丨美国图森丨Understory Creative

Nebula Shroom Grove by Understory Creative fostered a sense of togetherness at Burning Man 2024

Nebula Shroom Grove is a forest of mushroom-like parametric architectures tackling the loneliness issue despite our hyper-connected world.

. Mushrooms are deceiving beings. Above the ground, they seem to lead a solitary life, but they actually network with each other through their roots. At

Burning Man 2024

Understory

, a London-based collective led by Colombian architects and designers, created

Nebula Shroom Grove

, a forest of parametric fungi-inspired timber structures for solitary souls searching for new connections. Each ‘shroom’ offered a shelter and was topped by a cosy resting area, inviting visitors to relax and relate.

The main concept was born out of our shared desire to explore themes of connection, community, and the deep-rooted interdependence found in nature

Understory Creative founders

Silvia Rueda

Ana María Ortiz

Lina Castaneda

Inspired by personal experiences with loneliness and the search for belonging, the project draws parallels between human communities and the hidden networks of nature, such as mycelium—fungi that intertwine their roots to create underground ecosystems

We wanted people to enter the installation and feel like they’ve stepped into a different world, much like walking into a mysterious forest or gazing at the stars

One of our proudest moments was when we saw a group of people sitting together in a circle and having a great time while they were sharing their stories and making new friends

The installation also embodies the Colombian spirit, conviviality, family-rooted culture and life, said XXX. The organic design also reflected the lush, natural beauty of the country.

was not set on fire on the last night of Burning Man. Instead, it will keep fostering new connections by playing a role in helping kids create a strong community around them at the playground of the

Second Sky

community hub and event space in Tucson, Texas.

Silvia Rueda

Ana María Ortiz

Lina Castaneda

Understory

is a London-based interdisciplinary collective of international architects, artists and designers from Venezuela, Ukraine, Canada and the US. The team strives to create spaces that “

bring people together, especially in a world where so many of us crave genuine human interaction