If you ever wished you could go to the beach without suffering the aftereffects of an inevitable sunburn, look no further. The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. is showcasing an exhibit that replicates a beach -- with no jellyfish and no water.
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The BEACH, which opened on July 4, replicates the seaside with a huge pit of nearly 1 million small beach balls and a few deck chairs. Visitors are invited to dive in or take in the scene at the "shoreline." The exhibit was designed in collaboration with Snarkitecture, a design studio that explores the territory between art and architecture. The shiny balls span across 10,000 square feet of the museum's Great Hall, making for a truly interactive museum experience.
"We wanted to create something that was very widely accessible for citizens and visitors to be able to come out here and spend an afternoon or weekend hanging out on the beach indoors," Snarkitecture co-founder Alex Mustonen said at a press conference Thursday.
And you don't even have to worry about germs. The plastic balls have a micro-bacterial coating on them. If that wasn't enough, the museum also has machinery to clean up the ball pit.
In case you get hungry, there will be a concession stand set up in partnership with D.C. based food incubator, Union Kitchen.
The purpose of the exhibit is to incorporate art and architecture into a fun experience, the museum's Marketing and Communications Vice President Brett Rodgers said at the press event Thursday.
"What we were really interested in is doing something special in our great hall that activates this space, something fun, and something that brings together all the disciplines of the built environment."
If you're already wondering how many children you'll have to avoid, the museum is way ahead of you. It will stay open later on Wednesdays for "adult swim time," complete with live music.
The exhibition runs through September 7, with museum hours running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission prices run at $16 for adults and $13 for youths aged 3 to 17, students with an ID, and senior citizens aged 60 and over. If you're already a museum member though, it'll cost $10 per adult and $5 for youths/students/seniors.
Bonus: There's no timed entry or need for sunscreen.
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