Innovative architecture and design company Emerging Objectshas created a pavilion, called Saltygloo, using 3D-printing technology and salt harvested from the San Francisco Bay area. Saltygloo is the result of an architectural experiment in producing large, lightweight structures. The pavilion's shell is constructed using 336 3D salt pieces that are held together by flexible aluminum rods. Each salt block recalls the form of crystalline salt molecules and expresses the way the molecules fall when randomly rotated and aggregated, making each piece of the pavilion unique. The salt blocks are also translucent, which allows natural light to permeate the pavilion.
The structure is lightweight, so it is easy to move and can be readily disassembled. The pavilion is at once firm and flexible, combining cutting edge technology with time-tested practical use.
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[via PSFK]
