Cell Mutation

Personal Info

Name: Polina Stepanova

Nationality: Russian

Institution / Company: Columbia University in the City of New York

Instagram: @realpolya

Facebook: @realpolya

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/realpolya

-HONOURABLE MENTION of Non Architecture Award 2022 Competition | Category: Aspatial & Virtual

A nucleus and a membrane in Cell Mutation project depict parts of a normal functioning cell until the nucleus transforms into an aggressive matter. The interior material starts to drive the metamorphosis  of the whole cell – it intends to escape and overtake the surrounding tissues.

This project is a symbolic exploration of a symbiotic relationship between the interior and exterior. We often pay attention to the facade or judge the book by its cover but we may underestimate the power and the content that is stored within. Imaginative component behind this project personifies a cancer cell and illustrates how a single cell can start overtaking the whole system. 

The project dives into multiple phases and variations of cell mutation and progressively shows the complete and unimaginable consequence of altering the entire system cell by cell. 

Cell Mutation was accomplished during Architect Scripta Error Grid workshop. 

 Project Type:

Micro-scale cell environment depiction

Jury Comments

– A plus B

This project responds to the call’s intent by exploring biological and spatial relationships in a dystopian way. The cellular metamorphosis and the progressive degradation of matter and the entire life system is a metaphor for the symbiotic relationships between humans, architecture and the environment, in which every action is interconnected and can degenerate into a dystopian world.