16.12.2025
Breathing Cells
Breathing Cells: MAD’s Vision of Living Architecture Comes to Life at the Seoul Biennale
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Invited by Thomas Heatherwick, Director of the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism (SBAU), MAD Architects’ art installation “Breathing Cells” opened on September 26, 2025, and is on display at Songhyeon Green Plaza in Seoul, South Korea.
“Breathing Cells,” standing 4.8 meters tall and 2.4 meters wide, represents MAD’s exploration into the future of building facades, simultaneously responding to the Biennale’s curatorial theme of “Radically More Human.” The work proposes the possibility of an urban interface imbued with a sense of life.
Under the control of an intelligent system, the soft pneumatic membrane of the building skin can sense and adjust light and temperature, providing comfort for people outside the structure. When the control system is on standby, the material and form remain soft and inviting, reminiscent of a giant mattress, exuding warmth and approachability.
Through breathable light units and a water mist system, the installation fosters a dialogue between people and the urban environment. The lighting solution, provided by Opple Lighting, illuminates the “cells,” while the ethereal, mist-like water vapor offers cooling relief during hot weather and helps maintain moisture for surrounding vegetation. This explores the potential for architectural skins to interact with their environment, metaphorically suggesting a deeper understanding of “humanization” in future architecture – where buildings are not merely functional containers but become sentient, responsive living entities.
“Breathing Cells” also aims to explore new connections between people, architecture, and the urban environment. Each ‘cell’ can be seen as an individual building within the city, representing the independence and harmonious coexistence of each individual within a collective.
Ma Yansong said: “‘Breathing Cells’ seeks to explore the subtle relationship between the individual and the urban environment. Each ‘cell’ represents an independent entity within the city, while the rhythmic interplay of light and mist symbolizes the breathing cadence of life and the city itself.”
The installation will be on view until November 18. (Lighting and mist effects are active daily from 12:00-13:00 and 19:00-20:00).