Went to a great show at the American Academy in Rome recently. Was especially taken by the work of Michael Herrman, an AA Fellow from Princeton.

Here it is, in his own words. NB file is large...

MICHAEL A. HERRMAN © RELIGIOUS MOVES: A PORTABLE PLACE FOR PRAYER 2005, 4m x 6m x 6m (full-expansion), 1.3m x 0.7m x 0.5m (compact); aluminum and polyethylene fabric

The creation of a nomadic prayer space stems from an exploration of the complex and unusual modes of appropriating urban space that emerge as a direct consequence of the increasing presence of foreign populations in Rome. Designed for the Romanian community, the simple, lightweight, and transformable structure can be deployed in the various areas of the city where the Romanian community meets weekly. This gathering temporarily appropriates an area of the city as a festival site, transport hub, and religious space. Here community ties are formed, journeys to and from Romania begin and end, and sermons are given. The transportable space accommodates this outdoor religious gathering by delimiting a space for prayer, protecting against inclement weather, yet leaving intact the connection with the surrounding environment. Made of interchangeable aluminum elements of equal length and of rotating surfaces, the prayer space allows for size and form adaptability according to the community’s needs.