Client: By The People, Smithsonian

Overview

By The People is a five-day international festival in Washington DC showcasing the power of creativity to create connection. Jenny Sabin Studio was commissioned to create a lightweight knitted tubular structure to be draped across the interior of the historic 1879 Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building. LUX addresses the theme of “life” through its design process, which is informed and inspired by life through its adaptive architecture and transformative nature.

Goals

The concept is for a large canopy structure held in tension within the existing building structure that is composed of a gradient of knitted cells that emit light (glow) and transform the environment throughout the day. LUX is an experiment, taking risks through collaboration across disciplines to innovate architecture that is transformative, interactive, and socially engaging.