In a striking contribution to the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, MAD Architects has unveiled “Breathing Cells,” a visionary art installation that challenges the static nature of the built environment. Invited by Biennale Director Thomas Heatherwick, the firm has installed the work at Seoul’s Songhyeon Green Plaza, where it will remain on view until November 18, 2025. This installation marks a significant step in the exploration of living architecture, directly engaging with the Biennale’s compelling theme, “Radically More Human.”
The structure, standing 4.8 meters tall, is composed of a soft pneumatic membrane that forms a dynamic building skin. Under the command of an intelligent system, this facade can sense and respond to external conditions like light and temperature. This responsiveness is not merely functional; it aims to provide comfort for those in its vicinity, suggesting a future where architectural surfaces are interactive and empathetic. Even in standby mode, its inviting, mattress-like form exudes a warmth that breaks down the coldness often associated with contemporary structures.
Central to the installation’s dialogue with its surroundings are its breathable light units, provided by Opple Lighting, and an integrated water mist system. The ethereal glow from within the “cells” and the cooling mist create a multi-sensory public space. This interaction explores how architectural skins can actively participate in their environment, offering cooling relief on hot days and helping to sustain surrounding vegetation, thereby embodying a deeper, more ecological understanding of human-centric design.
At its core, “Breathing Cells” is a profound meditation on urban coexistence. Ma Yansong, Principal Partner of MAD, elaborates, “Each ‘cell’ can be seen as an individual building within the city, representing the independence and harmonious coexistence of each individual within a collective.” The rhythmic expansion and contraction of the membranes, paired with the interplay of light and vapor, poetically symbolize the breathing cadence of both life and the city itself, proposing a new model for urban interface.
The work powerfully demonstrates the potential for future architecture to transcend its traditional role as a passive container. By creating a structure that is sentient and reactive, MAD proposes a world where buildings become responsive living entities. This shift from inert object to interactive participant suggests a radical new direction for building facades, one where the boundary between the biological and the constructed becomes beautifully blurred.
“Breathing Cells” is more than an installation; it is a statement of intent for a more organic and integrated urban future. It will be on display at Songhyeon Green Plaza until November 18, with its captivating lighting and mist effects active daily from 12:00-13:00 and 19:00-20:00, inviting visitors to experience firsthand this pioneering vision of humanization in our shared spaces.