The white Palace Yurt suspended within the glass walls of NYC’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum’s conservatory is far from a forestial enclosure. Created by Janice Arnold for the Fashioning Felt exhibit, the Palace Yurt is comprised of 30 feet high panels crafted from multiple layers of silk, metallic and wool threads.

This felted glory took 8 months to complete and drove Arnold to Mongolia, where she was inspired by nomadic traditions and techniques.

Arguably, the best way to savour the experience is to lie with your head thrown back like a child at Disneyland. Mounted on specially integrated armature, the yurt suspends reality with superlative texture. High above, where the felt meets the ceiling, is a blue felted edge draped in couture sensibility and interspersed with crystals. Incorporating folkloric imagery, the installation reflects the poetry of nature, be it the simplicity of flowing water or tree branches.

Climb out of the box and into an alternate reality at the Palace Yurt.

‘Fashioning Felt’, 6 March – 7 Sept 2009, Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum, NYC.