The I/Thee Puddle Pavilion Casts a Floating Canopy from Algae Resin
Amy Duong — August 23, 2025 — Art & Design
References: checkerspot & ithee.design
I/Thee created the Puddle Pavilion casts a floating canopy from algae resin by allowing the material to take its own shape on the ground. Built above Mud Creek in Bondurant, Iowa, the installation by design collective I/Thee, led by Neal Lucas Hitch, uses algae-based bio resin to create a translucent canopy shaped by gravity, wind, and surface tension. Once cured, the resin sheet was lifted onto slim steel columns, forming a hovering surface that resembles a frozen splash or a river suspended in the air.
The pavilion demonstrates algae-based bio resin as a biodegradable and low-carbon alternative to plastics. It reflects I/Thee’s approach to Action Architecture, where making becomes performance and material behavior drives form. Positioned at the entrance to Eagle Park, the Puddle Pavilion functions as both a shaded resting place and an exploration of sustainable architectural experimentation.
Image Credit: Dug Rosse
The pavilion demonstrates algae-based bio resin as a biodegradable and low-carbon alternative to plastics. It reflects I/Thee’s approach to Action Architecture, where making becomes performance and material behavior drives form. Positioned at the entrance to Eagle Park, the Puddle Pavilion functions as both a shaded resting place and an exploration of sustainable architectural experimentation.
Image Credit: Dug Rosse
Trend Themes
1. Algae-based Materials - The use of algae-based bio resin is emerging as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, prioritizing environmental considerations in material innovation.
2. Performance-driven Architecture - Architecture shaped by natural forces such as gravity and wind highlights a shift towards structures defined by material behavior and site-specific conditions.
3. Biodegradable Design - Biodegradable materials in design projects signal a move towards environmentally responsible construction with reduced carbon footprints.
Industry Implications
1. Sustainable Architecture - This industry is increasingly exploring eco-friendly materials and techniques, pushing the boundaries of conventional building practices.
2. Biomaterials Manufacturing - Innovations in biomaterials offer new solutions for creating durable yet environmentally conscious products across various applications.
3. Urban Placemaking - Urban spaces are being reimagined with installations that align aesthetic innovation with ecological sustainability to enhance public environments.
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