Lola Deng, a Beijing native currently pursuing graduate studies in architecture at RISD, challenges the control paradigm entrenched in the contemporary built environment. She perceives architecture not merely as structures but as a fusion of materials and products. Deng explores the potential of repurposing arbitrary structures to defy the rigid control grid inherent in modern mechanical and HVAC systems, advocating for a dynamic state of flux.

In a recent campus studio installation, Deng ingeniously introduces faux pipes, redirecting viewers' attention to the often-overlooked network of pipes within our surroundings. Her current project involves the intentional misuse of architectural ductwork language through faux air ducts, challenging the norms of modernist environmental control systems. By confronting the established conventions in piping design through appropriating ducts, Deng embraces the misperformance of building products as a means to subvert traditional architectural norms.

In her quest to push against conventional design, Lola Deng seeks alternative relationships between inhabitants and their surroundings. Through subtle gestures prompting collective encounters, she encourages a contemplative exploration of space asfl au id and inherently question-worthy entity.