Textile covers and public space | Cubiertas tensadas y espacio público Project | Proyecto
An earth-trembling exhibition Exposición estremecedora Earthquake, the California Academy of Science’s new exhibit and planetarium show, was designed to give visitors
an impressive and comprehensive understanding of how earthquakes affect everyday life in California. To creatively illustrate seismic concepts, Pink, a Moss company, was tasked to execute an experiential Earth model for visitors to walk through. At 25 feet in diameter, the tensioned fabric structure showcases the layers of Earth using printed fabric and pillowcase construction over an aluminum frame with a liner skin. Visitors access the exhibit by walking through a crack in Earth’s crust. The experience surrounds and stimulates with planetary science, taking visitors on a journey through the crust all the way to Earth’s core. Here, they explore beneath an illuminated “ceiling” composed of several earth layers. The colorful crust and mantle layers lead to the bright 5-foot diameter acrylic core. Twenty panels of Moss Knit fabric were fabricated for the earth-surface skin with dye-sublimation print graphics that detail Earth’s topography. The printed fabric graphics for the interior space visually express intense heat emanating from Earth’s core. The entire structure is also positioned to recreate the planet’s actual tilt. Once inside the twostory sphere, visitors explore additional exhibit components housed within the structure. In conjunction with other sensory components like an earthquake simulator, the walk-through Earth provides families easy-to-grasp, entertaining science explaining the cause and effects of earthquakes, from millions of years ago to life in California today. ✦ photo | Foto: Moss, Inc.
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