Over twenty feet long, eight feet wide, and four feet high: the self-supporting papier-mâché structure, designed by the i/thee studio, has the distinction of being one of the largest in the world. The construction process began with the excavation of two mirrored, convex-concave holes four and a half feet deep
Poured paper mache for the Agg Hab, the world's largest eco-dwelling prototype
The Agg Hab, or Aggregate Habitat, is a prototype eco-dome consisting of poured strips of paper-mâché in the shape of a dome covering holes carved into the ground
- #Nouvelle construction>
- #Espace d'exposition / Stand>
- #Enduit>
- #Architectures>
- #Architecture>
Then the holes were cast with multiple layers of an organic papier-mâché mixture, composed of various recycled papers and non-toxic glues. The casts, removed from their respective holes, were then turned upside down and suspended over the adjacent formwork, creating a paraboloid cap to enclose the structure
The negative and positive expressions of a series of excavated forms assume a reciprocal relationship to create multiple habitable spaces. The curved openings allow light to filter in and reflect off the glossy paper, creating an almost ecclesiastical, sub-lunar environment
As users move through the various spaces, they find themselves in an almost primordial experience, as if they were gestating in the womb of Mother Earth or hiding in the belly of a whale just below the ocean's surface
Gallery
Photo credits
Top image, content and gallery images: Neal Lucas Hitch