Qianhe (Natalie) Tian

The government made a deal with Donald Trump, transforming The Vancouver Trump Tower, the second tallest skyscraper in Canada into a “perfectly designed” residential building. A “utopian” building that has various designs for different levels to achieve maximum “utilization” (consumption/ profit).

A capture of a moment of the war within the building, where the higher floors are trying to fight for more space to consume, which in a way illustrates an illegal and violent eviction and invasion. It depicts the moment that homes become dehumanized structures inside this building.

The lower floors are forced to move out, living in gaps and in-between spaces within the building, such as lifts, staircases, rubbish chutes, swimming pools, storage… The spaces are decorated into reimagined homes, with belongings serving as a confirmation of one’s agency, cultural identity, individuality, and creative powers. However, these people are hidden spatially in this building. As a society, this depicts the image of hidden homeless people’s livelihoods and demonstrates how the hidden homelessness crisis isn’t being seen, and in many cases is ignored.

This project is a speculative architectural narrative. It addresses the connection between two separate social issues being architectural capitalism and hidden homelessness, taking place in a Trump Tower. It means that housing for human’s basic needs is driven by consumerism, and spaces are designed to achieve a maximum “utilization” translated into profit. It is a reflection of society as a whole, as the polarization between each level enlarges, the conflict escalates. The space is curated as collages for the viewers’ interpretation of rituals and events. This aims to question the role that these existing Trump residential buildings can have on hidden homeless communities.

The soft fabrics are my pillow case, which are drawn from the personal inventory method. This is permanently sealed in solid resin, with detachable pieces that fit in a suitcase, contrasting a fixed assembly method. The materiality and altered assembly methods are used to address the temporary state of belonging, which is a consequence of the hidden homelessness crisis, and contrasts the permanent being. It includes one’s memories and identity, and represents the typical solid structure that forms a stable home. This artefact contrasts the upper class’s well-made, luxury spatial goods. It embodies an identity that belongs to the inhabitant, offering a sense of belonging.

A dystopian film develops through 3 scenes, the conflict escalates over time throughout the building showing the dimensions of time and space. The conflict within the Vancouver Trump Tower connects the two issues of capitalist spatial consumerism and hidden homelessness together, in one form of spatial representation. A gentrification initiates the conflict, and as the rich community’s depravity is revealed, while the poor community’s living needs are exploited. Whether capitalistic housing consumerism is abnormal or the norm, it is portrayed in finale of the narrative in a way which leaves the viewer in suspense.