‘black narcissus by gabriel esquivel and david hernandez m. in bryan, texas all images courtesy gabriel esquivel

professor of architecture at texas a&m university gabriel esquivel in collaboration with david hernandez m. has completed ‘black narcissus’, an indoor installation at la riviera restaurant in bryan, texas. consisting of 1,000 pieces that come together to create a three-dimensional surface, the project is an exercise in combining parametrically designed forms with ornamentation.

stretching from one side of the rectangular space to the other, the crawling intervention takes note of the room’s air flow to form a tubular structure that seemingly melts on to the adjoining walls. the reflective panels of the armature reference the notion of ‘narcissism’ found in the name, encouraging self-contemplation from the viewers. created with individually-cut pieces, an arrangement of jewel-like flowers lends the installation the atmosphere of a garden. 

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus detail view of flowers

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus extending above the room

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus 3d rendering

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus pieces cut for installation

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus conifer pieces

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus air flow diagram

gabriel esquivel + david hernandez m: black narcissus (left) plan (right) sections

project info:

project manager: erin templeton team: dylan weiser, arnold ghil, miaomiao xiao, catlan fearon, hugo ochoa, megan arrington, le phuc