Architecture: Perceptual Constructs of Temporary Spaces

Temporary spaces provide systematic yet flexible spatial solutions in contrast to constructions bound by rigid conditions. These environments foster dynamic interactions between architecture, social context, locale, text, and community—cultivating creative and organic modes of living.

OFF-SITE, established in Taipei in 2011, focuses on the research of public spaces and the creation of interactive performances derived from architectural hardware. Their projects breathe new life into neglected urban areas, as demonstrated in Bridge Hole. By observing the lives and spatial patterns of residents living beneath Taipei’s Jianguo Bridge, OFF-SITE invited creators to stage weekly exhibitions responding to the site. These interventions reactivated the latent potential of the space, subtly shifting everyday perceptions and revealing new layers of aesthetic and intellectual experience.

mt.project, led by curator Lin Yi-Hua, investigates spatial understanding through projects such as South of South, ANIMA, and the recent Matsu International Art Island: Underground Works. Employing contemporary art to question the driving forces behind phenomena, Lin treats public dialogue as a variant of artistic practice. The manifesto of the Shan Ye Project declares: “Only by thinking from the land can one be shaped by the mountains.” She encourages creators to entwine themselves with nature, wilderness, and humanistic elements, thereby expanding the boundaries of artistic imagination.

Temporary spaces facilitate agile, site-specific interventions that resonate with human nature and reflective thought. Through collaborative efforts between creators and local communities, solid and static architecture is transformed into fluid, community-driven environments. These spaces challenge habitual modes of living by introducing new forms of permeability and shared experience.