Deep in the moist Slovenian jungle at Zuzemberk lies an ancient watermill ruin, leaning over the roaring waterfall. A nymphs garden, inaccessible to but the most determined. Yet in this secret garden stretches a soft web, like that of a giant spider, leaping from tree to tree, hanging over the wild water. A space of meditation, and of excess, as the daring sommersault into the foaming water.

All this is the result of a 2 weeks workshop held this summer, tutored together with Eszter Macsuga (student or architecture, BUTE) and Zsófia Vancsura (student of architecture, BUTE) at the European Architecture Students Assembly 2013. We introduced the 17 participants to the basic concepts of elastic and membrane architecture, and knot making theory, followed by small interventions like swings above the water or small hammocks. The production of the final structure took up the 2nd week of the workshop.

Improvements over the previous similar “Para-Mat” elastic pavilion workshop were the audacious support structure, and the stronger overall net performance. The material used (elastic rubber rope) provides for a loner lifespan of the otherwise temporary.

Nature slowly reconquers it in the damp autumn, covering the ropes in weeds and moss, adapting it to the already haunting landscape. We have seen the pictures of it, but leave it to your imagination.