The amazing 3D-printed architectural installation, envisioned as a place for contemplation, was designed by Smith Allen Studio, as part of the Project 387 . The innovative structure consists of assembled 3D-printed bricks, which were mounted somewhere in the very heart of a 150-acre redwood forest, in California. “Made of over 500 unique individually printed parts, the structure is assembled though a paneled snap fit connection, merging individual components into a monolithic aggregation.” As a curiosity, it took 10,800 hours to print the components, but the entire structure was assembled in four days.
Site-responsive and with components made of a plant-based PLA bio-plastic, the Echoviren pavilion, for this is the installation’s name, “merges architecture, art and technology to explore the dialectic between man, machine and nature.” With sustainability and the care towards nature in minds, the designers built the igloo-like pavilion to serve as a relaxation spot, helping you explore the surrounding nature, looking through a different spectrum. Quite impressive (from several points of view), the installation looks amazing and inspiring, especially at night time. According to the designers responsible with this project, Echoviren will decompose naturally in about 30-50 years.
