NEOCON | MATERIAL ART SCULPTURE | Baltimore, Md

INEFFICIENCIES & OPPORTUNITIES...A Sculptural Statement on Material Responsibility

In colloboration with Gensler

Recipient of the SEGD Honor Award

The Spark: 

This project began with a single, provocative idea: to confront the design community with the physical reality of waste and consumption. As designers, we know every decision has an impact. We wanted to create an installation that was not just an object to be seen, but an immersive space that would force a conversation about the materials we use and discard, and our responsibility to rethink the way we construct our world.

From Digital to Dust: 

The material we chose was the soul of the project: massive, 1,500-pound bales of shredded, recycled paper—a material paused in a state of transition. We didn't design a form and then choose a material; we let the raw, textural quality of the bales themselves dictate the design. Our process was entirely hands-on. We directed the placement of these monumental blocks of paper to carve out a meandering, maze-like path. The bales became the walls, the circulation, and the very essence of the space.

The Human Touch: 

The installation came to life through the interplay of this raw, tactile material with ephemeral projections of light and sound. We used video projectors to cast images of nature and data onto the rough, shredded surfaces of the paper walls and speakers to explore the sound attenuation properties of the material. This juxtaposition—the physical weight of the recycled material and the ethereal glow of the projected light & sound —created a powerful and contemplative experience. It was a space that felt both monumental and deeply human.

The Lasting Impression: 

NEOCON was more than an installation; it was an experience and a question posed in physical form. The project successfully used the raw power of a single, humble material to create a space that was both beautiful and thought-provoking. It served as a powerful reminder of our FADE philosophy in action: that by focusing on Fabrication and the inherent qualities of materials, we can create architectural experiences that are not only seen, but deeply felt.

We create powerful installations that challenge how we see materials. Our process focuses on creating an experience, not just a structure. Contact us to discuss your project.