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The People’s Canopy to exhibit at the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture 2015

Date uploaded: December 9, 2015

The People’s Canopy, a unique piece of mobile architecture commissioned for the city of Preston, UK is to take part in the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture, in Hong Kong from the 11th of December 2015 to the 28th of February 2016.

The Canopy is the result of a year-long collaboration between In Certain Places (ICP) at the University of Central Lancashire and People’s Architecture Office (PAO), Beijing.

Commissioned by ICP and designed by PAO on the theme of the city as a meeting place, the People’s Canopy is a two-storey high expandable roof structure on bicycle wheels. The ten units are designed to collapse to the size of a double decker bus to be pedalled from one location to another and thereby transform underused public spaces; spaces for auto transport are turned into spaces for pedestrians and events, and open streets connected.

The People’s Canopy took centre stage at the inaugural Lancashire Encounter festival, after appearing at UCLan in September 2015. Cycled into the city centre by over 50 volunteers from the university and accompanied by a procession of cyclists, it was host and home to commissioned artworks, community gatherings, performances, workshops, meetings, interventions and a wide spectrum of creative activity. For three days it provided a social space in which communities from both the university and the wider city could share ideas, culture and traditions.

Following the launch of the People’s Canopy in Preston, the invitation has been extended by the curatorial team at the Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture to present the Canopy in Hong Kong this December. There is a strong UK connection at this year’s UABBHK; all of the curators are affiliated with University College London and renowned British architect Sir Peter Cook will be one of the speakers at the opening ceremony. The Canopy will be installed in the plaza at Kowloon Park, to play a central role at the opening of the Biennale and throughout the festival.

To view a short film and find out more about The People's Canopy click here.

The People's Canopy in Preston, September 2015

The People's Canopy in Preston, September 2015