SYNTHESIS OF STRIP PATTERN

BRIEF

Stripe patterns are widely spread in nature in different scales, from the smallest molecules to skin pattern of plants and animals.

These patterns can also be identified in the growth of cells, which show how their intensification in specified areas makes the surface transform and curl on itself. The generation and the properties of such structures are explored through parametric techniques using algorithms to create complex hyperbolic geometries. In depth, from a spatial point of view,stripe surface discretization can be used to represent three-dimensional objects defining space, form, and structure simultaneously. They are intensively adopted in various fields of construction, like boat industry, concrete formworks, panelling techniques among many others. While in computational design, material elements can be defined by behaviour rather than shape, arising new performative potential through the material driven design approach.

The proposed system will focus on synthesizing stripe patterns from double curved surfaces, giving the user the possibility to define the design of a new global geometry and vary parameters like stripe orientation and line spacing. The computation of the design process will embed material properties of wood, considering it’s elastic moment and using it as an advantage to increase the global strength of the lightweight system. Physical properties and material behaviour will be computed and simulated throughout the process and will be the foundation for the actual construction technique on site and further on for the assembly strategy of complex geometries from initially planar plywood pieces.

The structure will be dictated by a ring like topology and will include dedicated joint connection between the stripes, distributing topological differentiation by interconnecting areas. The resulting patterns are globally continuous, investigating the possibility of a smooth space defined by the equilibrium state of the embedded forces.

GOALS

Among the learning process of computational and parametric design, this workshop is oriented towards the digital fabrication strategies and an integrative design thinking. Workshop sessions will include material properties research, development of complex geometrical 3D parametric models, fabrication details and techniques, work with small scale prototypes with the help of a laser cutter and 1:1 prototypes with the use of a CNC machine. In order to test the performative capacity of the material and the integration of all the principles mentioned above, an architectural prototype will be realised in scale 1:1.