Since the pandemic, individualization has accelerated as the time spent alone has increased. Furthermore, it is now doable to spend time alone without interaction with people, as the appearance of smartphones, OTT, social media, etc. This phenomenon has been provoking subdividing communities into individuals. The fragmentation of community members happens not only inside the home but also outside.
I speculate and address how a nightclub will be changed and reformed among spaces affected by individualization.
In the future, social interactions will decline, and individual isolation will worsen. This fragmentation means people no longer form large social communities, gathering only in small groups. As a result, future nightlife will be affected, with fewer opportunities to meet new people. Instead, individuals will lead passive nightlife, retreating behind walls to protect their personal boundaries. In essence, they will remain hidden in dark and obscure spaces, leading to bars and clubs reducing the number of tables and chairs as social engagement diminishes.
Meta l ball (metal ball) - Meta phor (metaphor)
A metal ball emerges to challenge the future status quo. Rolling into the depths of the club, following people as it moves. It then begins to break through the walls on the main stage, symbolizing a challenge against the future order. Therefore, the ball acts as a figurative tool, encouraging people to critically reflect the future.
The nightclub consists of three zones. The first is the changing room, a space where belongings and clothes can be stored. The second is a transitional area that connects the entrance to the main stage. The last is the main stage, a space for listening to music, dancing, and drinking.
Floor Plan
Section Plan
Flexibilization of the grid system
In the nightclub, the lighting transitions gradually from rectangular to circular shapes, illustrating the increasing flexibility of the space. The various colors on the main stage reflect the unique characteristics of individuals, existing independently without merging with other lighting, thus creating isolated personal spaces.
Nightclubs, unlike structured societies, offer freedom and acceptance in the cover of darkness, where lack of surveillance fosters liberation. Furniture and objects, initially constrained within a rigid grid, gradually break free as they move from the entrance to the main stage, ultimately securing personal space and reflecting the club’s open, unrestricted atmosphere.
Changing Room
The first space is designed for people to store their clothes and enjoy light drinks. Rectangular lighting and pillars create a rigid and structured atmosphere, reflecting the formality and restraint in the brightly lit environment.
Passage & Drinking Space
After passing the changing room, a passage leading to the main stage appears. This transitional space bridges the initial area of the club with the main stage. It serves to shift the atmosphere from the bright, structured environment of the changing room to the darker, more fluid ambiance of the main stage.
There are steps on which people can sit on either side of the passage, enjoying drinks or having a conversation.
Main Stage
The central void space on the main stage is where people dance or listen to music. It is the least personalized area, and it is here that the metal ball first strikes the central wall, beginning to break down the barriers between people. As the wall collapses, the surrounding tables and chairs come into view, opening up a space for social interaction.