Versatile Spaces – Part 3 - construct.deconstruct.reconstruct - Design Studio SS 2021

HB2 & ITI VERSATILE SPACES

Reviews by Miriam Dall’lgna & Marina Konstantatou, Foster & Partners

Department of Building Construction and Design

Institute of Architecture and Design &

Department of Structural Design and Timber Engineering

COLORFUL CATERPILLAR

#multimediapavilion #dovetailjoint

project, images and text

by

Kukutsov, Iliyan

Simeonova, Marina Grimm, Johannes

ABSTRACT

The Colourful Caterpillar was inspired by the regular pentagonal geometry and the final design concept features 5 half regular dodecahedrons combined in different ways. An open and bright space was one of our main goals. We started designing with the idea of uniting people, especially after the situation we are going through currently. We wanted a pavilion that can enhance its surroundings and include people of all ages and genders. Our pavilion can be a music hub, a presentation and exhibition space, an art installation and a game station. Structure-wise, the Colorful Caterpillar is made out of one material: plywood – strong, durable and water-resistant. It features a three piece panel design glued together with a combined thickness of around 50 mm. The structure is put on adjustable rubber feet for a better height clearance and in the roof panels we integrated a Voronoi pattern for more organic cuts. They are covered with illuminated colourful plexiglas pieces to add a splash of colour to the space and the surroundings. The 32 individual panels are connected by employing the “impossible” dovetail joint which is hidden to provide a better watertight fit and has two articulating panels on both ends to serve as entrances. We integrated screens and speakers into the panels too. What could be a better place to go and play a game, watch a football match or enjoy a light show at night?

DESIGN APPROACH

The Colorful Caterpillar derives from experimenting with pentagonal geometry. We went through different designs and ideas in size, use, mechanism and construction until we reached the final design concept which features 5 half regular dodecahedrons combined in different ways.

Dynamic is achieved by rotating the half dodecahedrons, so they can fit together and create a more interesting space inside. Thus, each pentagon faces a different direction and more view points from the inside to the outside are possible.

Structure-wise, the Colorful Caterpillar is made out of one material: plywood – strong, durable and water-resistant.

The 32 individual panels are connected by employing the “impossible” dovetail joint which stays hidden to provide better watertight fit and has two articulating panels on both ends to serve as entrances to the space.

Through the rotation the space inside is dominated by different angles and inclined plains, thus unique innerspace is created.

Dynamic is achieved by rotating the half dodecahedrons, so they can fit together and create a more interesting space inside. Thus, each pentagon faces a different direction and more view points from the inside to the outside are possible.

Bruno Pittermann Platz

Our Location in Vienna

Plenty of space for a wide variety of leisure activities where you might hardly expect them: Along and around Wiental and Gürtel! Regardless of whether you are in the mood for exercise or prefer to look for a cozy place to chill out - everyone will find the right thing here.

The districts around the Gürtel and Wiental are popular residential areas that offer a lot of quality of life for young and old. Local shops, a colorful cultural scene and lively neighborhoods alongside open spaces and numerous games and sports activities - especially for children and young people - all contribute to this.

Trying to find out what is missing in the neighborhood and the surrounding buildings.

Searching for a place where to put out jewel.

GEOMETRIC DEVELOPMENT

Simple Geometry - Pentagon

Sum of the interior angles of a pentagon:

Can be found by dividing the pentagon up into 3 triangles. Knowing that the sum of the angles of each triangle is 180 degrees...

We get 3 x 180 = 540 degrees

Thus, the sum of the interior angles of a pentagon is 540.

The properties of regular pentagons:

All side lenghts and interior angles are the same (congruent). In order to find the measure of the interior angles, we need to divide the sum of all the angles to five.

We get 540 / 5 = 108 degrees

Thus, the measure of the interior angle of a regular pentagon is 108 degrees.

The measure of the central angles of a regular pentagon:

We can find the measure of the central angle of a regular pentagon, by making a circle in the middle (360 degrees) and divide that by the five angles.

We get 360 / 5 = 72 degrees

Thus, the measure of the central angle of a regular pentagon is 72 degrees.

Dodecahedron

12 pentagonal flat surfaces form a convex regular dodecahedron, a platonic solid, which has:

- 12 faces, each with 5 edges (a pentagon)

- 30 edges

- 20 vertices (corner points) and at each vertex

3 edges meet

The inner angle must be smaller than 144 degrees in order to shape a three dimensional form. Thus, the inner angles of the pentagon define the spatial structure and the resulting angles are true for all spatial forms that emerge from equally edged pentagons.

In our construction we use regular petagons that form half dodecahedrons. The same angles and rules apply for the whole structure. Our structure is made out of 32 regular pentagons ( 5 half-dodecahedrons) that are rotated around their axis in order to fit perfectly together.

STRUCTURE & ELEMENTS

Plywood is a wonderful combination of lightness, strength and flexibility. It is an engineered wood which is made by stacking several layers of wood veneers (thin slices of natural wood). Thus, it inherents properties like strength and stability, ease of working, and it‘s cost-effective. This is in addition to the plywood properties obtained due to its laminated construction. Cross-graining allows the plywood sheets to resist splitting and provides uniform strength with increased stability.

High impact resistance – Plywood has high bending strength in both plane directions due to the cross lamination of panels.

Water and chemical resistance – While manufacturing thin plies, veneers are treated with a substance that makes plywood highly resistant to water and chemicals.

The assembly of the panels takes place one after another from one end to the other, thus the tails of the dove joints can slide into one another and all pieces fit perfectly together, creating a very stable structure.

Exploded axo of the structure

Assembly sequence

Wireframe of the structure

Prefabrication

We have 32 panels prefabricated in a woodshop. All panels have the same dimensions but vary in their structure - with voronoic structure, clean, cut under 54 or 90 degrees. A mortise (socket) is the female part of a joint. It is a notch, hole or cut in a piece of wood into which a tenon is inserted. A tenon (tail) is the male part of a joint. It is the cut end that fits into a mortise.

Fire Resistance

Wood has natural fire protection ability. As wood burns, it creates a char layer on the outside that prevents heat buildup at the center. This charring effect helps wood retain its strength during a fire.

Transport and construction

The prefabricated parts can vary in dimensions and are limited mainly by transportation requirements. That is why the parts have a maximum dimension of 3 m. The panels are fabricated off-site, construction can be done relatively quickly on site. When the parts arrive, they are lifted off the truck and placed on their exact position. Moreover, the wooden structure is light, thus it requires lighter foundations, which may result in cost savings. Also, wood has a natural and warm appearance.

CO2 reduction and sustainability

Wood is a great sustainable and durable building material. One of the most important benefits of wood products is its ability to absorb carbon and store it. For example, with a cubic meter of timber, about a ton of CO2 emissions are reduced from the atmosphere. Timber is also a great renewable building material.

STRUCTURE & ELEMENTS

A Voronoi pattern divides the space into subspaces in an organic way. Through the openings light enters the structure.

Leftover wood will be chopped into sawdust and shavings. After they dehydrate, the wood fibers are mixed with resin and wax and are formed into the cover panels for the multimedia panels. Under intense heat and pressure the panels are compressed and become rigid, with a hard shell. Finally, the created MDF panels are sanded down for a smooth finish and then fixed onto the final panels.

Elements of the Structure

The Blind Mitered Dovetails joints are extremely beautiful and strong, enabling the woodworker to hide the joint from the outside. The tails are housed in sockets at the ends of the panels and are not visible once the two pieces are assembled. The manufacturing process is long and performed in many steps, which requires patience and precision.

The pros of this type of joint include the overall amazing look, the resistance to wear and tear (even without glue), the extremely strong interlocking between the pieces of wood and all this without any metal fixtures, screws or fasteners.

The cons of this connections include the challenging design process and the necessary exactness of the manufacturing of the joint.

Prefabricated Composite Panels

The panel is made of 2 parts - 5 cm on the edge and 2,5 cm in the middle. We have 2 types of panels with voronoic openings for additional sunlight inside and with a carved voronoic pattern for an overall finished appearance.

The durable plywood panels have a unique and hidden japanese joint. Through the hidden joints the construction is also watertight.

The mechanically openable roof panels use a small motor for a stable and autonomous movement.

Self-leveling soft rubber pedestals , also called “Rubber Feet”.

The prefabricated foot is made out of copolymer polypropylene and it is proven to be resistent to weathering, chemicals, water and algae.

The idea is insipired from the japanese flat stone approach, where the japanese elevate the whole construction in order to protect it from water and humidity.

The non-slippery adjustable rubber material allows the construction to be placed anywhere and be elevated for additional protection from groundwater.

Prefabrication: 10 rubber shoes.

Exploaded Panel View

Principles of assembly of the Blind Dovetail Joint and its parts

Opening Mechanism Section

DETAILING OF ELEMENTS

In this chapter you can see the detailed plans, sections and elevations. We have a general plan, a site plan and a building plan. Side and front elevations and cross and longitudinal sections can be seen on the bottom of both pages.

A map of the details shown on the next page can be seen in the two sections, marking where each corresponding detail is located.

Cross-Section

DETAILING OF ELEMENTS

What is a Voronoi Pattern?

This type of pattern is created by scattering points randomly on a euclidean plane, which is then divided up into tessellating polygons, known as cells, one around each point, consisting of the region of the plane nearer to that point than any other.

Step 1:

We started by adding the curve into Grasshopper, converted it into a surface and then populated the geometry with points.

Step 2:

From the populated geometry we added the Voronoi and used the region intersection to contain it only within the curve .

Step 3:

We offset the Voronoi with a Python script because it worked best with what we wanted to achieve.

Step 4:

Before filleting the geometry we got, we had to remove the weird points and edges, so we combined the closest points into one point.

Step 5:

After we tried to differentiate the regions, separated them into surfaces, cut the Voronoi holes and extruded to add thickness.

The panels are the bearing elements in our structure and they absorb the entire load together with the dovetail joints.

Grasshopper code of the structure

Table of weights of the structure

Grasshopper load diagram

TRANSFORMATION

The Colorful Caterpillar can become an art gallery, a game space, a music hub or simply an art installation, all this just by using screens, speakers and some LEDs. Be emerged in the colorful space, which is just a phone tap away.

Operating the TV screens can easlily be done in just one click, which downloads an application and then by scanning a simple QR-code on your phone. Besides allowing for bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, users can switch between the TV screen and vice versa. A file transfer is possible as well.

Gaming-wise, you can play any game on the screens with your phone acting as a gamepad or a joystick.

Night view of the LED lights

Interior of the space

Replacing traditional printed maps and an actual tour guide, the hub utilises multimedia elements such as visual, text-based and voice-based interfaces, which will enhance the visitors’ experience.

Colorful plexiglass - acrylic sheets with a thickness of 5 mm are used for covering the voronoic openings in order to let light inside and create a different atmosphere in each part of the structure. Also we use plexiglass because it is light and safe.

LED stripes or bulbs are installed in order to light up the structure from inside at night and to make the atmosphere or the art installation look even more enchanting and interesting. Each LED module is the same color as the plexiglass of this pentagon.

Art gallery

Game center Music hub

Exhibition space

VERSATILITY & PROGRAMMING

Public space is a social issue, it is a place where knowledge can be gathered and everyday practices can be performed, it is where public life unfolds. That is why it is important to ask the people around, living in the neighbourhood, what they think and what they want.

The place that we want to create should be viewed as an open invitation for everyone. That is why our structure has an open functionality and programming, it is comfortable and easy to use by everyone. It can also create possible encounters for people that would not normally meet.

Our goal is to activate the place, thus make it more useful for the people that live in that area – make them meet, communicate, educate and have fun. The idea is to lower the barriers of social interaction even more.

Activation of public space with the help of multimedia. The idea is to take an already existing public urban space and turn it into a lively and well used open space. With the help of various multimedia functions the space will provide the oportunity for all citizens to enjoy it while staying in their neighbourhood.

WORK PROCESS

Throughout the semester we went through many different ideas before we reached our final form of The Colorful Caterpillar.

We started with a regular half dodecahedron, tested the shapes, angles, number of sides. Countinuing on from there we switched to a full regular dodecahedron and had it be just a frame, after we tested the rigidity of it. From a single dodecahedron configuration pavilion we moved on to a five dodecahedron installation. Removing the inner frame we kept the opening sides and added a stage in the middle.

Finally, we created the caterpillar: we started with a regular formation, then moved to the more interesting final idea of braking the straight lines. We added the Voronoi so we have more sunlight entering the pavilion and added a splash of color to the elements.

We underwent a proof of concept with our impossible dovetail joints and with the opening mechanisms until we reached the final design and configuration of The Colorful Caterpillar, a physical model of which can be seen in the last row of images on the other page.

REFLECTION

I am satisfied with the work that we have done as a group during this semester. The topic was interesting and provided a lot of possibilities of development.

The most difficult part was to figure out the right direction in which we should go, since the project should entitle so many aspects like structure, use, versatility and so on.

Another new aspect for me was the use of Grasshopper, which I have previous encounters with but never used as a load analysis tool, which was difficult at first, especially when you are designing a pentagonal structure.

However, with the help of our professors we managed to come up with a nice idea for a multifunctional public space. Overall, I am happy that I took part in this course.

- Marina Simeonova

Retrospectively looking at this course and what I learned, I must admit, half a year ago I didn‘t understand as much about construction, detail and space, as I do now.

Permanently reconstructing our structure led us to better and better solutions. The key was really to understand our workflow as an iterative process to get closer and closer to ideal solutions. Understanding the maths and methods used by specialists in terms of parametrically designing structures was very helpful and easily brought to physical models with fabrep techniques.

The diversity of used media was really special. I‘m looking forward to taking the methods I learned here and applying them in future projects.

- Johannes Grimm

This studio was the first I have ever done in Vienna and it was stressful at first but was better after. The project task itself is interesting and I personally had not done anything similar in the past, so it was difficult to change the way you look at a structure and try to integrated interesting joints, constructions and placements.

Working without having personal contact within the group and with the professors was difficult, but that is the way we live at the moment, which hopefully soon will pass. But even with this obstacle we were able to deliver a finished and complete project with a lot of developments from start to finish. I had previous knowledge of Grasshopper, but have never used the Karamba plug-in and the load analytical functions, but at the end I believe this has helped a lot with the final design concept and the interesting appearance we have now.

Overall, I am personally happy with what we have accomplished and believe we have a very well done project, it was difficult but we made it usable, interesting and colorful.

- Iliyan Kukutsov

SOURCES

Inspiration

ArchiloversCom. (n.d.). Folding garden: TOWOdesign. Archilovers. https://www.archilovers.com/projects/262407/folding-garden.html.

Gallery of BUGA Wood Pavilion / ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart - 23. ArchDaily. (n.d.). https://www.archdaily.com/916758/buga-wood-pavilion-icditke-university-of-stuttgart/5cd4a1e7284dd1d22b0000dd-buga-wood-pavilion-icd-itke-university-of-stuttgart-photo?next_project=no.

HygroSkin: Meteorosensitive Pavilion. achimmenges.net. (n.d.). http://www.achimmenges.net/?p=5612.

Ibrahim, A. (G., & Ahmedgamalibrahim. (n.d.). Smart Skin, a climatic approach to skin design. Issuu. https://issuu.com/ahmedgamalibrahim/docs/ ahmed_ibrahim-t6_smart_skin-final-p.

Marsh, & Instructables. (2017, September 20). How to Make Retractable Casters! Instructables. https://www.instructables.com/How-to-MakeRetractable-Casters/.

Sánchez, D. (2014, July 9). Landesgartenschau Exhibition Hall / ICD/ITKE/IIGS University of Stuttgart. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/520897/ landesgartenschau-exhibition-hall-icd-itke-iigs-university-of-stuttgart.

Temporary bionic research pavilion made of wood. Detail. (n.d.). https://www.detail-online.com/article/temporary-bionic-research-pavilion-made-ofwood-16282/.

Unknown, & F., D. (n.d.). Retractable Wheels. SimplyCiderPresses.com. https://www.simplyciderpresses.com/wheels-and-hoppers/retractablewheels/.

Workbench with retractable wheels. LumberJocks.com. (n.d.). https://www.lumberjocks.com/projects/325409.

Construction

A Brief Study into Japanese Joinery. Sarah Wigglesworth Architects. (2018, April 30). https://www.swarch.co.uk/journal/brief-study-japanese-joinery/.

CODE ARCH „ RECIPROCAL STRUCTURE. CODE ARCH. (n.d.). https://www.code-arch.com/research/reciprocal-structure/.

Dodecahedron Structure. Parametric House. (n.d.). https://parametrichouse.com/dodecahedron-structure/.

Gallery of BUGA Fibre Pavilion / ICD/ITKE University of Stuttgart - 2. ArchDaily. (n.d.). https://www.archdaily.com/916650/buga-fibre-pavilion-icditke-university-of-stuttgart/5cd2f4ca284dd1e63e000044-buga-fibre-pavilion-icd-itke-university-of-stuttgart-photo?next_project=no.

Parametric Timber Pavilion - eVolo: Architecture Magazine. eVolo Architecture Magazine RSS. (n.d.). https://www.evolo.us/parametric-timber-pavilion/

Public Space

Dovetail woodworking joints. Craftsmanspace. (n.d.). https://www.craftsmanspace.com/woodworking-joints/dovetail-woodworking-joints.

Egger, T. (2020, May 25). How do you plan in Vienna? 7 urban planning lessons from the Vienna Exchange Program. Ciudades Sostenibles. https:// blogs.iadb.org/ciudades-sostenibles/en/how-do-you-plan-in-vienna-urban-planning-lessons-from-vienna-exchange-program/.

Secret Dovetail. (n.d.). https://mikes-woodwork.com/SecretDovetail.htm.

Vienna: Active Public Space. Active Public Space - APS. (n.d.). http://activepublicspace.org/category/installations/vienna-installations/.

Renders of the final strucure

REVIEWS

Marina Konstantatou

The main concept of the Colourful Caterpillar revolved around the use of platonic solids for developing a bright, semi-open, and inviting space. This aimed to both enhance the surroundings and become a focal meeting point for local residents. In the latter case, the structure would enable multiple functions such as music, art, and gaming hub as well as a presentation and exhibition space.

The team investigated the geometrical and trigonometrical properties of pentagons and dodecahedra and the resulting linear structure comprises 32 pentagons which form 5 half-dodecahedra. Each one of the panels has the same dimensions; however, some variation is added in terms of openings. These follow a Voronoi logic and integrate colourful plexiglass layers. As a result, organic lighting patterns greatly add to the spatial qualities of the space and make it more visual appealing to the users.

The material of choice for the polyhedral panels was plywood and consideration was given in terms of fire resistance and CO2 footprint of the structure. Furthermore, leftover sawdust and shavings resulting from the manufacturing of the panels were recycled and mixed with resin and wax to produce parts for the panels which was a thoughtful addition to the concept. Also, the pavilion is elevated via a prefabricated foot which is inspired by traditional Japanese architecture and construction methods.

One of the main features of this project was the prefabrication approach in relation to panels - the limiting factor defining their dimensions being transportation requirements. In terms of detailing and joining, the team opted for ‘Blind Mitered Dovetails‘. This choice resulted in a sturdy and visually elegant connection between adjacent panels; nonetheless, it would require considerable precision and time both in terms of manufacture and assembly. This is partly because this dovetailing necessitates a specific

sequential assembly from one end to the other. Due to this fact, and in conjunction to the panel dimensions, and necessary precision, the disassembly and reassembly potential of the structure could be limited.

In terms of computational implementation, the team developed a two-fold Grasshopper definition for deriving the Voronoi pattern of the openings as well as a Karamba3D Finite Element Analysis script to assess the structural performance of the structure.

The versatility of the space in terms of use and function was mainly based on changing interior elements such as colours, lighting, and sounds rather than on reconfigurability of the space itself. Consequently, the lighting and colours of the panels, as well as the proposed multimedia features, play an integral role to the atmosphere of the pavilion.

Future steps could investigate the development of more spatially diverse configurations comprising more geometries (i.e., other platonic and Archimedean solids). Furthermore, since the pavilion cannot be easily repurposed more could be said about its end of life and recyclability.

Overall a well-documented project with a clear geometrical design concept and rigorous detailing.

Miriam Dall’Igna

1. Was the dodecahedra the most flexible polyhedral for the purpose? What about pentagonal faces, can these provide enoughflexibility for other assembles?

2. The demounting of the structure does not allow many combinations as the modules that form the structure are large in scale and pentagonal faces are large. Furthermore dodecahedra formation as the joints need to be cut at a specific angle, which constrain the system. Maybe joints could be designed in a manner that provides further versatility.

3. The team did not seem emphasise the construct, deconstruct, reconstruct approach of the course.

4. Great and appropriate structural evaluation.

5. Maybe the versatility aspect has been given too much focus on the functions the space ban configure rather than the physical infrastructure, maybe more emphasis could also be give to the reconfigurability aspect of the components as well.

6. The presentation is very well structured and provides proper referencing.

Maybe some further geometrical studies of platonic solids could facilitate an informed decision on the most appropriate choice (a). Also a more flexible design of the joints that considers more diverse assemblies (b).

FRAMES

#modularpavillion #transformativestructure

project, images and text

by

Günes Aydar

ABSTRACT

FRAMES is an open and experimental, modular and versatile pavillion, which was designed for the burning man festival. By using an experimental wooden frame construction with steel plate reinforcements, and movable components, it can be moved, transformed and organized for different uses. Its spatial versitality provides an environment for many people to meet for different activities.

Its conceptual design was inspired by the rules of the burning man festival like “radical inclusion” “radical selfexpression” “participation” and “communal effort”.

FRAMES is an architectural solution for the constructive, ecological and social-space criteria. It was designed by considering the interaction between people and space. Its versatile design gives people different spatial experiences and spatial interaction within the same structure.

DESIGN APPROACH

RULES OF THE BURNING MAN FESTIVAL1

RADICAL INCLUSION

ANYONE MAY BE A PART OF BURNING MAN: We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisities exist for participation in.

GIFTING: Burning Man is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.

DECOMMODIFICATION: In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorship, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the subsitution of consumption for participatory experience.

COMMUNAL EFFORT: We value civil society. Community member who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibilitiy for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY: We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeaver to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

RADICAL SELF-REALIANCE: Burning Man festival encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on their inner resources.

RADICAL SELF-EXPRESSION: Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other then the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.

LEAVING NO TRACE: Our community respects the environments. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.

PARTICIPATION: Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only though the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being though doing. Everyone is inveted to work. Everyone is inveted to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.

IMMEDIACY: Immediate experience is, in many ways the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barries that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.

GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE FESTIVAL AREA

Average weekly weather forecast: 30-5 Celcius

Height: 1.17 m from sea level

Coordinates: 40.78N 119.206W

City has 3500 meters width

Windspeed: 11.26 km/hour

GEOMETRIC DEVELOPMENT

The construction concept is based on a very simple static problem: Single frames are not stable against horizontal forces lateral to the frame-plane. In order to overcome this problem, the frame construction is supported with a second frame. The combination of several frames allows us to create architectural spaces.

All frames are connected through a central, symmetrical vertical axis with bearings as incerconnection elements between frames. The structure gains versatility with rotation. It can be formed depending on its different uses.

I. Single Frame is not stable against lateral, out-of-plane forces

Constructural Concept

II.

IV.

Large place for meetings and events

Different Variations of Structure

Exhibition rooms

Artistic experimental structures

Two frames are supporting each other

III. Lots of frames together form an architectural space

Non intersecting and supporting frames give the more flexibility

Open spaces as meeting points

Platform

Half open spaces for camping and shelter

Single Frame and tearing down its components

STRUCTURE & ELEMENTS

ASSEMBLY

I. Frames are placed on site

III. Beams are fixed to the main frames

IV. Columns are connected to fixed beams

II. Main frames are fixed to each other with metal supports at each corner

V. The same process is applied until all frames are established. During dissassembly, the exact reverse of this process is done

Connection I - for the main frames with steel components from the inner corner

Connection Ii - for the main frames with steel components from the inner corner

DETAILING OF ELEMENTS

Tear down of Corner Components

“Glued laminated timber” is used as the main material, which is made of “klin dried lumber”. This material has almost no volumetric changes due to humidity, minimum impact from steel plates, bolts and connections, and minimum damage during assembly and disassembly of construction.

Wooden components with 175 mm thickness and 35 mm width are connected to each other with metal bolts of 10 mm, 35 mm length and lock nuts.

To increase strength, a 10 mm thick steel plate is placed between wooden components.

Detail of corner components - side

Detail of corner components - front

Detail of corner components - top

DETAILING OF ELEMENTS

I. Wooden structures are prone to deformation due to humidity from the ground. To prevent this, direct contact with the ground is prevented.

II. In this structure, we use a wheeling system to prevent wooden components from touching the ground and to make the frames rotate more conveniently.

III. If the frames are fixed, it is kept in place by a mechanical lock and stored behind a 10mm thick aluminium protective box with its own locking system.

IV. These boxes also give a durable look to the whole structure.

V. To rotate frames, the protechtive aluminium box is unlocked, slid up and fixed over the wheels.

VI. An Industrial wheel with a mechanical arm and suspension system. Its radius is 13cm. It can be used fore slopes up to 1.8%.

The frames are connected to each other with bearings on a horizontal rotational axis.

Two bearings attached to different frames, one from the bottom and the other from the top, are connected to each other with bolts.

All Frames on the same facade are connected to each other on a central rotational axis. Thus, it becomes a structrure that can change its shape for every different uses.

VERSATILITY & PROGRAMMING

VARIATION I: Multipurpose space for meetings events and for group activities - 61.4m²

Frontal view of Variation I

Frontal section of Variation I

Model Photo of Variation I

VERSATILITY & PROGRAMMING

VARIATION II: Meeting Point Bar - 61.4m²

Floor Plan of Variation II

REFLECTION

With this project, I had the opportunity to practice and improve my design principle as „constructing ideas and interractions by using basic elemental architectural components“.

I want to thank our dear lecturer Dr. Sandra HäuplikMeusburger, to Prof. Peter Bauer and our guest critics for preparing this beautiful design experience and guiding us with their knowledges to mentor our projects.

-Günes Aydar

Image sources

humans on page 110: https://skalgubbar.se

p. 113: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Burning_ Man_2007_aerial_view.jpg

Model Photo of Variation II

REVIEWS

Marina Konstantatou

The main design concept of Frames is a timber pavilion, the modular geometry of which - along with its mechanical elements – allows its reconfigurability in a wide range of different forms. The context for experiencing the pavilion was the burning man festival, the core principles of which do resonate with the given brief on versatility and subsequently informed the design approach.

The geometry of the pavilion is interestingly based on structural observations, that is, from the fact that single, unbraced, frames are not optimal under lateral forces. However, the inclusion of multiple interconnected frames - which can rotate spatially with respect to each othercan lead to a quite different structural system which is both architecturally expressive and highly reconfigurable.

This ability to programme multiple nested frames in terms of their rotation angles results in a multitude of architectural spaces which can greatly vary in terms of openness, resulting experience, and function. These can include meeting, performance, and exhibition spaces, shelter and gathering areas, as well as structures such as platforms and even sculptures.

The geometry of the individual GLT (Glued Laminated Timber) frames was simple and consisted of three timber linear elements along with reinforcement in terms of steel plates as well as a wheeling system which was a thoughtful and well-documented addition. This would allow rotation and translation of the frames as well as protect the structure by isolating it from the ground and prevent damage during assembly and disassembly.

The simplicity of the frame elements also contributes to its recyclability since the timbers could be easily repurposed. In relation to this, even though each individual frame is a very

simple 2-dimensional structure, the resulting configurations – based on scaling and rotating of the main element – result in an impressive array of open, closed, and curved spaces. Future steps could include a parametric computational implementation in terms of geometry reconfigurability as well as the analysis thereof for various loading scenarios. Overall a well-thought and well-designed project which thoroughly and creatively answered the brief for versatility of space.

Miriam Dall’Igna

1. Very good idea considering the nature of the design studio – construct, deconstruct, reconstruct.

2. The parts are easy to reassemble and re-use.

3. In addition, there is great thinking in terms of assembly versatility for reuse regarding space function, i.e. the multiple function of spaces that it generates.

4. The project would benefit from structural analysis of the different configurations

5. The presentation is well structured, however, it would be enriched by precedents documented and also references page.