Renowned architect Thomas Heatherwick has selected 24 prominent designers and architects, including Kengo Kuma and Associates, MAD Architects, Kéré Architecture, and fashion designer Stella McCartney, to create an ambitious public art installation called "Walls of Public Life" for the upcoming Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism.

The installation will feature 24 individual wall sections, each measuring 2.4 by 4.8 meters, designed to challenge conventional building facades and inspire emotional responses from the public. These walls will be displayed at Songhyeon Green Plaza in Seoul, alongside a separate 90-meter-long twisted wall decorated with text and images.

As the general director of this year's Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, Heatherwick explained the project's mission: "These amazing Walls of Public Life are a giant, joyful clue that the outsides of everyday buildings could be so much better. I want the public to take them as a real challenge to the bland, soulless surfaces of buildings that normally get imposed on us all."

Heatherwick further emphasized his vision for urban transformation: "And I want developers to see the huge variety of walls and think, why couldn't some of that apply to a building I am working on? Why stick with what we've got, when something like this could transform our experience of living in cities?"

The diverse range of materials and approaches showcases innovative architectural thinking. South Korean studio Nameless Architecture is creating a wall from stone and broken brick, while Pritzker Prize winner Diébédo Francis Kéré is constructing a communal structure made from Korean pine. In a unique live demonstration, Burkina Faso village artisans will construct one wall in real-time during the exhibition.

Kéré explained his conceptual approach: "I imagined walls not as barriers but as bridges. One wall will be crafted from Korean pine, a material rich in local history and symbolism. The other will draw from the building traditions of Tiébélé, interpreted through Korean clay. Together, these two walls speak to a shared human story, reminding us that architecture is rooted in connection and community."

The walls will incorporate unconventional materials including mushroom and resin, while experimenting with various colors and textures to evoke emotional responses from passersby. Moreless Architects' contribution will feature a distinctive balcony element integrated into their facade design.

Songhyeon Green Plaza, serving as the geographic center of the biennale, will also house the massive "Humanise Wall" installation. This four-story-high, 90-meter-long structure has been specifically designed to provoke public conversation about how buildings affect human emotions and experiences.

Chang-su Lim, director general of the future urban space planning bureau of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, praised the initiative: "The Walls of Public Life show how architecture can touch people's emotions and change the face of a city. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will continue to support the development of warm and emotionally resonant public architecture that is open and inclusive to all."

The complete roster of architectural teams commissioned for the Wall of Life includes A Co Lab, Anupama Kundoo Architects, Bureau de Change, HawkinsBrown, Kengo Kuma and Associates, Kéré Architecture, MAD Architects, Moreless Architects, Nameless Architecture, Ronald Rael, SOSU Architects, Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, and YOAP Architects.

Beyond architecture firms, the project brings together an eclectic mix of creative professionals. Designers Anomalia, fashion icon Ozwald Boateng, Stella McCartney, and jewelry designer Stephen Webster will contribute their unique perspectives. Artists Bapossan Alempoua Asseta Idogo and Yinka Shonibare will add artistic elements, while engineering firm Arup provides technical expertise.

The collaboration extends to manufacturers including Hankuk Carbon and Hyundai Motor Company, celebrity chef Edward Lee, and the Korean Furniture Museum, demonstrating the project's interdisciplinary approach to reimagining public spaces.

This initiative aligns with Heatherwick's broader "Humanise" campaign, which challenges what he describes as architecture's dismissive attitude toward public engagement. In recent interviews, Heatherwick has criticized the architectural establishment, stating that "the tone in architecture is that the public is ignorant."

The Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism will run from September 26 through November 18, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea. The event promises to showcase how innovative design thinking can transform urban environments and create more emotionally engaging public spaces.

The Walls of Public Life installation represents a significant experiment in public architecture, challenging developers, architects, and city planners to reconsider how building surfaces can contribute to urban vitality and human well-being. By bringing together diverse international talents and unconventional materials, the project aims to demonstrate that architecture can be both functionally effective and emotionally resonant.