US architecture studio SHoP have announced they will create one of the world’s largest 3D public structures for the Design Miami festival in November.
The arching piece, called Flotsam & Jetsom, will create a 1,780sq ft space at the gateway to Miami’s exhibition halls. It is being created by the architects as a response to their triumph in the 2016 Design Miami Visionary Award.
In a statement, they said: “This work exists at the intersection of Miami's celebrated spirit of play, represented by a relocated landscape that mimics the beach, but also the city's emergent function as a center for creative visioning and technological discovery.”
Printing and construction firm Branch Technology and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are collaborating on the project, which will print the structure using a biodegradable bamboo medium. An on-site bar will be the largest 3D object ever individually printed.
After the festival, Flotsam & Jetsam will be moved to the Miami Design District's Jungle Plaza, where it will house an outdoor cultural program in partnership with Miami's Institute of Contemporary Art.