Circa Diem in Seoul

Studio/tutors : Marilyne Andersen (EPFL), Mark Pauly (EPFL), Javier Fernández Contreras (HEAD), Florin Isvoranu (EPFL)

HEAD Assistant : Alice Proux

EPFL Assistant : Megan Danell

* conducted together with students of HEAD-Genève’s Bachelor in Interior Architecture

Circa Diem is an immersive installation presented at the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2021, developed in collaboration by EPFL and HEAD – Genève. The project explores the impact of daily light exposure on our biological rhythms and overall well-being, particularly in dense urban or underground environments. It invites visitors to reflect on how architecture can reconnect us to the natural day-night cycle in the context of contemporary city life.

Circa Diem — from the Latin “about one day” — offers a sensory experience of time through four key moments: morning, midday, evening, and night. The installation takes the shape of a cylindrical pavilion, where visitors are immersed in a dynamic choreography of light, sound, color, and image.

Developed during a collaborative workshop between EPFL and HEAD – Genève, the project highlights how urban density can limit access to natural light, affecting our circadian rhythms and neurophysiology.

After its first showing at the Seoul Biennale (“CROSSROADS: Building the Resilient”), the installation was re-exhibited in Lausanne at the EPFL Pavilions in 2023.

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