Kanika and Jwalant Mahadevwala, architects and founding partners of andblack design studio, have created a multifunctional black box theater design that uses parametric models to "allow customization of several variables to achieve the specified volume." Their design prototype, Darwin Bucky, is a prefabricated kit of parts made of wood, aluminum, steel, and glass. 

Designed for Abhay Mangaldas, founder of India-based startup Darwin, the lightweight modular panel design is a flat-pack system that emphasizes versatile on-site assembly.

According to the architects, Darwin Bucky is a "black box that can be used as an exhibition gallery, a town hall, an expo center, a performance arena, or even serve as a bar or a nightclub. It is designed to be placed in public gardens, exhibition grounds, or even in a city center." 

Without the need for a preexisting plinth or foundation to build on, andblack design studio's prototype also does not require heavy machinery for transportation and assembly. This building process makes the design ideal for locations where "road access is difficult, electricity is scarce, and excavation is undesirable," notes the duo.

The architects discuss Darwin Bucky's design concept and form by sharing, "The computational model can adapt to the base diameter and dynamic heights to achieve material efficiency through optimized tessellation [...] Darwin Bucky is designed to encapsulate a space with half the material required by conventional structures, thus optimizing the use of steel to achieve material efficiency."

The end result is a 1,249-square-foot (116-square-meter) floor plan with structural ridges designed to provide load distribution as well as house electrical conduits, ambient lighting, and joinery for waterproofing. To provide additional lighting and air circulation, windows are located at the bottom half of the structure and are "designed to pivot along its central axis, aligning seamlessly with the tessellated structure." 

Darwin Bucky is located in the city of Ahmedabad, India, and will be used as a multi-purpose performance and exhibition space. According to the firm, "A prototype, 12 meters in diameter, was engaged through multiple cultural events to investigate user demand for an architectural product occupied as a functional black box theater and an exhibition gallery; with a maximum occupancy of 100 people."