2024 - Daylight in Old Furniture: An Equal Space

Based on the latest data from the CFPS, the results indicate that the lowest 50% of the income spectrum only received 13% of the total income, while the highest 10% accrued 44%. Among these, the distribution of wage income is relatively equitable. The lowest 50% received 14% of the total wage income, whereas the highest 10% secured 37%. These findings suggest variations in the degree of income inequality among different types of income in China.
The wealth disparity manifests not only in income and wealth differences but also in consumption gaps. As demands for quality-of-life increase, the pace of furniture upgrades accelerates. According to a recent survey by the Statistics Bureau of a directly administered city in China, 11.1% of the over 3,000 respondents discarded large furniture items last year. In the same period, in the same city, there was a substantial population of impoverished residents unable to afford furniture.
Our project engages with the ongoing societal challenge of bridging the gap between rich and poor to facilitate participation in a lifestyle of common prosperity. By observing the living habits of the impoverished areas, an equitable space constructed from old furniture has been developed adjacent to existing buildings.
Within this structure, light traverses and interacts with people. Individuals in need may take the furniture from the installation at no cost, and as items are removed, sunlight introduces new changes, creating a vibrant, shared space.
Urban villages are a unique byproduct of China’s urbanization, prevalent in major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. These areas, known for their high housing density and poor natural light and ventilation, still host numerous urban villages. Consequently, we have chosen to construct this building in the Wenchong community of an urban village in Guangzhou, aiming to enhance the well-being of its residents.