The installation "Einfach cool" by Jochen Lam, Alina Wagner (Transsolar) and Bilge Kobas (Technical University of Munich), which is on display in the exhibition "Uncanny Shifts" (Unheimliche Verschiebungen) by Urbane Künste Ruhr as part of Ruhrtriennale 2026 at St. Petri Church in Dortmund, was featured in two recent video reports.
In an interview produced by Urbane Künste Ruhr, Jochen Lam and Alina Wagner discuss the ideas behind the installation. At its center is a towering pile of discarded outdoor air-conditioning units, presented like a relic from a future past. Opposite the pile stands a large fan whose breeze can be felt directly by visitors as they move through the space.
The installation questions our growing reliance on air conditioning as a response to rising temperatures. The stack of outdoor units points to a possible future urban landscape in which mechanical cooling has become the dominant response to the climate crisis. At the same time, the work highlights the associated consequences: air-conditioning systems consume energy, generate noise, and release heat into the outdoor environment, intensifying urban heat and creating a cycle that drives even greater demand for cooling.
“Simply Cool” advocates a broader understanding of thermal comfort. Beyond mechanical systems, there are many passive strategies for coping with heat. Public buildings such as churches, for example, can serve as accessible cooling refuges during periods of extreme heat without further heating the surrounding urban environment.
The cultural magazine Westart, produced by the German public broadcaster WDR, also features “Uncanny Shifts” and visits the installation at St. Petri Church. In the report, Jochen Lam reflects on the long-term consequences of increasing dependence on air-conditioning systems and argues for alternative approaches such as night-time ventilation, air movement through fans, and climate-responsive architecture. Addressing the challenges of climate change, he emphasizes the need for a shift in planning and building practices, as well as the courage to rethink how buildings are designed to create high-quality spaces for everyone.
Together, the two features offer insights into the development and message of “Simply Cool” and demonstrate how artistic, architectural, and climate-related perspectives can come together to inspire new ways of thinking about urban heat and climate adaptation.
The videos are available here:
Interview by Urbane Künste Ruhr with Jochen Lam and Alina Wagner
Westart feature on the exhibition “Unheimliche Verschiebungen” (Available until 29.08.2028)