ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

Snarkitecture installation recreates beach experience at Washington museum

by Jason Holland | 09 Jun 2015

A beach made from a mishmash of construction materials and an ocean comprised of 750,000 recyclable plastic balls is being created in the heart of Washington, D.C.

Brooklyn-based design studio Snarkitecture has created the 10,000sq ft (929sq m) interactive architectural exhibit – the BEACH – for the National Building Museum. It follows in the footsteps of a life-sized maze designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, which was installed in the museum’s Great Hall last summer.

The BEACH will be built out of construction materials including scaffolding, wooden panels, and perforated mesh, all clad in stark white to be consistent with Snarkitecture's aesthetic, while monochromatic beach chairs and umbrellas will line the 50ft (15m) wide “shoreline”.

The translucent plastic balls will form an “ocean” for visitors to swim in, which culminates in a mirrored wall that creates a seemingly infinite reflected expanse.

“We see the commission as an exciting opportunity to create an architectural installation that reimagines the qualities and possibilities of material, encourages exploration and interaction with one’s surroundings, and offers an unexpected and memorable landscape for visitors to relax and socialise within,” said Alex Mustonen, co-founder of Snarkitecture.

Scheduled to open on 4 July and running to 7 September, a crowd-funding campaign has been set up to help construct the BEACH. Rewards include the chance to have your name written on one of the balls. Already nearly halfway towards a US$10,000 (€8,883, £6,545) goal, the project page can be viewed here.

Related stories
11 Jul 2014

Lost and Found; BIG unveils maze at The National Building Museum, US

A beach made from a mishmash of construction materials and an ocean comprised of 750,000 recyclable plastic balls is being created in the heart of Washington, D.C. Brooklyn-based design studio Snarkitecture has created the 10,000sq ft (929sq m) interactive architectural exhibit – the BEACH – for the National Building Museum. It follows in the footsteps of a life-sized maze designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, which was installed in the museum’s
CLD,VAT,HAM,AAC,ARC,DES
The 10,000sq ft BEACH uses a variety of materials and will be open until 7 September / Snarkitecture
More news
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7751     
 
 
 
News stories: 1 - 30 of 7751     
 
 
 
company profile
Company profile: Terres d' Afrique
Dr Stephan Helary created the company 10 years ago. He is committed to demonstrating the power of pure African botanicals and to partnering ethically with African producers.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
The Healthy New Towns have bike trails, bike lockers and cycle to school routes
"The Healthy New Towns initiative aims to design out ‘obesogenic environments’ and design in health and wellbeing"

The UK government is building 10 new towns based on health, with wellbeing incorporated from the ground up. Stu Robarts investigates

Beacher visited several Zaha Hadid buildings for design inspiration
"I fell in love with Zaha Hadid"

Black Panther set designer Hannah Beachler

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
features
Features include hiking trails, community gardens, a pavilion and fire circle amphitheatre
"If you look at the amount of money we spend on healthcare in the US, and the amount of disease, we have you’ll understand why a lot of folks are starting to look for alternatives - Steve Nygren, Founder, Serenbe"

The US wellness communities providing a new model for living

CLAD people: Asif Din
Din has worked on a range of sustainability-focused projects
"It’s imperative the architecture profession takes a proactive approach to tackling the realities of climate change"

Perkins+Will’s new sustainability director

The team worked eight hour days with 40 per cent oxygen during the four month windows the mountain allowed
"Heat and oxygen levels are adjusted by sensors in response to the number of people inside and their body temperature"

Designing a climbers’ refuge on Mont Blanc was anything but straightforward, but for Groupe H’s Nikolai Bersenev the challenges were what made the project so memorable

features
Lund has worked as a designer for Soho House since 2014. She co-led the design of The Ned
"My favourite part of the building is the original bank vault, in the belly of the building. It once stored gold bullion deposits of £335m"

On the challenges of creating The Ned

Mary Celeste Beall is the owner of Blackberry Mountain and Blackberry Farm
"Sam was such a champion for the team, and my goal is simply to carry that same torch"

As Blackberry Mountain resort opens in Tennessee, we find out why the project is a deeply personal one for owner Mary Celeste Beall

The Occitanie Tower
Daniel Libeskind has designed a number of public spaces that deal with difficult or painful historical events
"Architecture can only thrive in a democratic environment"

The Polish-American architect on how his buildings explore memory and identity

cladkit product news
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
cladkit product news
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
cladkit product news
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Fabio Alemanno Design uses elegant semi-precious stones to create memorable spa experiences
Alemanno believes the stones are well-placed in the spa environment thanks to their capacity to positively support physical and mental health
Megan Whitby
Fabio Alemanno Design has expanded its collection with semi-precious stones to enhance spas, wellness facilities, hotels and private residences. The ...
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
x
Sign up with CLAD for regular news updates
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo