A Structure of Feeling

Twenty-five years ago, Aedes presented TUMU, an exhibition that brought a generation of young independent Chinese architects to international attention for the first time. A Structure of Feeling builds on this legacy and turns its focus to a new generation operating under changed conditions. Twelve projects from nine firms, as well as works by several artists, showcase practices that engage with the renovation of existing structures, rural transformation, and new forms of spatial production. A phase of unchecked expansion is followed by a more nuanced development marked by shifting demands and standards. The title takes up Raymond Williams’ concept of the “Structure of Feeling”: a shared experience in a state of becoming that defies clear description. The exhibition follows its traces and makes them legible in concrete works—as a moment in a changing architectural practice.