Restoring the Unseen
Restoring the Unseen
Hung-Yi Li
Contemporary climate change is largely driven by long-term human exploitation and industrial activities. The disasters it triggers are becoming increasingly intense and irreversible. This design focuses on one of the most impactful consequences—extreme weather—and takes “wind” as the core element to explore the environmental, ecological, and human-related effects brought by this invisible yet powerful force. Wind, though often overlooked, carries energy, memory, and symbolic meaning, representing both natural vitality and ecological disturbance.
The project is set within an abandoned chimney located in Glasgow’s Hidden Garden. Originally built as part of a tram factory for the discharge of exhaust gases, the chimney once embodied the byproduct of human pollution. Now, it is reimagined as a vessel for wind—a medium through which visitors can reflect on the shifting relationship between humanity and the environment. Through spatial design and interactive mechanisms embedded within the chimney, this work constructs an experiential journey about climate disruption, ecological imbalance, and the potential for restoration.
See the animation here.
As visitors ascend through the chimney, they witness a narrative unfold—from environmental stability to chaotic collapse, and ultimately toward hopeful regeneration. Wind transforms from an invisible force into a tangible experience, engaging participants through sound, motion, and light. Crucially, visitors become active agents in the design: their interaction triggers a symbolic act of ecological recovery. This is not merely an installation; it is a spatial provocation—a poetic yet critical invitation to reconsider our roles within the greater ecological system.
At the core of this design concept lies the issue of ecological imbalance triggered by human activities. Climate change, as a direct result of industrialization and environmental exploitation, leads to the rise of extreme weather events— among them, unusually strong winds. Wind, in this context, is no longer just a natural element, but a medium through which disruption unfolds. The diagram maps this chain reaction: intensified winds shift ocean currents, displace wind-dispersed species, and accelerate desertification and sandstorms. These effects ripple outward, ultimately leading to ecosystem degradation and looping back to impact humanity itself. The chimney, as a vessel for wind, becomes a symbol of this fragile threshold between natural flow and human disturbance. Through this design, the project invites reflection on the relationship between human actions and ecological consequences—and the urgent need for restoration.
Wind is an invisible presence—silent yet ceaseless. It drifts through spaces unnoticed, shaping life without demanding attention. But when humans step in, the delicate balance of air shifts. Within the confined chimney, a single action—closing a door, disturbing a flow—disorients the ecosystem. This design does not attempt to control the wind, but to reveal its quiet language. Through fog, movement, and interaction, the unseen becomes visible. It is a space where disruption is acknowledged, and restoration begins—not through dominance, but through listening.
The installation is constructed based on the logic of a domino effect: human presence activates a floor sensor, triggering a series of mechanical reactions that ultimately seal the chimney’s upper and lower openings. This halts airflow and disrupts the internal ecosystem. Each action sets the next in motion, forming a chain reaction that highlights how even a single act of intervention can escalate into widespread consequences. The system serves not only as a mechanical sequence but as a metaphor for our contemporary ecological reality—once triggered, the cascading effects are difficult to reverse.
In its untouched state, the chimney breathes freely. Wind enters from the top and escapes below, weaving through the brick interior with quiet rhythm. Light and moisture drift in tandem with the breeze, creating a delicate micro-ecosystem where air, dust, insects, and time coexist in silent harmony. The space is still, yet full of subtle life—uninterrupted, unclaimed. But with the arrival of a human presence, this balance begins to break. The chimney’s top is shut. Sensors detect movement, activating mechanical responses. Fog thickens, the light dims, and the once- steady wind becomes erratic. What was once open and fluid becomes pressurized and confused. This disturbance is not dramatic, but it is profound—marking the shift from ecological self-regulation to artificial control. The space begins to react, to resist, to reveal.
Throughout this design process, I explored the subtle yet profound relationship between human presence and ecological systems through the movement of wind and the architecture of the chimney. Wind, as an invisible and free-flowing force of nature, sustains cycles of life and balance. Yet once interrupted by human actions, its flow is restricted, and ecological harmony begins to unravel. This project led me to reconsider the role of invisible forces in spatial design, and to understand that design is not merely about form-making—it is a response to environmental ethics and responsibility.
I hope visitors, as they engage with the space, become aware of the impact their presence has, prompting a deeper reflection on the interdependence between humanity and the natural world. This work stands as both a response to climate instability and an example of how design can embody critical narratives.
