Project Background:

Over a year ago, The Portal from HERE to THERE was created as a conceptual design exercise to spiritually and emotionally unite those who are physically separate. More specifically, it was to reunite Amber with her Chilean fiancé, Fito, who was living 6,500 miles to the south for several months. They missed each other deeply and Amber designed The Portal as an expression of her love for him.

Shortly thereafter, he came to live with Amber in Berkeley as she finished her graduate studies in Landscape Architecture. They passed seven blissful months together before, on September 12, 2010 — his 35th birthday —armed robbers took Fito's life, while he saved Amber's.

She knew then that she would build The Portal as a means to communicate with the love of her life, if only metaphysically.

Though it was conceived and designed as a personal rite of passage, on the playa The Portal will become a rite of passage for the entire Burning Man community. It is transformative architecture; it is a sacred space; it is a conduit for all who enter to project his or her mind and soul across the globe, or to another dimension, so that each can communicate with his or her loved ones without the distractions of everyday life. The Portal shares Amber's love, loss, and the adventures she had with Fito. And, with the help of the community, The Portal amplify this message to him: "The entire world loves you, misses you, and wishes you well on your new adventure."

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Have extra Burlap, Rope, or Plotter Rolls?

We want the Portal to be as sustainably constructed as possible, therefore we are looking for
a source of used materials so we can keep lower our ecologic and economic footprint.

If you have any of the below, please contact Amber Nelson at amberdnelson@gmail.com:
burlap coffee bags: for the outer skin. 900 bags or 8000 sq.ft
climbing rope: for the inner “tree.” 15000 linear feet
plotter rolls: for the structure. 3500 linear feet or 900 rolls

We will begin making the Portal on April 1, 2011, so it would be ideal to obtain materials by this date, though we will also collect materials on an on-going basis through August.

Your donation for either part or all of this quantity would be extremely appreciated.
Thank you for your consideration.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Model

Concept sketch- the 5 phenomenological experiences of the Portal:
Axis Mundi: Earth-Sky connection on horizon
Threshold: Entrance into the womb of the Earth
Contrasting Light: Aspiration skyward
Processional Climb: Strenuous path skyward
Pod: Metaphysical skyward projection



Daylight view at entry



Night view at entry



Daylight view of interior


Night view from inside



View from below



View from above - stained glass skylight and alternating hexagon/pentagon mesh pods



View from above - with scale silhouette of people in pod



Close up view from above - scaled silhouette of people in pod and candles in sand



Close-up of mesh pod from interior



Close up of dome structure- an icosahedron inscribed within its dual, the dodecahedron



Diagram of dome struts and joinery






Dowload a PDF of all the above images here: