Neri Oxman and the Mediated Matter Group at MIT have debuted a captivating pavilion that highlights the ability of silkworms to "not only [act] as construction workers but also as designers." Given the global state of events due to COVID-19, the pavilion was debuted through a seven-minute-long movie online. Silk Pavilion II was the centerpiece of the Material Ecology exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
In Teolo, Italy, 17,532 silkworms were sourced for the project. The insects are moved into "a large robotic, loom-like jig" that periodically rotates in a clockwise motion that "forces the silkworms to lay evenly over the structure." The entire pavilion was woven in the span of 10 days. The process is believed to provide an alternative to the traditional harvesting of material from silkworms.
Silkworm-Spun Pavilions
Neri Oxman and the Mediated Matter Group Reveal a Striking Pavilion
Trend Themes
1. Biomaterial Pavilions - Exploring the use of biomaterials, such as silkworms, as a sustainable alternative for construction.
2. Robotic Weaving - Implementing large-scale robotic weaving to efficiently produce complex structures.
3. Mediated Architecture - Developing a collaborative process between nature and technology to create unique architectural designs.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Incorporating biomaterials and robotic weaving technology in constructing sustainable and innovative buildings.
2. Textile Manufacturing - Exploring the use of silkworms and other biomaterials in textile production with new technological advancements.
3. Agriculture - Collaborating with technology to develop sustainable alternatives to resource-intensive farming methods, such as traditional silkworm harvesting.