The Animal Backbone: A Commemorative Architecture by Eason Zhu

Transforming a Historic Slaughterhouse into a Cultural and Creative Industry Center

Inspired by the walking track of a cat, Eason Zhu's design process for The Animal Backbone began with the division of the interior and exterior spaces. The basic functions of a living state were divided by a circle, creating doors and windows that allow for observation of the inside and outside. The interior houses living rooms, restaurants, kitchens, bathrooms, and more, forming the scene elements of life and creating a bubble map.

The Animal Backbone is housed in what was once the first slaughterhouse in the Far East, a place of death that has been transformed into a cultural and creative industry center in Shanghai. Zhu's design respects the tens of thousands of animal souls lost in the building, creating a commemorative architecture that echoes the concrete and arouses painful memories of animal slaughter.

The project was realized using metal plates, mirrors, and glass, covering an area of 100m2. Zhu's team included Erhuan Chai, Qianlan Lu, and Guanhang Jiang, who helped bring the design to life. The design is characterized by its animal-inspired moving lines and its commemorative nature.

The Animal Backbone was designed to be shared by people and animals, providing interactive spaces for both. Animal behavior was implanted into the space design, satisfying function through the simplest processing method and providing a platform to assist pidan's brand and ideas.

One of the challenges faced during the design process was creating a space that would encourage thoughts about the harmonious symbiosis between humans and animals. The "animal backbone" bears the burden of history with the animal, exploring how humans and animals can better live in harmony in a historical environment. The design also supports the concept of stray animal adoption, providing long-term food supply for stray cats and dogs in the 1933 old field.

The Animal Backbone was awarded the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2022, a testament to its outstanding design and trendsetting creation that advances art, design, and technology. The design embodies extraordinary excellence and significantly impacts the world with its desirable characteristics.