Ang Li

Externalities

Exploring the relationship between mass and volume, Ang Li juxtaposes the properties of a seemingly weightless material with the densities of monumental form. Hidden layers of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam form a universal membrane within our homes, landscapes, and supply chains. Here, EPS waste, diverted from landfills, is compressed into dense, discrete building blocks that can be read as both commodity and material catalogue. Borrowing building techniques from the unit systems of waste processing industries, Li establishes an architecture of accumulation that prompts us to reflect on our systems of valuation, resource and refuse.

Project Team
Noelle Burke
Isabella Greco

Fabrication Support
BOS | UA
Foam Factory
MS Fabrication
WireCrafters

Material Suppliers
Nationwide Foam Recycling
Save That Stuff

Photography
Jane Messinger
Science History Institute

Institutional Support
Northeastern University, School of Architecture