Zihan Zhou
My design approach for creating spatial experiences is through combining different qualities of handcrafts and computer-generated practices. As one of my final year projects, I speculated the future when in-vitro meat became the norm and questioned how we might judge the ethical process of manufacturing meat. My project has allowed me to develop a deeper understanding of how technologies influence not only human life but also all other lives. There is also the inclusion of additional studio projects from previous years.

Edible Future

Edible Future speculates the impact of in-vitro meat on cows in the near future. The excessive consumption of meat is environmentally unsustainable. Yet, it may be impossible to stop consuming meat as it is deeply embedded in culinary culture. In-vitro meat technology offers a different way of producing meat. What if land farming is replaced by lab-grown meat in the future? Edible Future is an enclosed space to guarantee the continued FBS harvesting from the cows. It is designed to increase the reproduction rate and also accommodates cows’ mental health using synthetic hormones. Yet, is this truly a better way to deal with environmental crises and animal rights for human consumption?

View to fetus harvesting room

The fetus harvesting room comprises an anaesthetic nebulizer dome and light with a blue hue, reducing a cow's pain during harvesting. The slaughter robots operate on the cow to avoid the contamination of the fetus and eliminate the human guilt from killing an animal.

The Pixel

The Pixel is a pop-up installation designed for Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (HRAFF), which is transformable to support the events from day to night. The events will be held for the refugees especially those who are affected by the war and covid-19, in order to engender a sense of naturalization and belonging in the process of sharing, interaction, and communication

View to events between day and night time

The temporary structure, assembled with panels, is designed with parametric design and digital manufacturing, allowing the manufacture of flexible self-supporting installations. The low-cost installation does not rely on any mechanical fasteners, reducing environmental impact.

Scent of Earth

Scent of Earth explores the blurred boundaries between indoor and outdoor space. It is a handcrafted installation made of dirt from a garden, textile, fog, fan and wood. It utilises the smell generated from the soil and brings it into the indoor space. Dirt and leaves are wrapped in textile. Fog humidifies, amplifying their scent. Scent generated from the installation transports a person to an imaginary garden while sitting indoors.

Burning man pavilion

Burning Man pavilion is for the Burning Man Festival. It explores the parametric generative approach in Grasshopper.
It is visualized through Bezier curve generated components, articulating to mesh by playing with various coding. The organic form structure has different porosity, allowing dynamic spatial experiences.
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