Motel for Night Owls and Night Owls, Chris Laabs (2016)
This project presents the idea of the grain silos being the catalyst for an ecosystem of architectural elements. Initially these “Tractor Bugs” exist on the surface of the design burrowing into the sides of the grain elevators to extract the nutrients inside. The introduction of “Train Snakes” into their ecosystem requires the Tractor Bugs to adapt to this new predator and burrow into the holes they built during the day, existing in the shadows of the building. These shadowy places become perfect spots for “Night Owls” to roost during the day and in return for using the Tractor Bugs’ holes they serve as the natural predator of the Train Snakes completing the ecosystem.
What results is a motel which is shaded in dark in the daytime and active at night. The introduction of a place to watch the sunset allows viewers to see the contrast between the building in daytime and night as they approach a dark building and bright sky, and leave a bright building and dark sky.
Graphic Assembly as part of Spatial Speculations taught by Perry Kulper hosted by Eric Amel and Patrick Lynch. University of Minnesota Catalyst 2016.