Isa

Tentigrade - our independent project & response to
#designvillage 2026: resilience.

Description:

"The tardigrade is often described as "nearly indestructible," having survived all five mass extinction events and even the vacuum of space.
Through cryptobiosis, it can reduce its body's water content by 95%, entering a dormant "tun" state for decades. Its form, segmented, plump, and semi-transparent, becomes both a biological strategy and a formal inspiration.
Tentigrade draws from this resilience. Composed of five segmented panels along a central spinal arch, the tent hangs from a bamboo ribcage, with layered fabric and exposed mesh seams echoing the transtucency of its namesake. A bright orange rainfly extends outward like articulated limbs, providing added protection against the elements
Carbon sequestering bamboo replaces typical aluminum poles as a renewable structural system, paired with PFAS-free 200T polyester for weather resistance. A PLA joint unifies the structure at its apex, while simple stake and clamp connections ensure ease of assembly and long-lasting durability and replaceability.
Color and materiality draw from California's outdoor heritage and the resilience of the California poppy. Modular panels wrap and fasten around the frame, allowing the tent to adapt, splitting into smaller enclosures or recombining as needed.
Tentigrade redefines resilience as adaptability, architecture that can contract, expand, reconfigure, and endure alongside its environment. Like the tardigrade, it is defined by how intelligently it responds to change, it is light on the land, versatile, and built to persist."

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- best construction nomination

- 250 hours total & $100/ea


Production, 3D modeling & tensioning + float - Jarod @j_rodc
Production, 3D modeling & sewing- Sadie @sadie.ww
Lead production, research, patterning & sewing - Isabel (me...)
Production, 3D modeling, poster deliverables - Rory (@rorytl_ )
#tardigrade #myog #makeyourowngear #👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀