This project was another aluminum casting, in which I decided to direct my attention to the object I was to take a mold off of.  I found a plastic container that apples from Costco come packaged in.  I had also been studying human consumption and the effects it has on the planet.  I thought this plastic container was the epitome of human consumption- is it absolutely necessary to have our apples individually packaged?  Additionally, there was something inherently aesthetically pleasing about the shape and design of the container.

The individual apple slots look like pods, and this became the architectural premise for my project.  As consumers, we share the act of consuming, but other than this we are completely disconnected from one another.  We become more preoccupied with stuff and less sociable with those around us.  In essence, we each live in our own little world, or our own little pod.

However, not everything is lost.  Consumption perpetuates technological innovation and economic growth, much like how seed pods perpetuate life.  These pods represent the dichotomy of consumption- individualism/disconnect and growth/opportunity.  The people who live in these pods can choose to interact with those who live in the surrounding pods, or they can have complete autonomy.  My idea is to have this basic pod structure "planted" in areas that need revitalization.  It is up to those who live in the pods to dictate their level of community and in turn bring life to the depleted areas.  As these areas grow, and hopefully as the level of community grows, the structure of the pods will transform.  The structure is evolutionary.

Also, each pod is completely customizable.  The mold represents the basic foundation, but each pod is meant to be a complete representation of each person's design aesthetics and consumption habits.  As people continue their consumption habits, their pod grows and their city grows.  This project aims to put our consumption habits to good use and to turn the social effects of consumption on its head.