Meow In Light

Stray cats often wander around and scare pedestrians. Their behaviour is unpredictable and they may carry bacteria and diseases on their bodies. They have a hunting nature and are attracted to points of light. They do not have adequate food and water as they have no owner and no regular shelter. But there are many cat lovers who like to feed them.In modern cities, the number of stray cats is gradually increasing, becoming an important issue in urban life. Especially in old town like the site – Hehua Tang – in which stray cats have their own territories. In old towns, public lighting facilities are not perfect and most of the neighbourhoods do not have street lights, making it inconvenient for residents to move around at night. The night activities of stray cats are also likely to frighten the residents.We have placed ‘light walls’ on the outside of two walls of the original building and provided shelter for the cats to rest, play and eat. The “light wall” incorporates human scale in its profile, dividing the wall into three vertical sections: high – for cats to rest; medium – for humans and cats to interact; and low – for cats to enter. The wall also brings public night lighting to the streets of the old town so that residents are not easily frightened by stray cats at night. In addition, the wall sticking out of the eaves allows cats to enter through the roof and also allows rainwater to drain into the structural body of the installation – the steel pipe – in an organised manner.