Outdoor Room, MODU’s and their winning entry the Outdoor Room, which is to create a visual exciting space, while at the same time raising awareness on the issues surrounding the air quality of Beijing. The installation is based on the concept of having the Room in the City, bringing the issue closer to home for individuals within the city.
© Matthew Niederhauser
Using this concept, the installation has an elliptical opening at the top, which acts as a window to the outside world. As the structure also acts as a barometer in measuring the air quality levels, making the issue more visual for those who enjoy the urban public space.
© Matthew Niederhauser
The first method is checking the visibility through the elliptical opening. On good days the visibility is clear with the ability to see the Olympic observation tower and other landmarks, but on days of poor conditions, this visibility is greatly reduced and all landmarks appears to have disappeared from sight.
© Matthew Niederhauser
The second method uses the glossy translucent fabric panels, which are slightly twisted. This allows the reflected diffuse hue colors in the atmosphere to be transmitted in various directions, highlighting the polluted air, transferring through the colors blue to grey then to yellow. The installation will be at the Olympic park until November 2013, which after it will be moved to six other cities, in continuation on the raising awareness of this ever-growing issue.
Project info:
Architects: MODU
Country: China, Beijing
Year: 2013
Photographs: Matthew Niederhauser
Anastasia Andreieva is an accomplished Architectural Projects Editor at Arch2O, bringing a unique blend of linguistic expertise and design enthusiasm to the team. Born and raised in Ukraine, she holds a Master’s degree in Languages from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Her deep passion for architecture and visual storytelling led her to transition from translation and editorial roles into the world of design media. With a keen eye for conceptual clarity and narrative structure, Anastasia curates and presents global architectural projects with precision and flair. She is particularly drawn to parametric and digital design, cultural context, and emerging voices in architecture. When I’m not analyzing the latest architectural trends, you’ll probably find me searching for hidden gems in cityscapes or appreciating the beauty of well-crafted spaces. After all, great design—like great connections—can be found in the most unexpected places. Speaking of connections, because architecture isn’t the only thing that brings people together.