High Strung - Active Canopy Surfing In The Guatemalan Jungle Part 1 Project 2003 Robert GluckmanYeseul Song Architectural Association London | UK The main tourist attractions in Guatemala are the Mayan ruins, hidden deep within the jungle. During excavations of these sites, earth is carefully removed from around tree roots, so that the forest canopy above is not affected. Walking through dense jungle it is only when in close proximity that the ruins become visible. The project is concerned with providing a new way of experiencing the forest and viewing the ruins while addressing the issue of a sensitive ground surface. The design develops from investigations into flexible membranes and interaction between materials. Spatially, the project explores ideas of vastness and intangible spaces. Robert GluckmanYeseul Song The project “high strung” introduces an outstandingly innovative and witty project for a tourist experience and event in the Guatemalan rainforest. Three achievements make the project an exceptional design scheme: firstly, the context-sensitive form of eco- and cultural touristic experience promoted by the project; secondly, a striking match of context engagement with an adventurous spatial dimension and simply gorgeous material effects that enhance the spatial and contextual experience of the proposal; thirdly, the utterly stunning structural design solution of exploiting lightness and material elasticity as a design principle for dynamic loading. I am looking forward to this student’s work as an architect. Tutor(s)