Skin was developed as a critical project of modernist architecture which underestimates human interaction in the buildings. Called Skin, the installation designed by London-based design practice NEON directed by architect Mark Nixon that seeks to explore new territories between architecture, design and art.

Set within Archipelago Centre in Finland, the Skin is exhibited as part of the exhibition '5 Parts' and investigates new relationship between space and human body which is mostly neglected in the design process and conversation.

The handmade installation is an inhabitable sculpture that speculates on an alternative architectural approach, one that prioritises the human body over all other design parameters. The body is used as the aesthetic driver for the sculpture, its form, constructed from skin coloured tights, appears from afar like a stretched and distorted piece of flesh. From within, the sculpture also imitates the aesthetic of human flesh to create a feeling of immersion.

''As the regeneration of our cities becomes ever more 'developer led', architecture has become increasingly 'efficient' in order to maximize the financial returns on investment. Buildings are designed according to strict guidelines and minimum dimensions, wall thicknesses are reduced, both in depth and in terms of their ornamentation,'' says Mark Nixon, Director of NEON.

''The human experience has become severely neglected in the design conversation. This architectural approach is highly prevalent in Finland which was a heavy adopter of 'Functionalism', adds Mark Nixon.

The inhabitant losing all sense of where their body ends and architecture begins. It is intended that this approach will create a strong physical and emotional connection between the inhabitant and the architectural space. 

This sense of being physically and emotionally present is particularly important in a world where technologies continue to erode our sense of personal space.

Skin is constructed using 1800 pairs of natural skin coloured tights which are arranged at the waist in a grid to form 6 identical sides. The sides are linked to form a cube with volume created by stretching the corners in tension using a steel frame. There is a “slit” opening at one corner of the form to allow the visitor to enter the elasticated space. 

Inside the sculpture, the legs of the tights in the ceiling are connected to the legs of the tights in the floor which means that the movement of the body inside will distort and affect the overall form. 

The vertically connected legs allow a free movement through the space but limit the occupant’s vision meaning the work may only be experienced fully by moving around it.

5 Islands is an exhibition of five artists from five different countries in the Korpoström Archipelago Center’s gallery over the course of the winter, the first time that work will be up over this time period. The exhibition opened in October 14, 2016 and will run until April 17, 2017 at the Archipelago Centre in Korpoström, Finland.

All images courtesy of NEON

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