Image Credit : NeosSpace, FAN Yilun
Project Overview
JUXTA-SCAPE is located in the East Middle Hall courtyard of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Minhang Campus. Different from conventional college campus sculptures, the design juxtaposes a series of aspects of the courtyard, campus scenery, interactivity, and mirror images, with the result being a striking formation “SJTU” that represents the university. JUXTA-SCAPE is a key node of the campus that stimulates interaction between passers-by and courtyard space and enriches the narrative of daily college life.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Design Lead: SHI Xi
Design Team: WANG Xiaoya, DENG Zexu
Project Brief
As conventional representations of campus culture, most sculptures on college campuses in China are of important school figures, symbols, or mottos. This leads to the one-sided and formalism communication style, and the installations are mostly disconnected from the space of campus. JUXTA-SCAPE explores an innovative approach of campus art by meaningfully juxtaposing different scenes in abstract and integrating human interaction into the piece itself. The installation becomes an extension of campus space, allowing the public to refresh the perception of campus space and culture.
Project Innovation/Need
Because of the multiple viewing angles in the courtyard, the design team took 150x150x150mm as a module to build a 7.5x2.4x1.2m prototype frame. Then, the frame was divided into four sections: solidness, hollowness, mirror images, and campus scenery, which symbolize the JUXTA-SCAPE’s form, the viewing frame, and both dynamic reflection and static moment of college life, respectively. JUXTA-SCAPE represents a multi-faceted redefinition of campus public space by creating different interactions through viewing, movement, and stillness.
Design Challenge
The site is a rectangular courtyard enclosed on all sides by East Middle Hall. The main entrances are located on the east and west sides and connect essential foot traffic thoroughfares of the campus. Therefore, this installation not only serves as a core visual element of the campus aesthetic but also plays an important role in campus life and experience.
Sustainability
While the majority of sculptures are equipped with a traditional plinth, the design of JUXTA-SCAPE utilizes the pre-embedded concrete base and metal joints and chooses the same ground tiles of the courtyard to cover and hide the base. On the one hand, it solves the problem of wasting materials and space, on another hand, a slight elevation can maintain good drainage conditions.
The main material of JUXTA-SCAPE utilizes stainless steel with fluorocarbon coating in SJTU’s theme red color. With multiple viewing angles, it is better integrated into the courtyard and naturally guides faculty, students, and visitors to walk by and take in the view.
With the advantage of the modular and prefabricating design, the unit can be replaced and remade easily. The installation will be seen as an extension of campus space, allowing the public to refresh the perception of campus space and culture.
Pop-Ups, Display, Exhibit & Set Design
This award celebrates innovative and creative design for a temporary building or interior, exhibition, pop up site, installation, fixture or interactive element. Consideration given to materials, finishes, signage and experience.
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