""Breathing Cells," an installation by MAD Architects, is currently on view at Songhyeon Green Plaza in Seoul as part of the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism. Invited by Biennale Director Thomas Heatherwick, the installation opened on September 26, 2025, and will remain on display until November 18. Responding to the curatorial theme "Radically More Human," the work presents an alternative vision for future urban environments, one where architecture behaves more like a living organism than a static object."
"Positioned near the Biennale's central "Humanize Wall," MAD's installation stands out as one of 24 "Walls of Public Life" designed by interdisciplinary teams. Rising 4.8 meters tall and spanning 2.4 meters in width, Breathing Cells proposes a new model for building skins that are not merely static boundaries but living, responsive surfaces."
"At the core of the structure lies a soft pneumatic membrane controlled by an intelligent system. This living "skin" responds to changes in light and temperature, creating a more comfortable microclimate for passersby. When the system is on standby, the structure retains a soft, cushion-like form that invites tactile interaction, emphasizing warmth and approachability. The installation's environmental dialogue is further amplified through lighting and mist systems."
Breathing Cells is an interactive installation by MAD Architects at Songhyeon Green Plaza for the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, on view from September 26 to November 18, 2025. The work proposes architecture as a living organism rather than a static object and sits among 24 "Walls of Public Life" near the Biennale's central "Humanize Wall." The installation features a soft pneumatic membrane governed by an intelligent system that responds to light and temperature, producing a comfortable microclimate. Lighting by Opple and a fine water mist cool surrounding air and sustain vegetation, demonstrating real-time environmental regulation and urban ecological integration.
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