Shrinkea is an oxymoron. On one hand, it embodies the desire to accumulate ‘things’ in the global consumerist society. On the other, it reflects the minimalist tendency to reduce the amount of space needed for the bare minimum. Shrinkea is a project of absence and presence, in a time of minimal space and maximal consumption.

The room is an imprint of the accumulation of furniture stacked on top of each other. For the transient lifestyles of urban dwellers accustomed to moving, it has become commonplace to buy inexpensive furniture for easy assemblage and disposal. IKEA is at the forefront of this trend, offering affordable and modular furniture that can be customized. In a way, Shrinkea is a trace of maximalism, made up of histories of our consumption.

The irregularity of poche around the furniture assembly results in a mismatch between the interior and exterior facades. This illustrates the clash between maximalism and minimalism. Shrinkea is a space of minimalism carved out of infinitely expanding tendencies of maximalism. This conflict is, perhaps, what defines our generation.

 

Location: Cambridge, MA, USA
Year: 2017
Type: Pavilion
Size: < 5 SF
Status: Completed
Team: Jiye Ha, Kailin Jones