Suspended above the public entrance to Etsy’s headquarters in Dumbo, Brooklyn, Plume descends into the space, transforming a transitional threshold into an immersive encounter. Hovering just outside the Etsytorium, the installation creates a sense of enclosure without interrupting the flow of people moving beneath it.

Drawing inspiration from hanging gardens, Plume uses layered, net-like structures to soften the architectural scale of the entrance and invite visitors inward. The work is intentionally light and enveloping, revealing depth through overlap, variation, and gradual discovery rather than mass or monumentality.

The installation is constructed from custom laser-cut oak veneer nets suspended from aluminum frames. These nets receive folded paper petals, each uniquely shaped and attached through a precise tab system. Though the overall effect feels organic and hand-crafted, the structure is driven by a digitally developed logic that balances delicacy with stability.

Color animates the experience. The paper petals follow a continuous gradient that begins at the entrance and moves outward, subtly guiding perception and movement. Fabricated from recycled handmade paper sourced from an Etsy seller, the petals embed sustainability and craft directly into the material expression of the work.

Integrated lighting filters through the layered structure, activating color, shadow, and translucency throughout the day. Without relying on motion, Plume maintains a changing presence as light conditions shift. Through its synthesis of craft, digital fabrication, and environmental sensitivity, the installation reflects Etsy’s values—turning arrival into a tactile, atmospheric experience shaped by making, care, and material nuance.

Photos: Alan Tansey

Find out more about the process:
Surface fabrication
Photos of the installation