When the doors of an abandoned aircraft shelter open, there’s an incredible vehicle inside that has to be seen to be believed. The vehicle often called the “giant arthropod”, ”steel monster”, “monstrous black behemoth” rolls out. But what is it?
Artist architects and brothers Ronald and Erik Rietveld call it a mobile sculpture, but it is also an office on wheels – a mobile research space that can accommodate up to 12 people.
The brothers built the structure after they were tasked to build something on the vacant airbase once used by NATO and located outside of Utrecht in the Netherlands. However, they were restricted by not being able to build any new structure on the airbase.
So they decided to built a mobile sculpture that could be housed in the hangar but also move around the space. One and a half years later they came up with the “blank mantis” sculpture that has many names.
There’s nothing “high tech” about it, as the interior is made all of wood. Only the generator on roof is “high tech”, generating electricity for the tracks to move. It looks like a spaceship, but becomes a functional working space when you are inside. It also moves around and explores the 3 kilometre air field, moving eerily around, reclaiming the once empty air base as its own.
It’s got to be one of the most unique structures I’ve seen. Watch the video below for more about this highly unusual art piece/office space.
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