REINVENTING THE TENT

The tent typology is symbolic of housing and shelter for the nomadic life, especially in specific regions of Central Asia. These tents are held up using handspun yak wool rope and a limited number of wooden poles and are easy to assemble and light to transport.

New York-based design studio Architensions has reimagined the tent typology, for Greenpoint Open Studios 2017, with a study in simple assembly of bamboo poles that serve to maintain the idea of an easy and fast aggregation of elements, while at the same time rethinking the protective layer of the ‘camp’ that provides shelter from the rain and the sun.

The shelter layer of the design has treated of intermediate material through which the user will relate to their surroundings, whether it is a courtyard in an urban environment or other public spaces within our cities. In the design, this layer offers different ways of seeing or interacting with reality. A dichroic film produced by 3M has been applied on a vinyl sheet to the outer layer of the canopy, creating a multicoloured effect.

This newly made composite panel provides protection from the rain and also functions as a shading device while producing a wide range of colourful effects and reflections resulting from its optical properties. The film is able to filter 97% of the UV radiation from the sun, making it perfect for hot summer conditions.

The word dichroic is derived from the Greek Dikhroos, meaning two-colored, and relates to any optical device that can split a beam of light into two beams with differing wavelengths, adding a dynamic layer to the iridescent surfaces, which change color depending on a person’s position relative to the light angels and transforming the tent in a chromatic space. The user will be able to experience many different conditions, in accordance with the change of light during the day or its relative position within the space or its surroundings. Seeing through a chromatic space will offer the possibility of revealing the complementary colours of reality.

The basic 8ft x 8ft (2.4 x 2.4m) modular structure is designed with a faceted roof, as a strategy to eliminate rainwater. Bamboo was a preferred material for the poles as it is a ‘green’ construction material and it allows for simple peg and ties joints, and can easily fit into custom 3D-printed joints. The module allows for different configurations and modular assembly that can cater to the individual needs of the function and the type of gathering.

‘Dikhroos’, with its powerful natural colour phenomena, will establish a strong link between public spaces and its visitors.