For Chinook Blast 2021 + 2022

2020 was characterized by many as a very unusual year. In addition to the concern associated with a global pandemic sickening and killing masses of people, we experienced quarantine lifestyles of staying home and not travelling anywhere. Masks, plexiglass barriers, and social distancing were all key elements of 2020. When it comes to winter, this is compounded with the fact it is too cold outside to do safe outdoor activities. Working with my partner Madisen Killingsworth, we designed an outdoor pavilion that would provide a refuge from the cold while promoting visual interest and vibrancy.

The Nook is an art installation designed to celebrate dynamism and activity in the dark times of winter and social distancing. The installation plays on the prevalence of plexiglass, and adds visual interest to the dark winter evenings with a motion-activated lighting system. The project utilizes a grid-shell structure designed in Grasshopper, and is weighted by a CNC-milled OSB base for stability. The skin is made of hundreds of thin plexiglass that is not only an ode to the pandemic, but also allows light to reflect off of it and to see people on either side of the installation. The entire installation is designed and assembled in parts that can be assembled and disassembled with ease. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our lives; The Nook brings light and dynamism based on the movement of people at a safe distance.

Completed in collaboration with Mauricio Soto Rubio, Madisen Killingsworth