Washington residents don't need to get far just to have a taste of the beach this summer because there's one located at the heart of the city. But it doesn't have sun, seashells and sand.
A 10,000-square-foot ball pit, designed by Brooklyn-based architectural firm Snarkitecture, became a site for beach fun and excitement this summer in Washington D.C.
It has been set up and opened to the public since July 4 and is situated in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum as an interactive exhibit.
The idea behind the design comes from the desire to bring the beach to the big city and provide a usual beach experience indoors.
"The feeling is closer to being in the water than you may think," said Benjamin Porto, project manager and senior associate at Snarkitecture, in an account by FastCoDesign.
The exhibit, called, "The Beach" features almost one million translucent balls which are antimicrobial and recyclable, as noted by The Washington Post's Sarah Polus. The pool is made from dry wall, scaffolding and mirrors, and it reportedly took only two weeks to finish.
Visitors can enjoy their time at the ball pit as if they are on the beach. It's just that it's filled with clear, plastic spheres. They can "swim" and even hang out on the 50-foot "shoreline" where white beach chairs and umbrellas are placed. A snack bar is also available for anyone who needs some refreshments.
Chase Rynd, executive director at the museum, said this massive transformation of the historic spot in the museum should "inspire a sense of wonder and imagination."
The Beach is the architectural company's most ambitious exhibit to date, the National Building Museum said in a statement. It comes after the success of BIG Maze from last summer, which was designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.
The Beach opens until 9 p.m. and runs until September 7. Photos of the exhibit are available at photographer Noah Kalina's Instagram account.
