a reinterpreted prison as sculptural mouse cage by bureau A

a reinterpreted prison as sculptural mouse cage by bureau A
image © dylan perrenoud

wanting to expose architect’s responsibility in raising political and ethical issues through their crafting of the built environment, ‘parole’ by swiss firm bureau A recreates part of champ-dollon – a prison in geneva, switzerland, known for its maximum occupancy ratios. adapted precisely to the scale of laboratory mice, the 1:24 sculpture attempts to raise questions around the power of institutions that have the potential to be as powerful, violent and determining as prisons. the eerie piece crosses the borders of art culture, architectural models and exposes the issue of constrained living spaces with its demonstration of the prison as a cage. reflecting the process of architects that build without questioning – the cage becomes an image of control, where those on the inside end up running around like clueless mice. concerned by architecture’s aim for perfectionism, the sculpture is informed by the fact that most commissions are carried out in silence, without further questioning of what the projects might mean for society. ‘parole’ seeks to provoke an abandonment of the perfect, in search of a deeper level of engagement between people and building.

the white cage is a 1:24 partial sculpture of champ-dollon – a prison in geneva, switzerland
image © dylan perrenoud

the project seeks to raise questions around the power of institutions and ethical responsibilities of architects
image © dylan perrenoud

 the cage is represented as an image of control, exposing the issue of constrained living spaces
image © dylan perrenoud

the project wants to expose the drive for perfectionism at the expense of questioning
image © dylan perrenoud

detail view of the installation
image © dylan perrenoud

‘parole’ exposes the architect’s responsibility in raising political and ethical issues
image © dylan perrenoud

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