URCHIN Impossible Circus / CODA

Architects: CODA
Area: 1260 ft²
Year: 2016
Photographs: Joe Wilensky, John Lai
Manufacturers: Adams Manufacturing
Collaborators: Derek Yi, Haoran (Henry) Wang, Ye Chen (Daniel) Park, Aurelie Frolet, Mark Leskovec, Maggie Zou, Linjun Yu, Alex Terry, Jamie Mitchell, George DiStefano, Jacob Cohen, Isabel Branas, Kun Bi, Juan Carlos Artolozaga. With thanks to Basak Akman, Brad Nathanson, Travis Nissen, Sophie Nichols, Gary Esposito, Lingzhe Lu, Jose Ibarra, Ellie Krause, Alexandre Mecattaf, Xiaoxue (Iris) Ma, Sarah Bujnowski, Mwanzaa Brown, Kun Chen, Alireza Shojakhani, Mark Yu-Chen Lien, Stephen Clond, Emma Boudreau, Zahid Alibhai, Ramses Gonzalez, Zelmira Rizo-Patron, Max Piersol, Leroy Patterson, Yue (Lancer) Gu, Chris Morse, Caroline O’Donnell, Lauren Lochry, John Lai
Special Thanks to: Martin Fields Miller, The Home Depot.
City: Ithaca
Country: United States

The Urchin Impossible Circus, designed by CODA, is a pavilion constructed from 500 borrowed plastic chairs, challenging the conventional use of everyday objects. By reorienting the chairs, their typical function as seating is subverted, emphasizing form over utility. Positioned to interact with the statue of AD White at Cornell University, the pavilion invites the seated figure into the playful, surreal space of the “impossible” circus. The chairs will be returned after the installation, highlighting the project’s focus on questioning usefulness and perception through James J. Gibson’s Theory of Affordances. CODA’s broader design philosophy emphasizes site-responsive, sustainable solutions that integrate innovative materials and dynamic interactions between architecture and users, reflecting a commitment to both function and desire.

Constructed from 500 borrowed plastic chairs, Urchin challenges the conventional role of everyday objects. It transforms the chairs from their usual function of sitting into a skin-like structure, where features such as legs, arms, and seats are perceived purely as forms—spikes, curves, and voids—rather than functional elements. This shift in orientation breaks their connection to the human body. The pavilion dips down to engage with the statue of AD White, inviting the seated figure of one of Cornell University’s founders to symbolically enter the “impossible” circus.

No chairs were damaged in the making of Urchin, and they will be returned to use afterward. Urchin explores the concept of usefulness versus uselessness through the creative manipulation of simple chairs, challenging our perception of the chairs themselves and their relationship to our bodies, components, and orientations. This exploration ties into James J. Gibson’s Theory of Affordances, which examines how we perceive the use of objects in his Ecological Approach to Visual Perception. The project seeks to provoke thought on the nature of usefulness and perception, from the scale of a single chair to the entire pavilion.

From city-scale projects to intricate details, CODA creates distinctive, site-responsive, and sustainable designs that balance function with desire. Their award-winning work is recognized for its innovative use of materials and dedication to fostering dynamic interactions between architecture and its users over time.

Since 2008, CODA has crafted innovative solutions across a diverse range of programs, including art installations, residential projects, religious and public buildings, furniture, and city planning. Despite this variety, all projects share a common approach: a thorough investigation of the user’s programmatic needs paired with a comprehensive analysis of the site’s potential, such as available materials, energy, and artisanal techniques. This methodology results in designs that are both novel and sustainable. CODA’s projects are often adaptable, existing in different states to respond to varying seasons or programmatic requirements.

CODA possesses in-house expertise in urban design, master planning, building design, and product design. The firm also collaborates with a diverse network of artists, fabricators, landscape designers, and engineers to enhance their projects.