Memphis Design Museum is a project by Li Wenqiang of PIG Design and it’s located in Hangzhou, China. This is the authentic home of Memphis Furniture!
Memphis is a word that has multiple and different meanings, however, in the design field, it represents one thing. This term applies to a unique anti-rational style and the Memphis Group – an Italian design and architecture collective from the ’80s.
This Memphis Design Project has the hand of Li Wenqiang that belongs to PIG Design. This is a playful art museum and exhibition space in Hangzhou, China. Ya Space! is the name of this project and echoes the nickname of Memphis City in China which is “Cliff City”. The curious thing is that “Cliff” is pronounced “Ya” in Chinese.
What defines the Memphis Style is the geometric shapes and free composition. Besides these shapes, the mind of this “museum” wanted to go further and add visual effects with enhanced textures and more sustainable views.
Ya Space! is an interactive building based on the “view frame” concept. It has so many forms and the most amazing thing is that space often changes according to visitors’ point of view. In order to give a tridimensional sensation, the floor and the geometric features have the same finish. It seems like these structures are emerging from the floor. According to the visitors, this is a sensorial experience.
The interior space has two floors. Within the first one, there’s an opportunity to live unconventional experiences, producing spatial rhythm. It also features irregular stairs paved with black stone, a door opening that brings a sense of order that enriches the experience, and a building block-game. The second floor is used for the exhibition!
Memphis Furniture
Here we can discover that every structure has a visual point and a geometrically-cut view frame. Besides that, it has circular light boxes cast and diffuse lights that are suspended from the ceiling. With them, they create a surreal floating-like atmosphere.
The truth is just one, here ordinary items can constitute a whole stage for display and experience.
But keep in mind that Li Wenqiang wanted to reproduce a sustainable version of Memphis Design Style in this museum of Memphis Furniture. He was very careful when choosing the materials. Not only for the inside but also for the outside of the building, which is made of stainless steel.
Ya Space! brings to all of us infinite possibilities for numerous visual experiences, making the game of observation even more interesting.
