Kinetic Architecture Brief

FEATHERLIGHT Kinetic Boat House Door

Justin Austen

Ally MacLean

Scott Yu-Jan

Lauren Low

Stewart Pressney

Dynamic Evolutionary Displacement

INSPIRATION

Mechanism

Client

Movement

Highly industrious amplified gears move oscillating swing-arms that expand a set of door slats into an encompassing wing like structure. One smaller drive gear powers the system from its lowest point. Ball Bearings are used to reduce friction at joints during oscillations.

Imagine if you will an uber rich, Italian land owner. Her summer residence nestled in the Italian alps, on the glacial waters of Lake Como. She drives, among others, a midnight blue Rolls Royce wraith with a cream leather interior in a Gucci dress to get cappuccino and cornetto on Tuesday morning. Needless to say affluence is an understatement, and she is sure everyone knows it.

“Opening� beyond the reaches of what was previously deemed possible for the mundane door. A spectacular exercise in futility to announce a day on the water. An inauguration of expansion that ends with an uncompressed lust for flight.

IDEATION PHASE

Initial concepts pointed to a multi door system that would transform a side space of the boathouse while also opening the front boat door in a fluid expressive fashion. Further exploration led to the winged outcome that has been conceptualized.

IDEATION PHASE

PROTOTYPING

Gesture drawings exploring possible opening outcomes for the door. These were then developed through rapid prototyping into 3d mock-ups that try to illustrate form in space.

INITIAL PROTOTYPING

A strong concept that was strayed away from was an idea for slats that had counter weighted wheels near the ceiling. These slats, driven by a driveshaft, would open in sequence resulting in a wave like motion wheels moving. When raised the slats would provide an ideal sunshade for hotter days on the lake.

MATERIALS

In keeping with the pastoral style of Como a concise yet broken in material pallet has been selected.

Weathered brass and steel sit atop aged repurposed wooden fins. A heavy industrialist approach was taken towards the functioning of the mechanics. Rustic naturalist style; simplistic modernist appeal.

BOATHOUSE

The supporting boathouse is constructed from heavy wooden beams and has a 45 degree pitch, which the arms of the door mechanism will follow. Moreover it is mostly open fronted to accommodate the door and mechanism.

DRIVING MECHANISM

Highly industrious amplified gears move oscillating swing-arms that expand a set of door slats into an encompassing wing like structure. One smaller drive gear powers the system through an electric motor. Ball Bearings are used to reduce friction at joints during oscillations.

CONTEXT RENDER

A spectacular exercise in futility to announce a day on the water. An inauguration of expansion that ends with an uncompressed statement of utilization, opening beyond the reaches of what was previously mundane.

Though it is true the featherlight door is completely unnecessary, to some, its expressive almost living qualities justify its eccentricity.

MODEL CONSTRUCTION

The Scale model is comprised of three main parts.The first is a CNC cut MDF frame.

Mounted to this is a plywood gear system which powers a drive shaft. Mounted to the front of the frame is the mockup of the featherlight door system.