At the 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, curated by Thomas Heatherwick under the theme “Radically More Human,” MAD建筑事务所 presented Breathing Cells — an exploration of what a living architectural façade could be.

Standing 4.8 meters high and 2.4 meters wide in Songhyeon Park, Seoul, the installation proposes a responsive urban interface. A soft pneumatic membrane, controlled by an intelligent system, adjusts light and temperature for comfort. When idle, it relaxes into a warm, cushion-like form — gentle, almost domestic.

bespoke. Sur-Mesure Engineering Studio served as the structural consultant for the installation.

Within a tight design timeline, we worked with MAD and the fabrication team using rapid hand sketches, 3D simulations, and intensive workshops. Our scope included:

• Rear support structure
• Connection node detailing
• Pneumatic membrane structural system
• Advanced node development

The challenge was precise: preserve the integrity of a soft, breathing surface while ensuring structural safety and feasibility. Every connection, every hidden support element had to serve both performance and expression.

For a structural engineer, projects like this are rare. They demand speed, experimentation, and trust. They also reveal something essential: engineering is not only about resistance and load — it is about enabling vision.

At bespoke., we build bridges between art and structure, ensuring that imagination can stand, breathe, and endure.

• Project: Breathing Cells — 5th Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism (2025)
• Location: Seoul, South Korea
• Year: 2025
• Installation Design: MAD建筑事务所
• Curator: Thomas Heatherwick
• Lighting Support: 欧普照明
• Structural Consultant: bespoke. Sur-Mesure Engineering Studio
• Scope: Rear support structure, node detailing, pneumatic membrane system, advanced structural development