On the Verge of Falling
How would a city be if it was designed and planned upon collective aspirations?
Urban planning and architecture design has long been regarded as professions that are far from the public’s reach. The top-down approach and ways of working have resulted in a lack of public interest and awareness.
On the Verge of Falling is an interactive installation that attempts to bring urban planning and architecture closer to the people. The exhibition space is transformed into a giant claw machine, and by playing this popular game machine, visitors will build and rebuild an imaginary vertical village of Hong Kong.
The room itself is a simulation of Hong Kong. Specific architectural features and urban spaces are translated into abstract, simple geometry building blocks. Players can build their visions of the city through familiar joysticks that everyone knows so well.
More than just a gaming device, the work is also a data collection machine that records the players’ selection of architecture and urban spaces. The installation is also designed to be environmental-friendly, with components that can be recycled or reused for various purposes after the exhibition.