Danish architecture firm BIG has installed a hollowed wooden maze inside of Washington's National Building Museum. Visitors are invited to get lost in the concave labyrinth, which is located in the west court of the Museum's Great Hall. This shouldn't be too hard, if you consider that the Baltic birch plywood structure measures in at an impressive 18-square-feet.
Bjarke Ingels, the lead architect on the project, combined different historical maze styles to achieve the final design. His inspirations ranged from ancient Greek labyrinths to modern American corn mazes. Ingels explains, "The concept is simple: as you travel deeper into a maze, your path typically becomes more convoluted. What if we invert this scenario and create a maze that brings clarity and visual understanding upon reaching the heart of the labyrinth?"
The maze's perimeter height starts at five-and-a-half meters, which gradually scales down as visitors make their way to the center. Once you reach the middle, you're able to see your route out.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Architectural Mazes
- Incorporate historical maze styles into modern architectural designs to create interactive and visually stunning installations.
- Inverted Maze Experiences
- Explore the possibility of creating mazes that provide greater clarity and understanding as visitors travel closer to the center.
- Interactive Installations
- Design immersive installations that actively engage visitors and encourage active exploration.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Architecture
- Incorporate maze-like elements into building designs for unique and interactive visitor experiences.
- Tourism
- Create interactive installations in tourist destinations to drive visitor engagement and interest.
- Art
- Explore the intersection between architecture and art to create installations that provide immersive and interactive experiences for the public.
