Minima | Maxima stands at a crossroad of extremes: an ultra-thin shell of just 6mm rises to a height of 13m by way of its sprawling, double-curved surfaces. In this whimsical yet durable universe created by MARC FORNES / THEVERYMANY, curves win out over angles. Branches, splits, and recombinations make columns and beams irrelevant. A “networked'” surface rolls in, on and around itself, transforming into a space that upends preconceived notions of enclosure, threshold, and limit, while also providing its own support. Towards the base of the Minima | Maxima, its rolling surfaces begin to softly corrugate, its zig-zag angles gently tuck into a full pleat as they meet the ground platform. The visual transition -- from pleated base to smooth and doubly-curved, continuous surface -- is subtle, yet its structural effect is significant, allowing it to rise to impressive heights. It bends in all directions, but still manages to stand upright on its own.
Minima | Maxima was commissioned for World Expo 2017, an event with a history of architectural and engineering innovations. It is situated prominently on the grounds in Astana, Kazakhstan, where it will continue to live as a permanent structure. There it remains a destination of interest for visitors to the rapidly developing city, an environment that incites curiosity from afar and opportunities for play, discovery and quiet contemplation inside.
