Although when grouped around a central building, the 12 freestanding structures may appear massive, the delicacy and transparency of the mesh fabric that encloses all 12 dramatically reduces the overall visual weightiness.
Located in León, Mexico, the Environmental Education Center is inspired by the wings of a dragonfly, its rhomboid-like geometry clad with mesh fabric printed in white ink with patterns that evoke the gossamer wings of the insect. Each structure can vary in size from 20 to 30 meters in length (66 to 98 feet) by 8 meters high (26 feet). “The design achieves a sense of transparency between the outside and the inside of the museum … without compromising privacy, while emulating the wings of a dragonfly,” according to Dunn Lightweight Architecture.
The structures create a focal point, enhancing this educational center that also serves as a museum of environmental science. Also housed within the structure is a fine dining restaurant.
Project data
Client: León Environmental Education Center
Design, engineering, architecture and installation: Dunn Lightweight Architecture
Fabric: Front side view 381 by Serge Ferrari North America
Placemaking: Community-wide center
Decarbonization: Low-carbon cladding
Leave A Comment