MENTORS- MANJUNATH BL, DIPTI B
BRIEF
The idea of 'growing a 'building' and not building it refers to an approach in which the structure is conceptualised through fragments of elements into a system. For instance, cotton has no density for it to be stable in itself but the journey from cotton to thread to rug is what one can call weave. The chunk of cotton is broken into thinner and smaller fibres which come together to make a thread. Multiple threads are then intertwined in a network to form a rug. The transition from instability to stiffness to stability is what is remarkable.
The method of weave opens up possibilities to experiment with the structure since everything is structural and aesthetics is the residue.
The following are principles which inform the making of any system (eg- a bird's nest, branches of a tree, leaves of a plant etc)
gravity is dictated by density
density is stabilizes geometry
lightness is stabilized by stiffness
The exercise aimed at understanding the properties of steel as a material and exploring ways in which one can weave steel fragments to form a stable structural system. It led to strengthening the understanding of forces at play in a system at any given moment.
PROCESS
PROCESS
An assembly of 3 slender steel columns (diameter-5cm,heights-4m, 4m, 6m respectively) rise from the ground to support the polycarbonate roof-compression. Ends of this roof are held in place via tension cables from 6m high column.
Each column is an assembly of 2 identical steel sections welded together. This enables the beam to pass through and tie 3 such column for stability.
Overall, a stable triangular geometry is devised at the centre to support unstable edge conditions.
While multiplying a system to form a space, it is necessary to emphasize upon the geometry that emerges-stable forms shall hold the partly stable members such that there are no lose ends. Together the members shall add to the stiffness of the structure so as to prevent failure under load. One shall draw inferences from nature as to how the form gradually takes shape. Although standard steel sections are easily available, a selective assembly of these sections to create a compound section appropriate for the purpose of the built form enables weave and thus growth.
LEARNINGS
Opmerkingen