Annotations cc: Amber Zhang

Amber Zhang, founder of NAKED SPACE, approaches design as a condition of gathering. Through shifting, soft topographies, her practice reclaims space as a field of possibility. Reflecting on form as a consequence of interaction, our conversation considers the autonomy of being together, and the contemporary relevance of collective encounter.

Anoe: Let’s begin with your background and how your collective, NAKED SPACE, came to be. How does the studio operate, and what led you to this kind of work?

Amber: My background is in interior design and ephemeral architecture. I’m from China, but living, studying, and working in the US shaped a huge part of my life. For the past four years, I’ve been based in Barcelona. I’ve worked across spatial design, production, curation, and event organization to discover what truly fascinated me. Eventually, I realized that what I enjoy most is the connection between people within a space, and exploring how environments can facilitate those relationships. The design patterns that emerge from my work mirror my own lifestyle. Our generation is constantly moving between places, languages, and forms of collaboration. I’ve had to learn how to adapt, build new relationships, and eventually let them go. This shaped the initial direction of NAKED SPACE. I’m less interested in permanence; I prefer things that are flexible, and adaptable.

AM: Did you intentionally seek out materials that yield this flexibility?

AZ: Inflatables weren't necessarily the plan from the beginning. We experimented with different mediums, and eventually realized that inflatables checked all our boxes. It’s such a playful medium, and allows the unexpected. You can only design participation up to a certain point; the rest progresses naturally. An inflatable doesn’t dictate what you should do or serve a specific function, so people interpret the space themselves, which is incredibly fun. Inflatables allow us to easily manipulate scale, expanding to fill a massive space or shrinking down to something small. I love the inherent contradiction of the material, and there’s a kind of uncertainty that people are drawn to.

AM: There is a distinct property to how air manipulates volume. You are able to rapidly occupy a vast scale, giving the intervention an immersive three-dimensionality. It’s an instinctual provocation to play. Having experienced your work at COLLECTIBLE, I noticed how much joy it inspires.

AZ: It evokes a kind of universal memory. It’s a generous space that invites you to stay and become part of it. It shifts the work from being an object to creating a condition. We are curating the environment. We aren't just presenting an object; we are building a universe for people to inhabit. When I design, I think about the behaviours I want to encourage.

AM: What has this practice revealed about your personal values, or what has it allowed you to confront?

AZ: It led me to think about presence. I always say that our work is an experience, not an object, yet the reality is that during our exhibitions, I was never truly there. I’d be anxious to ensure everything proceeded well that I remained an outsider to my own work. My intention now is to slow down and exist within the installations—to genuinely share the space with the people who inhabit it. The industry moves at a pace that easily pulls you away from yourself, but you have to intentionally protect your own ability to absorb the moment.

AM: In your approach there’s an affinity with public space or landscape design. Coordinating accessibility, density and dispersion. How did the name NAKED SPACE emerge?

AZ: Our very first project was a screening with friends. Instead of traditional seating, we built a bed for everyone to lie on together. It wasn't about the furniture; it was about the atmosphere, the shared experience. "Naked" represents vulnerability and reciprocity. "Space" is obvious. Together, the two words describe a state of openness to human connection.

Text: Anoe Melliou
Featured Projects, Design by NAKED SPACE:
Installation for Nike, in collaboration with Drop City, and Vasto Gallery. Photography by T Space Studio. 
Installation for Lacoste, in collaboration with Vasto Gallery; Photography by Cecilia Diaz Betz.
Installation for Nike, in collaboration with Vasto Gallery and Other Circle; Photography by Other Circle.
Installation for Project Lobster, in collaboration with Vasto Gallery; Photography by Cecilia Diaz Betz.
Installation for RMZ Festival 2024/2025; Photography by NAKED SPACE.