HWKN: Wendy

Filling the MoMA PS1 courtyard, the winning design of the 2012 Young Architects Program is now completed, and will open to the public on 1 July.

Wendy, the HWKN-designed winner of the annual Young Architects Program (YAP) in New York, has been completed and will open to the public on 1 July. The project is an experiment that tests how far the boundaries of architecture can expand to create ecological and social effect. Wendy is composed of fabric treated with a ground breaking titania nanofilm to neutralize airborne pollutants. During the summer of 2012, Wendy will clean the air to an equivalent of taking 260 cars off the road. Wendy's boundary is defined by tools like shade, wind, rain, music, and visual identity to reach past the confines of physical limits.

Spiky arms made of the nylon fabric mentioned above will reach out blasts of cool air, music, water cannons and mists to create social zones throughout the courtyard. Wendy sits far enough away from the stage used for the annual Warm Up events to let the concerts go on unimpeded, but close enough to the entrance to create a filter and initial impact to visitors. It bridges over the walls into the large and small courtyards of MoMA PS1. Wendy features a simple, inexpensive construction system: the scaffold is deployed efficiently to create a 21 x 21 x 14 metre volume to form the largest surface area possible.

Installation view of <em>Wendy</em> at MoMA PS1, 2012. Image courtesy of MoMA PS1. Top and above photos by Matthew Septimus — Installation view of *Wendy* at MoMA PS1, 2012. Image courtesy of MoMA PS1. Top and above photos by Matthew Septimus

Wendy will be the performance structure for Warm Up 2012, beginning 7 July and taking place every Saturday this summer through 8 September. Now celebrating its 15th year, the outdoor series introduces audiences to the best in experimental live music, sound, performance, and DJs. The annual series is held in MoMA PS1's courtyard, and is conceived by a curatorial committee hand selected by the museum to represent a wide spectrum of expertise and experiences, resulting in a sound that explores, interprets, and combines genres. In addition, Warm Up will draw from local New York design talent, featuring rotating stage installations by CONFETTISYSTEM, Fort Makers, Fort Standard, The Principals, Rich Brilliant Willing, and Thunder Horse Video, organized by Jocelyn Miller, MoMA PS1 Curatorial Assistant.

Installation view of <em>Wendy</em> at MoMA PS1, 2012. Photo by Michael Moran/OTTO — Installation view of *Wendy* at MoMA PS1, 2012. Photo by Michael Moran/OTTO

In addition to Knippers Helbig, structural engineers on the project, the Wendy project was assisted by PURETi (air-purifying surface treatment), Cristal Global (titania dioxide), SDFS (general contractor), SAFWAY (scaffolding provider), Krinner Ground Screws (foundations), Dornbracht (water systems), Davis & Warhshow (water and technology), Big Ass Fans (fans), Transsolar (climate engineering), Dazian (custom sewing), Bo-Tex (fabric), #rt Domantay (production consultant), Bruce Mau Design (graphic identity) and Soho Repographics (printing).

HWKN: Wendy

Filling the MoMA PS1 courtyard, the winning design of the 2012 Young Architects Program is now completed, and will open to the public on 1 July.

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