What the hell does hooping have to do with architecture anyway? Well me for one thing… but also this dome, designed by Mass Studies.
“The Ring Dome is a dome-shaped structure with a diameter of 8.65m, composed of about 1000 plastic hoola hoops. The hoola hoops, each with a diameter of 80cm, are randomly layered, fastened together by about 10,000 zip ties, increasing structural integrity until a dome is formed. This structure was designed to be easily assembled by non-professionals such as students, artists and other volunteers, taking advantage of common objects. Designed for experimentation, adjustments and an almost primitive assembly method, this project’s main objective was not the final result but more the celebratory, shared experience of constructing the piece in the vein of the annual Burning Man Festival. The Burning Man Festival ends by burning the final product of collective effort, and likewise the Ring Dome was simply dismantled by severing the zip ties. The hoola hoops were then distributed not discarded, returning them to their original purpose in a more environmentally-friendly conclusion.”
- Mass Studies website