On the afternoon of June 15, 2018, the Architecture Forum themed with “Gravitational Field in the City” and organized by GOA and Let’s Talk was held at Southeast University. As the initiation meeting for the 2018 Work Camp of the Urban Micro Space Revival Plan, it attracted the attendance of a large number of students, teachers, architects and scholars.



“Gravitational Field – A Link between the Art of Architecture and the Public Cultural Life” is an event launched by GOA. So far, there have been two successful editions of Gravitational Field. GOA hopes to identify and cultivate promising young architects through the research & construction of specific public space revival projects, and provide them with good opportunities to demonstrate creativity. In the meanwhile, each project completed will become a “gravitational field in the city”, providing spaces for community activities, artistic performances and parent-child games to spice up the vim and vigor of city blocks. The program once received warm responses during the 2015 Shanghai Art Fair and the 2016 International Youth Innovation Culture Week.

For Gravitational Field 2018, GOA has partnered with Let’s Talk to promote the Urban Micro Space Revival Plan and sustain people’s attention to urban space revival. In addition, GOA will provide summer interns of the 2018 Work Camp of the Urban Micro Space Revival Plan with guidance, and undertake the design and setup work. The final installation will be set up and shown to the public at the front square of the Power Station of Art (PSA) in early November, and a series of academic activities and public events will be organized too.

During yesterday’s forum, Wang Yan, visiting professor at the College of Architecture & Urban Planning of Tongji University and partner and chief architect of GOA, delivered an insightful speech. He shared a series of urban micro-space revival cases by GOA, covering design, construction and utilization processes. The cases include a café designed by making use of an idle long and narrow space, experimental urban installations “Resilient Mountains and Waters” and “City Bubbles” featuring the employment of new high-tech materials such as bamboo steel and TPU. As a public art program, the Gravitational Field is not confined to sites or fixed forms of expression. Rather, it highlights possibilities of communication and interaction with the public and co-creation. Such interface and creation are achieved through two dimensions.

After a theme presentation, Zhang Tong, Deputy Dean of the School of Architecture of Southeast University, Zhu Lei, Dean of the Department of Architecture of the School of Architecture of Southeast University, Gan Hao, special researcher with the School of Architecture of Southeast University and founder of Atelier MUTO, Wang Chenghui, professor of the School of Architecture of Southeast University, Shu Gaojun, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of Qinhuai District of Beijing, He Jian, visiting professor of the School of Architecture of China Academy of Art and Executive President and Senior Principal of GOA, had an in-depth discussion about the current city development, how to inspire the vigor of the city, urban revival challenges and potentials, and urban development policies.

Dai Chun, founder of Let’s talk, founder of the Urban Micro Space Revival Plan, and operation director and editor of Time + Architecture, Tongji University’s magazine, said, “The urban development in China is now in the phase of steady development and gradual renewal. In addition to macro adjustments, micro revival is also an integral part. We have experienced epic urban development, and we have built numerous high-rises. However, skyscrapers cannot help solve subtle challenges. A good city should be able to make everyone felt relaxed, pleasant and secure. There should always be a space in the city that can make one feel comfortable and smile.”

The program, “Gravitation Field in the City – 2018 Work Camp of the Urban Micro Space Revival Plan”,was supported by the School of Architecture of Southeast University, the College of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tongji University, and the School of Architecture of China Academy of Art, in collaboration with XiBu Culture. In the future, a series of public events will be organized at China Academy of Art and in Shanghai depending on the progress of the design project.