o c o t i l l o: An Interactive Installation in the Tucson Desert

Doğukan Güngör
Sep 3
2 min read

Updated: Sep 14

In Tucson, Arizona, a collaborative, student-built installation called o c o t i l l o reimagines the everyday features of the bench, stair, and fence as an integrated architectural experience. Drawing inspiration from the ocotillo, a spiky shrub native to the Sonoran Desert, the project reflects its linear form and the Nahuatl etymology of ocotl—meaning torch or candle—through a system of responsive nocturnal illumination.

Measuring just eight feet in each direction, the installation becomes an observation chamber that engages the rhythms of the expansive desert landscape through spatial modulation, material experimentation, and digital storytelling.

From Vernacular to New Interpretation

Inspired by traditional ocotillo fences common throughout the region, the project explores a material substitution with standard 2x4 lumber. Built from a series of interlocking frames, the installation can be configured in multiple ways, offering seating, shade, and viewing platforms. The expanding and contracting layers create framed views and spaces of encounter.

The entire system is built from standard, unaltered parts—studs, screws, and jigs—allowing it to be reconfigured or reused in future projects, embracing a circular construction process.

Reimagining the Bench, Fence, and Stair

At its core, o c o t i l l o is a sculptural composition of planes and platforms. The horizontal bench is split and displaced, vertical fences taper inward, and a sloping plane transitions from floor to canopy—rising in the front and descending at the back. This gradient of openness and compression guides both perception and movement, reframing the bench, stair, and fence as expanded spatial thresholds.

An upper platform, accessible from the rear, provides a second tier where students gather to study, socialize, and work—reinforcing the installation’s role as an active part of campus life. Between upper and lower seating platforms, an intentional “X” marks the center, acting as a graphic focal point and an invitation to explore.

A Digital Layer: QR Codes and Interactive Light

Beyond its physical presence, the installation incorporates a digital layer. QR codes embedded in the bench connect visitors to individual student work, transforming the installation into a living exhibition.

At night, addressable LED lighting activates the structure. Responding to touch, movement, and proximity, the lights dim, glow, and shift in color—turning the installation into a barometer of the site’s social and environmental conditions.

A Living Space for Students

Since its completion, o c o t i l l o has become a focal point for the University of Arizona’s College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA) community. Outside of studio hours, students use the installation as a meeting spot, study area, and social hub.

Constructed by the 4th year undergraduate Desertification + Democracy Studio, the project merges full-scale fabrication with real-world use—an architectural artifact that doubles as an active, living environment.