Zhuoya Wang

Safe Skiff - Public picnic space to a floating refuge, 2023

Bamboo, acrylic, natural sisal twine

The intensification of weather events, such as floods and droughts, impacts urban areas located on riverbanks. In response to increased floods in my hometown Chongqing, Wang drew on their background in experience design. They developed the 'Safe Skiff' as a design research project that explores connections between the local culture and landscape of the city. Inspired by the Tang Dynasty poem 'Setting Off Early from Baidi City' by Li Bai, Zhuoya designed a floating platform to support urban residents in adapting to floods. Based on a site analysis of the riverbank, the platform transforms from a park picnic space or shelter to a floating refuge, echoing Bai's poetic account of resilience as a combination of crossing thousands of mountains on a bamboo skiff and optimism.