McGill University

Thesis Studio
Advisor: Prof. Michael Jemtrud

2016-2017

Lok-Ma-Chau Loop, Hong Kong

This research explores how glitch in media culture can be translated into a new design paradigm in architecture through designing the museum of imitation and its surroundings in the cross-border agglomeration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The project is located in Lok Ma Chau Loop, a cross-border agglomeration located between Hong Kong and Shenzhen that aims at creating a neutral interface for educational institution and business corporation.

The project further confines itself in the focal point: to build a museum of imitation that explores the concept of the imitation in nature, Shanzhai [business model which focuses on makes and sales imitation and copied products (Lin,2009)] culture and the need of paradigm shift in the forthcoming future. Through creating glitch, visitor will be able to experience the problematic nature of Shanzhai and understand the difference between Shanzhai and imitation. A mediation and arbitration center is also proposed as an actual mean of mitigate the difference through various means.

Glitch, rather than merely as an error, is considered as a cultural artifact that critically dismisses the idea of digital processing as the sole universal all-purpose form of information processing (Berry, Deiter, 2014). As a result, glitch has the capacity of contextualizing information, and providing relationship to the material bodies and spaces connected together. It also encompasses representation, interpretation or reflection on social and cultural phenomenon and the technology that is malfunctioning (Menkman, 2011). It shows its potential as an alternative way of designing the Lok Ma Chau Loop and to facilitate education-business and transborder interactions in the area.