Designed by LIN Architecture, the Guofeng Chair is a stunning example of the collision between artificial intelligence-assisted generative design techniques and traditional elements. Located in both Xintiandi and the North Bund areas of Shanghai, this outdoor installation integrates three elements of space, art, and traditional culture into a sculptural piece that serves as a public interactive medium with a unique Chinese artistic form and charm. The use of an artificial intelligence-assisted linguistic modelling system eliminates the need for repeated modelling exhaustion and helps designers refine and optimise prototypes and generate derivative deformations and final forms of prototypes through image model training.
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- Front View of Guofeng Chair at night (Photo credit: Guo Jing)
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- Aerial View of Guofeng Chair (Photo credit: Guo Jing)
The design process began by studying the forms generated by calligraphy and creating various formal languages. Through the use of an artificial intelligence-assisted linguistic modelling system, designers were able to refine and optimise prototypes and generate derivative deformations and final forms of prototypes through image model training. The calligraphic strokes of “swing”, “flat movement”, “lifting and pressing”, and “twisting and turning” formed the three-dimensional space of calligraphy and served as the basis for the design.
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- Side View of Guofeng Chair at Night (Photo credit: Guo Jing)
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- Close-up Detail (Photo credit: Guo Jing)
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- Close-up Detail (Photo credit: Guo Jing)
The Guofeng Chair represents a fusion of space, art, and traditional Chinese culture. Pedestrians can sit, stand, move, lie down, play, and observe from multiple angles, making it an interactive medium for public use. The design is both rational and aesthetic, with a focus on functional use and formal requirements.
The construction of the Guofeng Chair involved several processes, including the establishment of an overall 3D model, the deepening of an internal steel frame, the creation of a shaping mould for artificial stone, and the polishing of materials. The finished product is a stunning sculptural piece that stands out in the bustling commercial area while also fitting in with the tranquil Huangpu River.
