Sanctum in the AI Age: Redefining the Human-Deities Nexus in Urban FutureSanctum in the AI Age: Redefining the Human-Deities Nexus in Urban FutureSanctum in the AI Age: Redefining the Human-Deities Nexus in Urban Future

The exhibit presents comprehensive data on Hong Kong’s informal shrines, gathered through field research that documents their spontaneous emergence in urban crevices like alleyways and high-rise gaps. This data is then analyzed using AI tools, to extract and compare key components. We deconstruct the shrines’ elements—material (e.g., recycled wood and plastic), cultural (e.g., deity icons and offerings), and spatial (e.g., compact layouts)—across diverse scenarios, from under-staircase nooks to rooftop ledges, etc. This comparative process reveals significant architectural compromises necessitated by urban density, spatial constraints, and informal status. These community-driven religious spaces demonstrate remarkable adaptability in maintaining spiritual functions while abandoning traditional temple design principles. Key adaptations include vertical spatial organization to maximize limited footprints, material simplification for affordability and portability, infrastructure sharing with surrounding urban elements like shared lighting or drainage, and terrain-responsive distribution that conforms to Hong Kong’s hilly topography and high-rise fabric.

The team collects participants' choices through workshops, allowing the AI to generate individualized shrine designs tailored to their choices. These bespoke visions, blending tradition with futuristic urbanity, are showcased through dynamic 3D projections on the central physical model, fostering a participatory dialogue on spirituality’s resilience in hyper-dense environments.