pod inhabitable sculpture by lawrence lek

‘pod’ is an interactive, inhabitable sculpture designed by lawrence lek

the ‘pod‘ is an inhabitable sculpture by german-born, london-based artist lawrence lek, designed to investigate the way individuals relate to an object that appears simultaneously both natural and artificial. the modular design contrasts a rigid and technical structure, held stable by the balancing tensions of its interacting components, with the warmer and more natural materials of canvas and wood.

while lek notes that the form of the pod ‘makes it seem like an oversized pet’, the sculpture is characterized by a carefully designed modular structure. a kit of bent plywood parts forms the piece’s exoskeleton, around which rubber muscles and a stretched canvas skin provide stability through tension. in a visual indication of the interactivity of the structure, an integrated proximity sensor causes concealed interior lights to pulse slowly as visitors use and engage with the sculpture

each pod can be flat packed for transportation and quickly assembled by two people. the connection joints of the pods allow several of them to be connected together into a larger urban playground. lek notes that the sculpture is part of his continuing research into the effect of technology on inhabitable space, a project he is pursuing as the 2012 designer in residence at london’s design museum.

interior view, illuminated

exterior view

detail of stretched canvas skin on the plywood skeleton

bent plywood parts form the structure of the ‘pod’, with tension provided by rubber muscles

looking up from within

structural diagram of a single ‘pod’

group elevation

render of group assemblage of ‘pods’

the unit can be flatpacked for simple transport and assembly