A life-size indoor maze created by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) is amusing visitors at the National Building Museum in Washington and offering a glimpse into the upcoming BIG exhibition at the Museum, set to open early next year. Inspired by ancient labyrinths, gardens and hedge mazes of 17th- to 18th-century Europe and modern American corn mazes, the maze’s cube-like form hides the final reveal behind its 20-foot-tall walls.
On the inside, the walls slowly descend towards the center which concludes with a grand reveal—a 360 degree understanding of your path in and how to get out.
The concept is simple, according to Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner, BIG. “As you travel deeper into a maze, your path typically becomes more convoluted. What if we invert this scenario and create a maze that brings clarity and visual understanding upon reaching the heart of the labyrinth.”
The maze offers visitors a chance to physically interact with the work of a cutting-edge, international design firm, according to Chase W. Rynd, Executive Director of the National Building Museum. "It will be a great framework for exploring the exhibition in a few months."
A small preview to the BIG exhibition, which will showcase approximately 90 projects created by the firm gracing each of the arches in the Grand Hall, is open through September at the museum. Stay tuned for additional information on the exhibition.
