Hippocampus on a Drip: Spatial Design for NMTL's Literary Healing Exhibition

Challenge

The Taiwan Literature Base is a Japanese-era heritage building, which ruled out any construction that could damage the structure. Literary healing is also an abstract theme, and traditional literature exhibitions tend to feel distant, with visitors moving through quickly and little discussion carrying beyond the exhibition. Overcoming both constraints was the core challenge of this project.

Goal

NMTL wanted an exhibition design that combined the Japanese-era architecture with its lush outdoor grounds to translate themes like those who suffered came first and let the wound speak into an experience visitors could physically walk through, bringing literature closer to everyday life.

Approach

1. Spatial narratives grew directly out of exhibition themes like those who suffered came first and let the wound speak, turning text into zones visitors could walk through.
2. A modular, non-invasive construction method was used to build out the exhibition structures, keeping the heritage building intact and meeting cultural heritage preservation requirements.
3. Interactive design extended out into the outdoor grounds, working with existing elements like the air-raid shelter and birdsong, plus a mobile game that guided visitors through exploration.
4. Literary excerpts were presented through a small bites concept, paired with carefully designed display panels that lowered the barrier to entry so even visitors unfamiliar with literature could engage comfortably with the text.

Outcome

The project delivered a complete spatial narrative, exhibition build, and outdoor interactive extension for NMTL's Hippocampus on a Drip exhibition. Without touching the heritage structure, it translated the theme of literary healing into an immersive, walkable exhibition, closing the distance that literature exhibitions often carry.