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Project Name

[SOUL]arium

Firm:

Awards Category

Academic Project

Project Summary

Consisting of 1000 linear feet and encompassing nearly 3 square acres in the sand dunes of the Mojave Desert, [SOUL]ARIUM uses the yearly solar cycle that shrinks and grows the extension of our souls: our shadows. Utilizing the Fibonacci spiral naturally occurring in nature, the path leads you to its center where a steel spiral rises into the air, aiming at the sun and creating a perfect spiral pattern at the center during the summer solstice. At this location, in this point in time, your shadow is at its smallest. Traveling from the center and continuing outwards, you reach a 20ft high look-out that allows the user to grow in size with the winter solstice sunset and in this point in time your shadow extends far beyond the eye can see.

Project Narrative

The fingerprints identifying each and every one of us. The fossils existing millions of years before us. The animals surrounding us. The storms and winds pouring over us. The galaxy carrying us. Our Earth’s souls are swirling at scales both large and small, in our past and in our present. This land art piece aims to embody this natural phenomenon and celebrate it through a year-long journey with our sun. [SOUL]ARIUM is a homage to the desert that raised me. Here, the raw beauty of the Mojave is not just a backdrop, but a central character in the narrative of space and structure. My desire to create within this arid wilderness stems from a bond that encircles all of those I know in my community. Land art has taught me to see the desert as a living gallery, where mother nature crafts her own masterpieces. I aim to extend this gallery with [SOUL]ARIUM. The design is a tribute to this interactive dance between human creation and wild nature, a place where art and the desert environment spiral together. I come from a city where the glimmering lights in the sky come from the buildings, not the stars. But travel just a few hours out into the desert, and the curtains open to the vast expanse of the celestial lights surrounding us.

Sustainable Design & Materials

The design's sustainability stems from its minimal environmental impact. By using only materials native to the site, such as bermed earth and compacted gravel, the installation introduces no foreign elements that could disrupt local ecosystems. Additionally, the project requires no water or energy inputs, preserving the natural resources of the area. The construction techniques employed are designed to allow the land to gradually reassimilate the materials back into the environment over time. This approach ensures that we are not permanently altering the landscape but are instead temporarily reshaping it in a way that remains in harmony with its original state. Furthermore, by avoiding any disruptions to the habitats of local wildlife, the project maintains ecological continuity.

Project Stats

Square Feet

130680

Green Building Designation(s)

Date of Completion

Spring 2024

Project Location

Mojave Desert

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