As part of the National Building Museum’s Summer Block Party, Studio Gang created an installation in the Great Hall called Hive . See above picture. Note the human for scale.
Hive is an interactive series of spaces built exclusively out of lightweight and recyclable paper tubes – apparently 2,700 of them. The tubes have a polished silver exterior and bright magenta interior (love that part), and vary in size from several inches to over 10 feet. They are notched together to create a self-supporting structure.
The installation is beautiful in its own right – especially against the museum’s 19th century interior – but the idea is that each “sound chamber” within the Hive has different acoustic properties. The small chambers create a more intimate setting. And the main chamber is more grand and public. Think group yoga class or concert.
For more photos of Hive, click here . Below is also a time-lapse of the Hive’s construction. If you can’t see it, click here . (Don’t worry about turning on your sound.)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvJV7m0JOF0?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Image: Tim Schenck