STUDIO ELKA

CYRUS FRONING
EXPERIMENTAL SPATIAL DESIGNER

  cyrusfroning@gmail.com
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PILGRIMAGE  Eco- Research Lab: Summer 2023

Pilgrimage is a collection of animalistic structures in Joshua Tree National Park. This project is about creating a place of spiritual and physical refuge utilizing the biology of the desert for its construction and form. Pilgrimage is intended to encourage the personal and physical journey and enhance the experience of Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave.
While blending seamlessly into the environment, the structure is strategically positioned to serve as a lighthouse in the desert, a beacon for travelers. This design element is not just about aesthetics but about ensuring that visitors feel guided and safe in the vast expanse of the desert.  The structure stands on four legs to reduce the impact on the environment, while the line of action creates a forward motion. It is the illusion of life that makes the structure feel alive.

Low Impact StructureCommunity IntegrationSustainable FacadeThe lattace structure is built on sit and able to be transported by foot. It is supported by 4 large steel legs that lift the structure off the ground.  The small cement foundations are the only perment conection the structure has, limiting the impact he construction has on the environment.The Mojave community in towns like yucca valley are desert gavens for artists and creatives. the interior spaces provide a stage for rotating community art and information turning joshua tree into more then a park but a community spotlight as well.the design of the facade is inspired by the indiginous architecture of joshua tree, and the thatch roofing found aroudn the world. Using the invasive grass that is annually removed from the park the facade creates a unique heat barrier utilizing a thrown away inavasive plant.