Ground has been broken on construction of a luminous green and blue amphitheatre, called the Chrysalis, in the US state of Maryland.

The New York-based art and architecture studio Marc Fornes/Theverymany created the design for the semi-transparent, Gaudi-inspired shell, which will host live cultural performances in Merriweather Park’s Symphony Woods.

Explaining the dramatic colour scheme, the architects said: “Colours are taken from the environment and pushed to a level of artificiality, meaning on one hand Chrysalis suits its surroundings, and yet on the other it stands out as a visual icon within the park.”

The architects said their work explores the relationship between public space, technology and the environment. The Chrysalis’ meshed aluminium arches were designed using patterns and structural analysis created by computer programmes.

The structure’s reconfigurable interior space will be able to host two performance spaces, and can be experienced and enjoyed by members of the public during their visits to the park, “as the majority of the amphitheatre’s life is unprogrammed.”

The Chrysalis was commissioned by the Inner Arbor Trust, which is overseeing the wider regeneration of Merriweather Park.

The structure is similar to another sculpture built by the same design team in Argeles-Sur-Mer, France.