positioning architecture as a philosophical and artistic endeavor.
Ultimately, "THIS IS NOT A PIPE" is emblematic of SS2 Architects' avant-garde ethos—a project that seeks to deconstruct and reconstitute conventional architectural narratives while generating new possibilities for spatial perception and engagement.
1. The Symbolism and Meaning of the title
"THIS IS NOT A PIPE" is not merely a playful statement but a philosophical inquiry into the relationship between perception and reality within architecture and design. The project draws direct inspiration from René Magritte’s renowned painting, La Trahison des Images (The Treachery of Images), which highlights the paradox that a representation of a pipe is not, in fact, a real pipe. SS2 applies this logic to architecture, emphasizing that built environments function not only as physical entities but also as symbolic and conceptual spaces. Rather than viewing architecture as a static object, SS2 conceives it as a dynamic entity that is continuously redefined by its observers and users.
2. The Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Space
This project operates as an experimental endeavor aimed at dismantling and reconstructing the traditional conventions of architecture. SS2 challenges the notion that space is merely a framework for fulfilling specific functions and instead explores its latent meanings and experiential possibilities. The architectural forms and spatial configurations within this project do not adhere to rigidly defined functions; instead, they invite multiple interpretations depending on the viewer or the occupant.
Such an approach aligns with contemporary architectural discourse on the sociopolitical role of architecture. That is, rather than serving as a predetermined vessel with an inherent purpose, architecture is recognized as an adaptive medium whose meaning and function fluctuate in response to its users and broader socio-cultural contexts.
3. The Disjunction Between Form and Function
A key tenet of SS2's design philosophy is the intentional decoupling of form and function. Traditionally, architecture has been predicated on a stable correspondence between these two elements; however, this project deliberately blurs that distinction. By doing so, it subverts conventional perceptions of space and offers a novel spatial experience that provokes reinterpretation.
4. The Primacy of User Experience
A defining characteristic of the project is its emphasis on user experience. SS2 rejects the notion that architecture is merely a static, visual construct; instead, it underscores the importance of how people feel and interact within a given space. "THIS IS NOT A PIPE" investigates the reciprocal relationship between architecture and human perception, proposing that the emotional and experiential responses of users are fundamental to the definition of architectural meaning.
Particularly, this project respects users' intuitive reactions and interpretations, ensuring that the space can facilitate diverse and individualized experiences. This approach aligns with SS2’s core philosophy: architecture operates not as a fixed entity but as a contingent environment shaped by the ways in which it is experienced.
5. The Role of Visual Elements and Sensory Stimulation
Visually, this project transcends the realm of functionalist architecture and places a heightened emphasis on aesthetic sensibility and symbolic representation. The composition of architectural elements—including external form, interior spatial arrangements, and material selection—is meticulously curated to evoke a heightened visual and sensory impact. This process encourages users to dismantle their preconceived notions about built environments and to engage with space in an exploratory and open-ended manner.
6. The Integration of Artistic Experimentation and Architecture
"THIS IS NOT A PIPE" operates at the intersection of artistic experimentation and architecture. It exemplifies SS2's broader ambition of utilizing architecture as a medium for artistic expression. This project, therefore, is not merely an architectural intervention but also a conceptual investigation into the perceptual and symbolic dimensions of space. It distinguishes itself from conventional architectural practice through its philosophical depth and aesthetic innovation, reinforcing SS2’s distinctive identity.
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Combining the mechanical and architectural to form everyday objects within a space, this project suggests five primary elements, establishing a new system of use based on shifting notion of health, comfort, and living. Housing serves as a vehicle to investigate the tension between service spaces and the served spaces. Following the physical property of delivered building services, heating and cooling, ventilation, electricity and communication, plumbing, downspout drainage become wall and floor, column, corridor and stair, fixture and façade. Having moved to the front of the stage, forms of physical infrastructure deals not only with architectural and mechanical concerns such as structure and ornament, sectional configurations, privacy, and service efficiency, but also with various environmental concerns such as daylight, natural ventilation, and materials. Every building infrastructure integrated with family living is activated becoming a meaningful stage for a living, providing a family with individual privacy as well as a family gathering.
This project serves as a quintessential manifestation of SS2 Architects' approach to architectural inquiry. By reframing space as an experiential and interpretive construct rather than a mere physical enclosure, SS2 challenges conventional architectural paradigms while gesturing toward new trajectories for contemporary architectural practice.
At its core, "THIS IS NOT A PIPE" raises fundamental ontological questions about architecture: What constitutes architecture? How is space experienced? By doing so, it expands the discipline beyond its pragmatic confines, positioning architecture as a philosophical and artistic endeavor.
Ultimately, "THIS IS NOT A PIPE" is emblematic of SS2 Architects' avant-garde ethos—a project that seeks to deconstruct and reconstitute conventional architectural narratives while generating new possibilities for spatial perception and engagement.
1. The Symbolism and Meaning of the title
"THIS IS NOT A PIPE" is not merely a playful statement but a philosophical inquiry into the relationship between perception and reality within architecture and design. The project draws direct inspiration from René Magritte’s renowned painting, La Trahison des Images (The Treachery of Images), which highlights the paradox that a representation of a pipe is not, in fact, a real pipe. SS2 applies this logic to architecture, emphasizing that built environments function not only as physical entities but also as symbolic and conceptual spaces. Rather than viewing architecture as a static object, SS2 conceives it as a dynamic entity that is continuously redefined by its observers and users.
2. The Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Space
This project operates as an experimental endeavor aimed at dismantling and reconstructing the traditional conventions of architecture. SS2 challenges the notion that space is merely a framework for fulfilling specific functions and instead explores its latent meanings and experiential possibilities. The architectural forms and spatial configurations within this project do not adhere to rigidly defined functions; instead, they invite multiple interpretations depending on the viewer or the occupant.
Such an approach aligns with contemporary architectural discourse on the sociopolitical role of architecture. That is, rather than serving as a predetermined vessel with an inherent purpose, architecture is recognized as an adaptive medium whose meaning and function fluctuate in response to its users and broader socio-cultural contexts.
3. The Disjunction Between Form and Function
A key tenet of SS2's design philosophy is the intentional decoupling of form and function. Traditionally, architecture has been predicated on a stable correspondence between these two elements; however, this project deliberately blurs that distinction. By doing so, it subverts conventional perceptions of space and offers a novel spatial experience that provokes reinterpretation.
4. The Primacy of User Experience
A defining characteristic of the project is its emphasis on user experience. SS2 rejects the notion that architecture is merely a static, visual construct; instead, it underscores the importance of how people feel and interact within a given space. "THIS IS NOT A PIPE" investigates the reciprocal relationship between architecture and human perception, proposing that the emotional and experiential responses of users are fundamental to the definition of architectural meaning.
Particularly, this project respects users' intuitive reactions and interpretations, ensuring that the space can facilitate diverse and individualized experiences. This approach aligns with SS2’s core philosophy: architecture operates not as a fixed entity but as a contingent environment shaped by the ways in which it is experienced.
5. The Role of Visual Elements and Sensory Stimulation
Visually, this project transcends the realm of functionalist architecture and places a heightened emphasis on aesthetic sensibility and symbolic representation. The composition of architectural elements—including external form, interior spatial arrangements, and material selection—is meticulously curated to evoke a heightened visual and sensory impact. This process encourages users to dismantle their preconceived notions about built environments and to engage with space in an exploratory and open-ended manner.
6. The Integration of Artistic Experimentation and Architecture
"THIS IS NOT A PIPE" operates at the intersection of artistic experimentation and architecture. It exemplifies SS2's broader ambition of utilizing architecture as a medium for artistic expression. This project, therefore, is not merely an architectural intervention but also a conceptual investigation into the perceptual and symbolic dimensions of space. It distinguishes itself from conventional architectural practice through its philosophical depth and aesthetic innovation, reinforcing SS2’s distinctive identity.
Read More ︎