Taka Sarui of XLXS and Artist Thomas Isaac

Artist friend and creative collaborator, Thomas Isaac is the focal point of an architectural themed Kickstarter campaign. The project is being hosted by the brooklyn-based design and architecture firm XLXS.

XLXS and Isaac's goal is to construct an earth shelter into the natural landscape of a one-acre plot of land within the Navajo Nation. The location will be in Shonto, Arizona and the objective of the symbiotic framework is to create a retreat for local and visiting artists to gather and collaborate on creative endeavors.

Based on his Navajo background and artistic vision, Isaac has laid out the following design guidelines for the project:

• The structure should enable artists to work outside in the open air in the breath-taking landscape, while providing protection from the harsh sun and strong desert winds.

• The Navajo custom of gathering around the fire and sharing ancestral stories at night should be incorporated as an important component of the design.

• Most importantly, the shelter should be as sustainable as possible and be a home for the local plants and animals as well as human visitors.

Section of Navajo Artist Retreat Concept

XLXS already has experience with this type of dwelling with their recent eco-shelter nestled into the Natural Reserve in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The domicile's goal is to have as little impact on its surrounding environment as possible, as well as to adapt and respond to the various seasons.

Below is the Kickstarter video for the proposed Navajo Artist Retreat that outlines the philosophy behind the project and the forward thinking construction methods that will be used to construct it. Visit the Kickstarter page here and consider donating to supporting this incredible proposal.