Massachusetts-based designer and professor Iman S Fayyad has developed an innovative shelter constructed entirely from standard plywood sheets for the Chicago Architecture Biennial. The installation, called "In The Round," demonstrates how readily available materials can be transformed into functional architectural spaces using simple assembly techniques that require no external fasteners or adhesives.

The structure was strategically placed on a landing within the Chicago Cultural Center as part of the tent-pole exhibition for the Chicago Architecture Biennial (CAB). The installation showcases Fayyad's geometric research approach, utilizing uncut pieces of standardized plywood that are bent to form composite cylindrical components. These curved elements are then "stitched" together using fabric straps, creating a waste-free construction method that challenges traditional building practices.

"This installation showcases the development of geometric research that proposes techniques of using standard, readily available, and affordable sheet material to create structural geometric surfaces," Fayyad explained. She emphasized that her work aims to democratize architectural forms and building types that have traditionally been "confined within exclusive social and political domains, which typically and increasingly involve unsustainable building practices in terms of labor standards, carbon footprint, community involvement, and communities served."

The construction process involves a straightforward bending technique where plywood sheets are wetted, heated, and manually shaped using clamps. This simple approach transforms flat materials into curved structural surfaces while producing minimal waste. Fayyad noted that her team used waste-free design constraints as encouragement to explore innovative architectural forms that could be both environmentally responsible and structurally sound.

Once assembled, the structure creates distinct spatial experiences both inside and outside. The exterior features small alcoves that function as seating areas or surfaces for placing objects, while the interior forms a dome-like space with curved walls leading up to an oculus. Cushions placed in the interior alcoves enhance the space's functionality as a gathering area, making it suitable for communities that need quick, affordable construction solutions.

"The inside of the structure offers a collective space that is inward-facing and intimate, while the outward-facing exterior offers more individualized spaces that are simultaneously contemplative and exposed," Fayyad described. She envisions the design being particularly useful for temporary public infrastructure such as shade structures and disaster relief shelters – applications that require quick, easy, and inexpensive installation with limited assembly skills.

The designer emphasized the structure's practical advantages, noting that it can be assembled and disassembled multiple times using simple instructions. The external seating elements serve a dual purpose by providing weight to stabilize the entire structure, though additional fasteners could be incorporated if needed for enhanced security.

Responding to this year's Chicago Architecture Biennial theme, "Architecture in Times of Radical Change," Fayyad aimed to address the urgent need for efficient construction methods while minimizing environmental impact. "The ambition of this work is to promote formal innovation born from considerations of environmental justice and material waste, two endeavors not often seen as mutually inclusive," she stated.

Fayyad, who serves as an assistant professor of architecture at Harvard University, collaborated with members of her studio Project If on this installation. She hopes her work will foster "a deeper understanding and appetite for experimentation in accessible materials and processes of architectural production" that can "reestablish a connection between the mind and hand in design practices while serving larger societal and cultural demands."

The Chicago Architecture Biennial opened its first series of exhibitions last weekend throughout Chicago, with additional programming and another round of openings scheduled for November. The biennial runs from September 19, 2025, to February 28, 2026. This project joins other recent innovations in small-scale shelter design, including similar experimental structures featured at the Copenhagen Architecture Biennial and modular temporary shelter designs that have gained recognition for their accessibility and sustainability approaches.