Experimental design studio i/thee invites interaction with natural elements by using materials like mud, algae, and wood in imaginative ways. Across diverse projects, i/thee integrates softness and tactile elements into public installations, experimental shelters, and landscape pavilions. This unique approach asks architecture to listen and respond rather than control.
Studio founders invoke ‘cosentience,’ a philosophy connecting the animate and inanimate. This influences their designs with a gentle, sensory-rich approach. By allowing pavilions to mimic natural forms, they invite adults into childlike curiosity. Their work challenges traditional architectural norms.
Puddle Pavilion: Algae and gravity define a canopy
One striking example is the Puddle Pavilion on Mud Creek in Bondurant, Iowa. Utilizing algae-based bio-resin, i/thee created a free-form canopy directly on the ground. The resin flowed freely, forming uneven edges before solidifying into a translucent canopy. It captures the fluidity of water in mid-motion, offering both shade and reflection on sustainable building materials.
This pavilion, completed in 2025, showcases an innovative approach that skips traditional petroleum plastics and mold-intensive methods. Instead, the algae-based resin serves as a pointer towards sustainable architecture.
The Dining Room: Erosion integrates with public spaces
At Lake Petocka, i/thee’s project The Dining Room extends this philosophical approach through rammed earth. This ‘earthen pavilion’ consists of two weathered walls revealing integrated benches and tables. Described by ArchDaily, it transcends standard public infrastructure, embracing natural forces like weathering to create an inviting, aged space.
The use of soil and time creates a unique conversational space between nature and visitors, reflecting how civic environments can evolve rather than remain static.
ReEmber Playland: A dance of bodies and landscapes
i/thee’s playful side was fully embraced in ReEmber Playland in Amboy, California. Constructed from modular pieces for Teva’s ReEmber collection, the playground allowed participants to interact creatively with their environment. Set against the striking Amboy Salt Flats, the installation urged visitors to explore balance and scale.
This project moves beyond simple branding to encourage spontaneous interaction. It’s a clear example of how play can dissolve barriers and engage individuals with their environments.
Agg Hab: Paper as architectural foundation
Agg Hab takes a speculative approach to sustainable dwelling. Developed with Roundhouse Platform in Texas, this dwelling prototype uses papier-mâché crafted into dug-out earth molds. By using recycled paper and non-toxic adhesive, i/thee transforms what might be considered fragile into robust, eco-friendly structures.
This project reduces industrial fabrication’s impact by emphasizing hand-based processes and upcycled materials. Agg Hab offers a fresh perspective on how low-value materials can contribute to serious architectural discussion.
Peak-A-Boo: Celebrating music and memory in Woodstock
On the iconic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, i/thee erected Peak-A-Boo, a versatile pavilion of wood-laminate arches. This structure blends digital and artisanal influences, providing a flexible space for music and gatherings. Emphasizing community and cultural memory, it embodies connection without solidifying into permanence.
Peak-A-Boo continues i/thee’s tradition by merging the rhythmic geometry of its form with the site’s historical significance, embodying community vibes without imposing monumental aesthetics.
Source: designboom.com