venice architecture biennale 2010 preview: map office

‘underwear: les dessous de la biennale’ by map office for the 12th international architecture biennale in venice, italy
all images courtesy of map office

‘underwear: les dessous de la biennale’ by hong kong-based architectural office map office
is a part of ‘quotidian architectures‘, hong kong’s official exhibition at this year’s
international architecture biennale in venice, italy. the national pavilion explores the potential
of design to create socially and environmentally responsible architecture by presenting
collaborative and cross-disciplinary projects from hong kong in six different categories:
clothing, food, dwelling, transport, education, and leisure. map office’s contribution
utilizes the most basic piece of clothing, the underwear, as a medium to explore a number
of environment and social elements found in south china.

drawing on the research the firm has previously conducted on the urban entertainment life
found below the highway infrastructure in the pearl river delta region, the decision to concentrate
on an elemental piece of clothing that lies underneath other external layers was an intentional one.
it also offers a playful and voyeuristic perspective on the project.

map office worked in collaboration with local fabrics manufacturer ‘sun hing industries holding ltd’
to design and create patterned underwear that mimic the rippling motion of a water’s surface.
made from environmentally-sensitive, recycled fabric, the project aims to raise awareness
and call attention to the universal importance of water in our eco-system. the underwear will
be distributed for free to visitors of the pavilion, ensuring the project’s existence beyond the
geographical and time frame limits of the biennale.

an illustration of laurent gutierrez modeling the underwear

an illustration of valerie portefaix modeling the underwear

packaged underwear

pattern of the fabric

the pattern mimics the twisting motion of a water’s surface

fabric during manufacturing