DA VINCI’S CODEX Irina Ghiuzan
NARRATIVE The project is a small tessellated mechanical object, a movable cube open to the sky to welcome the curious travellers. It creates an enigmatic place for meditation, interactivity, meeting and reflection.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION ‘Da Vinci Codex’ is a latticed sculptural piece which creates unique poetics of morphology that merges structure and movement. It transgresses the artificial boundary between art, science and technology, casting seemingly established analogies in a new light while inviting visitors to rethink the relationship between form, geometry and construction. Linear and curved scissor elements form a series of recursive cubes which speak of infinity and the complexity of our world. It denotes a recognizable metaphor of ‘object-within-similar-object’ that appears in the design of many other natural and crafted objects. The precision of the cubic form reflects the organised chaos of our universe. Poignant patterns inspired by a study into the scissor movement of the cube elements are perforated into the triangulated parts of the Codex.
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INTERACTIVITY As they expand and collapse, they form unique and intricate shadows which highlight the transitional quality of human life and emotions, changing from a state of happiness to sadness, from calm to anger, from life to death. The structure provides shelter from the heat of the sun while entertaining its guests with opportunities to engage with the structure. A deployment mechanism inspired by study into Leonardo da Vinci’s machinery sketches found in his Codex Atlanticus is actuated by a series of gears situated at the base of the structure, which are set into motion by a pedal system powered by visitors. As burners interact with the piece, they contemplate a fascinating and spectacular change of light and decor. ‘Da Vinci Codex’ stands as a piece of event architecture, a spatial construct where movement is a transformational creative force.
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PRE-FABRICATION COMPONENTS 30 mm
The size of each member has been carefully considered not only to allow structural integrity but also to respect the proportions of the human body.
1300 mm
900 mm
24 mm
1100 mm 750 mm
10 mm
900 mm 620 mm
Pre-fabrication components and assembly diagram
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CUBE FACE CONFIGURATIONS Each face of the cube moves in a synchronised manner. The relationship between the size of each face and proportions of the human body has been inspired by da Vinci’s Vitruvian man.
Intermediate configurations of a cube face
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PRE-FABRICATION COMPONENTS All panels are cut by laser cutter from 2440 x 1220 x 10 mm sheets of ply. With 24 sheets it is possible to cut out all the necessary pieces.
6 sheets
Pre-fabrication nesting diagram
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6 sheets
6 sheets
6 sheets
Physical test model at 1:10 scale
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MOTION MECHANISM The visitors interact with the piece by powering one of the four pedal systems connected to the deploying mechanism. As they pedal, the burners witness a captivating movement: the synchronised expanding and collapsing of the three cubes which cast intricate shadows and stimulate a sense of play. The visitors can also step inside the cubes and experience a series of ‘in-between’ spaces before reaching the central volume and enjoying a level of protection from the wind and sun. The highly abstract aesthetic of the ‘da Vinci Codex’ is meant to affect the community with a spirit of experimentation and encourage each and every burner to question preconceived ideas, beliefs or desires.
Transformation of alternating to continuous motion from Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Atlanticus
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Project base components and assembly diagram
Cubes assembly diagram
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Construction sequence diagrams
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3500 mm
3200 mm
Plan and elevation A Scale 1:50
Plan and elevation B Scale 1:50
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