Folly 2014: SuralArk

Folly is a design/build competition co-sponsored by The Architectural League and Socrates Sculpture Park, which invites emerging architects and designers to propose contemporary interpretations of the architectural folly, traditionally a fanciful, small-scale building or pavilion sited in a garden or landscape to frame a view or serve as a conversation piece.

This year’s Folly winner is Austin + Mergold. As winners, they received a grant and a two-month residency in Socrates Sculpture Park’s outdoor studio, in addition to the opportunity to build their project to scale for exhibition in the park.

This publication includes a profile of SuralArk and an interview with Austin + Mergold, as well as a survey of notable entries from this year’s competition.

Folly was established in 2011 by Socrates, in partnership with the League, to explore the intersections between architecture and sculpture and the increasing overlaps in references, materials, and building techniques between the two disciplines.