The Sea, a hyper-functional space for World Design Capital Valencia 2022
The city of Valencia has been named World Design Capital by the World Design Organization for the year 2022. In this context, the organization has commissioned Clap Studio to design an installation that has the capacity to accompany the capital in 2021, throughout 2022 and that can last over time. A space that will function mainly as a television set, and which will also host many different types of educational activities, debates and celebrations.
Located inside the unique Veles e Vents building designed by David Chipperfield, The Sea intends to bring design closer to the population and act as a multifunctional space in which to carry out all the different activities that may arise. To this end, Clap has designed a temporary installation that, in addition to providing space for performances, entertainment and events, is a space designed so that the installation itself can also perform and transform itself to adapt to the needs of the moment.
The Sea, arises from the context in which the installation is located, in "La Marina de Valencia", on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Inspired by the waves of the sea, Clap Studio created a conceptual sea made from electro-welded wire mesh modules that are superimposed on each other, generating different opacities, different depths in the sea. The studio also thought about the ambient lighting of the space using integrated spherical lights that simulate jellyfish suspended in this sea.
The Sea indeed is more than a space, it is a hyper-functional system. It is made up of only 3 different modules that are easy to assemble, disassemble and transport. The connection between modules is made through simple couplings in the base and to secure the system, flanges are used to fix the installation. The premise of versatility and ease of assembly and disassembly inspired the studio to think in terms of democratic and lightweight materials together with simple fastening systems. For the seats, Clap decided to give a new use to the fire-retardant foams made from recycled materials commonly used in construction. Instead, the studio decided to use them as seat cushions and attach them with two simple straps to the system.
The Sea becomes a permeable space that has more or less opacity depending on the composition of the modules and the position of the viewer. The play of the grids creates different depths and plays with the public who, on entering this space, seem to be submerged in the sea.
