Lost in The City: A New Perspective on Urban Navigation

Wan Yu Li's Award-Winning Design Encourages Exploration and Perception in City Navigation

The project is rooted in a critique of the current city lifestyle, particularly in Hong Kong, where the movement of people is often limited by infrastructure such as skyways. Li's design proposes a new system that encourages random movement and exploration, fostering a sense of adventure and personal choice. This system is realized through six different methods, including process of selection, weather, quantity, combination of elements, time changes, and confusion.

The design project includes six distinct points within the city, each offering a unique experience. For instance, the "Circuit dining room" provides an unexpected dining experience with varying durations, while the "Drifting passage" transforms based on the amount of collected rainwater. Other points include a momentary theater, a private cake factory, a shifting garden, and a secret playground, each designed to challenge conventional expectations and stimulate exploration.

One of the key challenges in realizing this innovative project was ensuring the success of the proposed strategy. The design had to be adventurous and unexpected, yet functional and relevant to people's lifestyles. Another challenge was dealing with various scales, from urban design to individual spatial experience. However, through careful research and detailed design, Li was able to successfully overcome these obstacles and create a coherent and functional system.

"Lost in The City" is not just a design project, but a proposition for a new lifestyle. It encourages people to be honest with their feelings and to make choices based on their perceptions. It promotes individual participation and personalization, breaking away from the constraints of efficiency and routine. This project is a testament to the power of design in shaping our everyday experiences and redefining our relationship with the urban environment.

In conclusion, Wan Yu Li's "Lost in The City" is a remarkable design project that challenges conventional city navigation and proposes a new system that encourages exploration and perception. It is a testament to the power of design in shaping our everyday experiences and redefining our relationship with the urban environment. This project, which won the Silver A' Design Award in 2019, offers a fresh perspective on urban life and the way people interact with their environment.