Project Chamber
Date 2013
'Chamber' is a spherical capsule made predominately of industrial felt. From without, it is a soft polyhedron of felt cells, evoking simultaneously the rigid geodesic domes of Buckminster Fuller, and the supple symmetries of Robert Morris. Inside is a darkened anechoic chamber; the folded felt interior surface defines a soft room - space enough for 2 or 3 people - with deeply textured walls which inhibit visual and aural means of environmental engagement in favor of the tactile. The sphere is weighted at the bottom but untethered, rocking slightly with the movements of its occupants. This movement, limited within a fixed range, intensifies the inhabitants' disorientation with respect to the outside world, adding even gravity to the set of uncertain senses. The internal reorientation - the only possible orientation - relies on imminent, physical, tactile sensorial experience.
Design team: Joel Lamere, William O'Brien Jr., Daniela Covarrubias, Toshiro Ihara, Andrew Manto, Travis Williams, Dohyun Lee, Ali Irani, Cynthia Gunadi, Linda Yifei Zhang, Nicole Wang