biodegradable hy-fi by the living opens at MoMA PS1

biodegradable hy-fi by the living opens at MoMA PS1
photo by kris graves
all images courtesy of MoMA PS1

‘hy-fi’, a temporary outdoor pavilion by new york-based practice the living, has opened at MoMA PS1. the design was chosen earlier this year as the winner of the institution’s young architects program, now in its 15th year. the urban structure will form the centerpiece of the warm up summer music series, which begins on june 28, and will remain open throughout the summer until september, 7th 2014.

the design was chosen earlier this year as the winner of the institution’s young architects program
photo by kris graves

the project comprises a circular tower of organic and reflective bricks made from a biodegradable material, conceived by the living’s principle david benjamin. using a pioneering method of bio-design, the structure is formed entirely of organic matter, integrating biological technologies alongside advanced computer-based engineering. through diverting the natural carbon cycle, the scheme requires no energy, and produces zero carbon emissions. the organic blocks are manufactured through a combination of discarded corn stalks and specially developed living root-like structures from mushrooms.

the project comprises a circular tower of organic and reflective bricks
photo by kris graves

the reflective bricks are produced through the custom-forming of a mirror film devised by 3M. the organic blocks are located at the bottom of the design and the reflective bricks positioned at the top, casting light inside the pavilion. the installation provides guests with shade, seating and water, working within guidelines that promote sustainability and recycling.

using a pioneering method of bio-design, the structure is formed entirely of organic matter
photo by kris graves

the other finalists for the 2014 MoMA PS1 young architects program were as follows: collective-LOK (jon lott, william o’brien jr., and michael kubo), LAMAS (wei-han vivian lee and james macgillivray), pita + bloom (florencia pita and jackilin hah bloom), and fake industries architectural agonism with MAIO (cristina goberna and urtzi grau).

see designboom‘s previous coverage of the project during its concept phase here.

through diverting the natural carbon cycle, the scheme requires no energy, and produces zero carbon emissions
photo by kris graves

the organic blocks are manufactured through a combination of discarded corn stalks
photo by kris graves

light is cast inside the temporary pavilion
photo by kris graves

the organic blocks are located at the bottom of the design and the reflective bricks positioned at the top
photo by kris graves

the structure remains open throughout the summer until september, 7th 2014
photo by kris graves

project info:

project by: the living
principal: david benjamin
project lead: danil nagy
design team: john locke, damon lau, nathan smith, ray wang, jim stoddart, christo logan, dan taeyoung lee, junhee cho, john becker, joe brennan, steven tsai, george valdes, adrian von der osten
video directed and produced by: brooklyn digital foundry
branding collaborator: bruce mau design
organic material collaborator: ecovative design
daylight material collaborator: 3M
natural color collaborators: shabd simon-alexander and audrey louisere
structural engineer: arup
environmental engineer: atelier ten
salvaged material and compost collaborator: build it green!
software collaborator: autodesk dynamo
landscape collaborator: SCAPE landscape architecture
accelerated aging tests: advanced metal coatings incorporated
fabrication: associated fabrication
model collaborator: leeLABstudio