The 'Totora Cube' project is an attempt to research the traditional practices of the Inca people through material praxis rather than obscure historical texts. Archquid, the self-titled "think-act tank" behind the Totora Cube project, has collaborated with the indigenous community of San Rafael de la Laguna, Ecuador, to create and display the various ways that that culture manipulates the totora plant.
Totora is a subspecies of the giant bulrush sedge, which is native to Ecuador. The plant's fibers have been used since pre-Inca times in a variety of different ways, and many of these traditional uses live on in the modern indigenous communities. Archquid's Totora Cube project creates a series of experimental cubes whose panels highlight the colors and materials that this Totora fiber can make.
Historical Material Case Studies
The 'Totora Cube' Project Investigates Incan Use of Totora Fibers
Trend Themes
1. Traditional Material Innovation - Exploring traditional practices to uncover innovative material applications.
2. Cultural Heritage Preservation - Utilizing historical knowledge to conserve and promote cultural traditions.
3. Collaborative Ethnographic Research - Working with indigenous communities to study and showcase their cultural practices.
Industry Implications
1. Textile and Fiber - Developing new textile products and materials through the application of traditional techniques.
2. Museum and Exhibition - Creating immersive and educational exhibition experiences that showcase cultural heritage.
3. Research and Education - Enhancing academic and practical understanding of traditional practices through collaborative research projects.