Hyperbody Workshop on Robotic Fabrication

Wes McGee to teach a workshop with Dave Pigram on Robotic Fabrication as part of the Hyperbody Workshop Series at TU Delft. The workshop with Wes McGee [ matter design studio / Taub­mann Col­lege of Archi­tec­ture ] and Dave Pigram [ supermanouvre / university of technology sydney] explores the idea of funicular structures coupled with the robotic hotwire cutting process. Hotwire cutting is a highly effective and relatively novel approach to the production of volume and is highly effective in the production of volumetric elements of EPS foam. The workshop explores the potential of EPS formwork while revisiting the idea of half-timber structures. Part of the formwork will be come structural, part of it remains within the structure, part of the formwork will be disposed off / recycled.

The workshop is open to a limited number of external students at a reasonable fee of €150, including workshop materials.

Organic Fabrications Workshop

Brandon Clifford and Wes McGee are to instruct the Oganic Fabrications Workshop at the University of Michigan Taubman College on Saturday October 29, 2011.

This workshop is dedicated to advancing complex modeling and making of organic geometries.  We will understand the principles of surface curvature, as well as promote the control of these principles to resolve our geometries with constraints.  The workshop will then translate these principles into fabrication methods.  T-Splines for Rhino will serve as the platform for these operations.

If you are a member of the TCAUP community and would like to attend, please sign up here.  Space is limited.

Brandon Clifford Wins SOM Prize

We are proud to announce, Brandon has been selected as this years winner of the 2011 SOM Prize by the SOM Foundation and will recieve a funded travel fellowship.  He will use this opportunity to expand the current research in stereotomy.  To learn more click here.

Temporal Tenancy Installation

The Temporal Tenancy installation is a prototype for a rapidly customizable method of making.  This method employs robotically hot-wire cut EPS foam blocks with a raceway to allow for post tensioning.  These blocks are not permanently fastened together, but rather temporarily compressed by a cable.  When the site requires a different function, size, or scale of time, these cables can be released and the blocks will drop with the intention of being recycled and prepared for their next architectural manifestation.

the Malleablists to present at Center for Architecture

The Malleablists (members of the Archiprix International team Malleable Manhattan, lead by Brandon Clifford) have been selected to present their manifesto at the Center for Architecture this Friday, June 8th at 4:30 pm.  The Malleablists movement is dedicated to re-imagining the role of the architect in an ever changing society.

(top) rendering by Melanie Hammer | (bottom) detail by Rodrigo Rodrigo García González

Post-Tension Wall Prototype

This installation is an experiment into rapidly customizable and constructable making.  CNC robotically hotwire cut foam building blocks are strung together with cables.  These cables are tied off to a foundation and tensioned together to erect the enclosure.

Envelope as Atmosphere

As part of the research for the Princeton Envelope Group, this envelope was developed in pursuit of an envelope as atmosphere.  As opposed to considering the envelope as a hermetic seal, this facade breaths, conditions, and cleans.  This specific prototype is for the American Apparel factory building in Los Angeles.  Because of the client has an abundance of material and knowledge in fabric, this facade was designed to be fabricated in house, and cast in place with concrete.  The thermal mass of this concrete (in conjunction with the designed geometry) cools the air during the warm days in LA.

A special thanks to Dave Pigram for his tutorial.

To see more visit the Atmosphere page.

Introducing Periscope

Periscope is the winning entry in the 10up international competition.  The competition brief requested a temporary installation to act as signage for the Modern Atlanta Event that could be installed in 24 hours in a plot 10'x10' and for less than $5,000.  Matter in collaboration with Dave Pigram of Supermanoeuvre and Matt Johnson of SGH proposed to build a 50' tall foam tower.  The tower went up in only 6 hours with the aid of Tierson Boutte of Boutte Tree.

Robotic Fabrication support donated by the FabLab at University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

For more information about Pericsope see the project page.

Fabricating Periscope

Periscope is nearing completion and will be erected in Atlanta May 28th.

A special thanks to the fabrication team for all of your hard work. -- Maciej Kaczynski, Johanna Lobdell, Deniz McGee, and Kris Walters.

10Up Competition - Winning Entry

Periscope has been selected as the winning entry in the 10Up Competition.  Fabrication (Robotic Hot-wire) has begun in preparation of the June 1st installation date.  The proposed design is a 50 ft tall tower.  Come join us for the opening ceremonies.

This project is a collaboration with Dave Pigram of Supermanoeuvre and Matthew Johnson of SGH.  Thanks to Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning for fabrication support.

Malleable Space

Charged with the task of developing a contemporary villa architype, these 3 models represent the theory of malleable space.  Each model represent a moment in time of a continuously transforming space -- a single occupant pod for living.  Situated in the north Atlantic Ocean, the pod's envelope reconfigures in response to program, structure, and environmental concerns.  When the pod encounters rough water, it closes up and protects the inhabitant.  As the seas calm, the envelop gradually opens.  This malleable architecture questions the conventional space planning phase of design where functions are separated into multiple rooms forever dedicated to a single purpose -- bath, kitchen, bedroom, living...  In these pods, you don't change spaces to perform different function, the space changes in response to your function creating a reciprocal relationship between the occupant and the envelope.

These scale models are constructed from the same geometric principles researched in the malleable foam research project.

Malleable Bath

toilet | urinal | sink | shower | bath

Typically in designing a residence, flexibility in design is limited to certain irreducible factors.  A minimum bathroom is 5' X 7'.  This bathroom contains a shower or bath, a toilet, and a sink -- all with their individual dimensions and functions.  By addressing the typology of bathroom, both function and flexibility have a direct relationship with the human body.  When each of these specific porcelain objects are viewed topologically, we can see each is composed of a water supply and a water return.  Beyond these elements, the specifics of dimension are dictated by (1) the function, and (2) general human proportions and dimensions.

Removed from the restrictions of a 5'X7' bath, we consolidated all wet functions into a single malleable space.  This space is comprised of a water supply, water return, and a silicone surface that configures itself in response, not only to general human dimensions, but to the specifics to the occupant's body.

Large Format Additive Fabrication

As part of the Fall 2009 Robotic Fabrication course, students challenged the traditional limitations of the 3d printing process. One big limitation is the scale/cost ratio. Several researchers have proposed building-sized fabrication machines, but all rely on massive gantry-type machines….massive in cost and limited in mobility.

This project seeks to propose the process not just for full scale modeling, but instead for the full scale fabrication of actual building components. The process is a hybrid between additive and subtractive techniques to create a net-shape building component. This part can then be coated as well as filled internally to provide structure and surface rigidity. Precedents include the typical ICF concrete forms as well as the foam core composites used in high end structures requiring double curvature. Even if used simply as a mold production process, the material savings occurs from eliminating a majority of the waste created in a purely subtractive process such as milling EPS foam blocks for molds. The ability to extrude a tooling paste over the surface has already been proven in the aerospace and wind turbine fabrication industries.

Certainly the topological freedom of 3d printing has already been proven, but not at the building scale. Integrated electrical and mechanical passages are just one possibility. The capability to create limited overhang without a supporting scaffold is also a major advantage, requiring the ability to angle the extrusion nozzle. Future research includes the application of GFRC/P (glass fiber reinforced concrete or polymer) coatings as well as back-filling structural reinforcement into the voids created.

Student credits Lead: Kris Walters Team:Les Key, Jae Ryong Oh, Jonathan Puff, Dan Weissman