Yijing Wu
Weeds Project
The Weeds Project is about urban design at the scale of architecture. I wish to return to the basics of buildings and the resulting urban environment as a place to provide pleasure to people. However, instead of doing an urban project in the traditional sense, I wish to do a weeds project. I hope to make modifications or additions to the small-scale architecture in a cheap way with low technology and readily available materials, so that any individual or small business can easily copy and make their own alterations. Among the big trees of government’s urban planning and big developer projects, the weeds complete the eco system and provide nutrition to make the entire system more sustainable. The informal way of spreading from the weeds can achieve diversity that is not possible by professionals or organizations. The core of the word culture is diversity.
First Weed
City is the byproduct of life force. The existing buildings are made from one life force. Weeds are from a different life force. People choose to make them not because of making profit. Pleasure is the life force that makes weeds. Weeds are life.
Street View
Each individual weeds project is completely within the discretion of an individual or a small business. It doesn’t touch any public area or property. This is about freedom. Also it is powerful, because it means that urban design can be done without government’s involvement and approval. It is necessary when government or big corporation’s agenda, value system and aesthetics are most likely different from people’s interest. Weeds project is making informal buildings in the formal system. It plays by the rules while adding a different life force to the city.
Interior - Ground Floor
Interior - Second Floor