No boundaries in LIVE WIRE installation by Oyler Wu Collaborative
Motivated by the desire to occupy the SCI-Arc gallery in a way that exploits the spatial potential of the existing venue, this Oyler Wu Collaborative installation argues for an expanded relationship between tectonic expression and functional performance.
The installation, exhibited at SCI-Arc Gallery from October 24th to December 14th, 2008, proposes a vertical circulation system linking the floor level of the gallery to the catwalk above. There’s also a discussion with Eric Owen Moss, Dwayne Oyler & Jenny Wu on Monday, November 17th, 2008 at 7pm.
In a conventional systems of vertical circulation, numerous components are assembled together, with each performing a specific function, for example, guardrail, handrail, tread and risers, and stringer. This segregated tectonic formula leaves little room for consideration of the kind of fluid spatial and tectonic implications that might result from a more collective consideration of the parts.
Often relegated to pure functional use, the fundamental architectural element presented in this installation is a testing ground for weaving together a multitude of architectural ideas, ranging from the manipulation of light, geometry, and structure to, of course, vertical circulation.
Conceived of first as a series of light modulators, each architectural element requires a progressive manipulation in order to negotiate the required performance criteria.
The project is aimed at suggesting a more expanded definition of architectural elements, one that knows no boundaries between the simple functions they perform, and the more intangible results that they evoke.
The architecture office of Oyler Wu Collaborative (OWC) was established in 2001 in New York City, and is currently located in Los Angeles, CA. OWC work includes projects of a wide range of types, located in Los Angeles, Taipei, Taiwan, and in Ordos, Inner Mongolia.
OWC projects range in size from small design interventions to a 15-story mixed use tower. This diverse range of work allows us to explore design ideas directed simultaneously at the experience of the individual user, and at the scale of the urban environment.
Their current work includes: a 3-story apartment building in Venice, CA; an office renovation in Venice, CA; a 15-story residential and commercial tower in Taipei, Taiwan; an outdoor gallery installation in Silver Lake, CA; and a residence in Alhambra, CA.
Oyler Wu Collaborative was recently awarded the design of the new space for the LA Forum for Art and Architecture in Hollywood, and is one of the 100 firms selected to participate in the Ordos 100 project in Inner Mongolia.
Source: Oyler Wu Collaborative
Photography: Scott Mayoral, Mayoral Photography.
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