ARCHITECTURE:Young Architects Program 2017 At MoMA PS1

Now in its 18th edition, the Young Architects Program at The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1 has offered emerging architectural talent the opportunity to design and present innovative projects, challenging each year’s winners to develop creative designs for a temporary, outdoor installation that provides shade, seating, and water. The architects must also work within guidelines that address environmental issues, including sustainability and recycling.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: MoMA PS1 Archive

Drawn from among five finalists “Lumen” by Jenny Sabin Studio has been named the winner of The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1’s annual Young Architects Program for 2017. Jenny Sabin Studio is an architectural design firm that investigates the intersections of architecture and science, biology, and mathematics. This year’s construction is an immersive design that evolves over the course of a day, providing a cooling respite from the midday sun and a responsive glowing light after sundown. Made of responsive tubular structures in a lightweight knitted fabric, Lumen features a canopy of recycled, photo-luminescent, and solar active textiles that absorb, collect, and deliver light. A misting system responds to visitors’ proximity, activating fabric stalactites that produce a refreshing micro-climate. Socially and environmentally responsive, Lumen’s multisensory environment is inspired by collective levity, play, and interaction as the structure and materials transform throughout the day and night, adapting to the densities of bodies, heat, and sunlight.  “Jenny Sabin’s catalytic immersive environment, Lumen, captured the jury’s attention for imaginatively merging public and private spaces”, said Sean Anderson, associate curator in MoMA’s Department of Architecture and Design. “With innovative construction and design processes borne from a critical merging of technology and nature to precise attention to detail at every scale, Lumen will no doubt engage visitors from day to night in a series of graduated environments and experiences”. The other finalists for this Young Architects Program were: Bureau Spectacular (Jimenez Lai and Joanna Grant), Ania Jaworska, Office of III (Sean Canty, Ryan Golenberg and Stephanie Lin) and SCHAUM/SHIEH (Rosalyne Shieh and Troy Schaum).

Info: MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Duration: 29/6/17- , Days & Hours: Thu-Mon 12:00-18:00, www.momaps1.org