While Maki and Associates wanted floor-to-ceiling transparency, Massachusetts energy code states that no building can have over 50% glass enclosure. This presented a problem that Maki cleverly skirted -- by utilizing 1” circular aluminum rods spaced one inch apart to form a ubiquitous external screen preserving the building’s translucency. “This method was inspired by bamboo screens in Japan,” explained Gary Kamamoto of Maki and Associates. A 50% ceramic dot screen was used as well, producing dreamy, filtering views of the Charles River - similar in concept to the pointillism used by Georges Seurat. Photo 4 of 12 in New MIT Media Lab Opens Doors by Tiffany Chu

New MIT Media Lab Opens Doors

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While Maki and Associates wanted floor-to-ceiling transparency, Massachusetts energy code states that no building can have over 50% glass enclosure. This presented a problem that Maki cleverly skirted -- by utilizing 1” circular aluminum rods spaced one inch apart to form a ubiquitous external screen preserving the building’s translucency. “This method was inspired by bamboo screens in Japan,” explained Gary Kamamoto of Maki and Associates.

A 50% ceramic dot screen was used as well, producing dreamy, filtering views of the Charles River - similar in concept to the pointillism used by Georges Seurat.