Designing a beacon for human connection in a temporary city
Nebula is a forest of parametric, fungi-inspired timber structures created by Understory, our London-based interdisciplinary collective. Presented at Burning Man 2024, the installation draws on the hidden networks of mycelium, fungi that intertwine their roots underground, as a metaphor for human connection and the search for belonging.
Each module is designed parametrically, offering shade and a place to unwind by day, and a curious, interactive world by night. The structures are climbable, with cosy resting areas atop each cap, drawing people up and together.
The project received an honorary grant from Burning Man. Rather than being set alight on the final night, Nebula was carefully dismantled and reassembled at the Second Sky community hub playground in Tucson, where it continues to bring people together.
