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Endemic Synthetic –

Exploring the Afterlife of the Material Waste Stream 2004

Endemic Synthetic is a mobile pavilion that interrogates the relationship between biophilic design, industrial waste, and temporary architecture. Fabricated entirely from reclaimed PVC pipe, the structure highlights the environmental contradictions of the construction industry, where a material with an almost indefinite lifespan is routinely discarded and seldom recycled. By recontextualizing this waste product into a performative architectural system, the project reimagines the possibilities of adaptive reuse.

The modular assembly of PVC pipes produces a porous envelope that serves multiple functions: voids act as natural ventilators, insulation chambers, and integral storage for camping gear and personal electronics. The operable roof—conceived as wing-like panels—can be retracted to enable night sky viewing, while retractable canvas panels provide seasonal adaptability, blocking winter winds and ensuring privacy. A flexible photovoltaic panel supplies renewable energy for charging devices and powering low-voltage LED lighting, reinforcing the structure’s ecological ethos.

Designed for the extreme conditions of the Mojave Desert, where temperatures range from 0°F to over 120°F, the pavilion performs as both shelter and social infrastructure. When clustered, the units create contemporary “campfire” arrangements, accommodating groups of varying sizes while supporting collective activities. Through its material logic and performative adaptability, Endemic Synthetic advances a speculative model of sustainable habitation rooted in resilience, reuse, and communal interaction.

HIGHLIGHTS Selected as a winning proposal from 101 international submissions, Endemic Synthetic received top recognition in the Ecoshack Green Tent Design Competition. The competition sought the design of a sustainable camping shelter—a “green tent”—for use in the Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree National Park, emphasizing innovative responses to nature, culture, and human experience under extreme environmental conditions. Endemic Synthetic was featured in the Chicago Tribune and exhibited at High Desert Test Sites 4 in Joshua Tree, California. A second exhibition was organized at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where the project was presented as part of the “Green Tent” installation. This installation was included in the gardenLAb experiment, curated by Fritz Haeg, and ran from September 7 to October 16, 2004.