Title: Hybrid City—– Secrets of Materials Underground
Site: Underground Tunnel
Hong Kong is a hybrid city with different function zones organically bound together. The underground tunnel is one of the vital ways for shifting between zones. Underground tunnels have various functions when they connect different places, which can be shown in their hybrid materials.
“Why underground tunnel deserves research in material aspect?” —–Initial Analysis
Underground tunnels, as a nearly enclosed environment, have the least limitation during the pandemic. People regard it more as a shifting space, where they see shifting but repeated scenery. According to Walter Benjamin, people learn buildings in a state of distraction. Image and experience left by this kind of learning are vague and without any notice on details. And as the underground tunnel is not a “stay place,” the sense of vagueness is enhanced. It seems more like a “nowhere” in the city.
To improve underground tunnels should not be regarded as a “nowhere”, I want to lend a concept from architect Kisho Kurokawa. He indicated a concept named “grey space” (or “transition space”), which is the marginal side of architecture that connecting nature and inner space. He emphasized the importance of designing this kind of space to connect two spaces as an entirety. When applying this concept to city scale, underground tunnels are the “grey space.” Underground tunnels have different features when connecting different function zones. Materials, which greatly affect shaping atmosphere and people’s feelings, is one of the architect’s focuses while designing “grey space.” It can be a great point while analyzing underground tunnels and break the “nowhere” feeling.
“Secrets under ignored details” —– Foundings
Cities’ demand determines functions. Functions relate to materials. Materials influence people’s feelings. For example, the tunnel connecting MTR and K11( An art mall) choose wood patterns and warm-toned colors, making the whole space more relaxing and home-like for customers to slow down and change into an enjoyable mood. On the contrary, MTR passages tend to use high-reflectivity materials to show a bright and clean atmosphere for a quick pass. Emery is frequently used on floors, which has excellent abrasive resistance that can endure huge passenger flow volume. A sudden color or style change always marks entering a different part that has another function. Colors are always used as a reminder or a marker. Time may also add variety, which shows history, such as a shift of function.
When people pass by, materials have reactions —— reflection or shadows. In a space without natural light and wind, materials “focus on” human activity. It gives you your own memory and practice at once. That is a moment that a “place” turns to their own “space,” and an own map generates in the subconscious. It is a kind of communication with the surrounding world. Though every face is covered with masks and keeps a greater distance, people still can communicate with the hybrid world.
“What can we learn from this research?” —–Aim and Reflection
This video has some original inspiration from Murakami Haruki’s documentary writing Underground, in which he mentioned people’s sluggishness in mind. Through his description of victim’s stories, it can be seen that underground commuting life as a regular action generates their ignorance. These may cause ignorance of the danger, loss of imagination, and giving up on reflection. Besides indicating how hybrid, the video also aims to remind people to find interesting details out, especially during a pandemic. It would be better for underground tunnels to include more hybrid and distinctive materials, which may be possible to break the ignorance in mind.
Director: Liu Yichu Chelsea
Voiceover: Liu Yichu Chelsea
*All the video clips and pictures are original content
Background Music: 空洞です ——–ゆらゆら帝国 (*edited by Liu Yichu)
Site List: Tunnels at Central, Admiralty, Kowloon Bay, Tsim Sha Tsui Choi Hung MTR Station
Reference/Inspiration
Benjamin, W., Jennings, M., Doherty, B., Levin, T., & Jephcott, E. (2008). The work of art in the age of its technological reproducibility, and other writings on media (pp. 19-55). Cambridge, Mass: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.
Kurokawa, Kishō. The Philosophy of Symbiosis. London: Academy Editions, 1994. Print.
De Certeau, M. (1984). Spatial Stories. In The Practice of Everyday Life (pp. 115-130), translated by Steven Randall. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Picture reference:
Murakami, Haruki. Underground : The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche. London: Harvill, 2000. Print.
Picture reference:
https://www.hongkongd.com/central/29882/ %E4%B8%AD%E7%92%B0%E8%B7%AF%E7%B7%9A%E5%9C%B0%E5%9C%96/
Liu Yichu Chelsea
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I really like the obsession with looking at solely the material of these underground tunnels and how they mix in together to convey the idea of hybrid city, which connects to the bigger theme of different areas with different functionality connects together. Mostly only showing the materials in the video really attracted me to look into your synopsis and understand the research more deeply, while also reminding me to look around more and reflect on how materials used can be related to other deeper reasons other than aesthetics.
I understand the focus into the underground patterns, and I enjoyed learning about the variety of patterns you have shown in the video. I also think the music is quite fitting for the topic of your video as well. However, I feel like you could have expanded more into how these patterns could make people feel during the pandemic, maybe you could take some inspiration from how Murakami portrays those emotions of sluggishness, ignorance, loss of imagination, etc. I think overall the focus doesn’t seem to relate to the pandemic, and more on the underground itself. In the end though, I think it was a great effort to put such detail into the research of the Hong Kong underground.
I really enjoy your creative way of looking at underground tunnels – focusing on materials. The visual contents you collected is sufficient to construct powerful comparison and generate in-depth reflection on them. You discuss the material, color, patterns and how the walls and grounds reflect time and people’s passage, as well as how people’s activities reshape the environment, which is really impressive. Also, the visual design and music of your piece are great! And you made a powerful conclusion at the end that the city is hybrid and communication lasts in places we usually neglect.
The film has a fascinating and unique perspective on the tunnels. I like the film’s logic: “people’s demand leads to function, and function leads to materials”. The K11 mall example demonstrates the argument powerfully. The materials’ role is also interesting: “react to people” “change by the time” as if the material itself is alive. The visual organization is great. I love the color pattern part most, during which the reflection of walking people connects different color patterns. In general, the film has a unique researching style, which combines researching and your own thinking well. Great!
Mao Yue Yang Lesley 3035770549
Not only is your research highly specific and analytical, but you have also demonstrated the ability to apply your findings to broader implications. Appreciate how you tried to turn the ‘boring’ underground tunnels into a more lively space through meticulous observations. Your video is well-organized and visually attractive. I wonder why MTR underground passageways are so hybrid? What does material (thus atmosphere) imply?