The BEACH

The National Building Museum will once again create a one-of-a-kind destination for visitors when it unveils an interactive architectural installation that brings the quintessential summer experience of going to the beach to downtown Washington, D.C. Spanning across the Museum’s Great Hall, the BEACH, created in partnership with Snarkitecture, will cover 10,000 square feet and include an “ocean” of nearly one million recyclable translucent plastic balls. The BEACH will be contained within an enclosure and built out of construction materials such as scaffolding, wooden panels, and perforated mesh, all clad in stark white. Monochromatic beach chairs and umbrellas will sprinkle the 50-foot wide “shoreline,” and the “ocean” will culminate in a mirrored wall that creates a seemingly infinite reflected expanse. Visitors are welcome to “swim” in the ocean, or can spend an afternoon at the “shore’s” edge reading a good book, play beach-related activities such as paddleball, grab a refreshing drink at the snack bar, or dangle their feet in the ocean off the pier. The Museum is planning a snack concession inside the BEACH, to be operated through a partnership with Union Kitchen, a D.C.-based food incubator. The BEACH is part of the Museum’s annual “Summer Block Party,” a slate of programming, exhibitions, and events for all ages. National Building Museum