Architectural Cannibal

Against the backdrop of modern society, where many bodily functions have been usurped by machines, this project treats the human body as an obsolete medium for design. Initially aiming to reclaim corporeal agency by intruding into machine functionality, I transformed myself into everyday tools — such as a dining table or coat rack — only to realize I had become part of the machine itself. This birthed the core concept of architectural cannibal: seeking the pleasure of constraint in the metaphorical processes of ingestion and digestion, I balanced human-machine dynamics using balloons. Embodying respiration — a quintessential bodily trait — balloons simulated organic breathing, leading to a head-shaped balloon and a dynamic, interactive balloon wall exploring human-machine integration.

Translating this concept into architectural space, the building program integrates a taxidermy workshop with exhibition areas, structured by truss and suspension systems. Enclosed within a large, breathing membrane facade, its functional zones disrupt traditional spatial typologies, offering heightened interactivity and the pleasure of constraint while ensuring full accessibility.

Sushi Making and Eating Armour
An attempt to physically intrude into machine function via a crafted armor turned my body into a sushi tool: 360° rotating vacuum dining platform at the abdomen, steel cutting board, aluminum slots for tableware on arms, and a ring condiment bottle releasing salt via handshakes. Invited friends for a performance art sushi-making act.

Jianhao Face Balloon
A casted latex ballon of Jianhao’s own face and the process of blowing it up.

Tactile Interactive Balloon Wall
A dynamic breathing balloon wall controlled by an ESP32 circuit board, switchable via a Bluetooth app on mobile phones. When a person passes through, air pumps inflate the balloons for 30 seconds, then enter an alternating cycle of 1s inflation and 1s deflation, creating a sensation of being squeezed and intimately touched.

Rendered Interior Views and Functional Spaces
The renders show the interior views from ground floor and ceiling level to understand the vibe of the building. The bottom renders capture the scene of two functional spaces – birds taxidermy exhibition space and insects taxidermy exhibition space.

Body Practice Video Series
This video shows the project’s developmental practices: coat rack role, dining table creation, sushi armour performance, robotic arm interactions, mood-test walk, breathing experiment, casted balloon blow, and balloon wall test. See how these shaped its evolution.