Design Trust Grant Recipient | “Social Network Factory” activates Urban Space

25. 9. 2019

Design Trust’s feature grant recipient, People’s Architecture Office (PAO), founded by He Zhe, James Shen and Zang Feng and consists of a multi-disciplinary team of architects, engineers, product designers and urbanists, was inspired from the bustling everyday social activities that are common in the streets of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, through their project they address how the results of design planning on newly developed urban settings can foster a sense of belonging and social connection.

People’s Architecture Office (PAO) took the opportunity to address the results of urban planning on a human scale by building a structure that will engage the fledgling community around Sea World Culture and Arts Center (SWCAC) in Shenzhen. This project, “Social Network Factory”, included a modular installation of twisting large-scale tubes and triangulated steel structure. The installation encourages direct physical engagement and interaction, investigating how a newly developed urban setting can foster social connections. The installation was completed in April 2019 and will be a permanent exhibit at the SWCAC.