HygroScope: Front Side

HYGROSCOPE – METEOROSENSITIVE MORPHOLOGY
Achim Menges in collaboration with Steffen Reichert, Centre Pompidou, Paris, 2012

PROJECT TEAM

Achim Menges Architect, Frankfurt
Prof. Achim Menges, Steffen Reichert, Boyan Mihaylov
(Project Development, Design Development)

Institute for Computational Design, University of Stuttgart
Prof. Achim Menges, Steffen Reichert, Nicola Burggraf, Tobias Schwinn with Claudio Calandri, Nicola Haberbosch, Oliver Krieg, Marielle Neuser, Viktoriya Nikolova, Paul Schmidt
(Design Development, Scientific Development, Robotic Fabrication, Assembly)

Transsolar Climate Engineering, Stuttgart
Thomas Auer, Daniel Pianka
(Climate Engineering)

Image: Achim Menges and Steffen Reichert

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Albums: HygroScope by Achim Menges and Steffen Reichert
Location: Centre Pompidou, Paris, 2012

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Comment by Boyan Mihaylov on May 3, 2012 at 10:21am: Many thanks to all for the appreciation on behalf of the whole team!

To answer Arthur's and Tony's questions, the overall morphology mostly resulted from studies on the material behaviour of the climate-responsive elements that the structure is covered with. These are made of veneer covered with a glass-fibre layer on one side, which causes the elements to bend open during humidity changes through the generated inner stress.

Initially several basic systems were designed which utilized this material behaviour, from which two were chosen for the sculpture - the polygonal, concentrically opening cells which can be observed in the two "hot-spots" of the structure as well as in the intermediate channels between the three main elements; and the diagonally opening "quads" which can be seen on the radial rays of each main element. The overall morphology was designed as a possible combination of these two systems and was furthermore developed to form a voluminous structure with zones of different depth, which could possibly transfer, redirect or hold humid air volumes.

An intricate part of the generative script was, as usual, the production optimization, which included the rationalization of the veneer element size, since these were cut out of veneer stripes with a limited width. Other important issues were to guarantee the planarity of the quads and to avoid collision of neighbour elements during opening.

As Andrea already mentioned, the object will be presented at the exhibition "Multiversités créatives" at Centre Pompidou in Paris during the period 03.05.12-06.08.12.

Comment by Tony Nachev on April 29, 2012 at 2:54pm: Bravo! super e :) predpolagam otvorite reagirat na klimatichni faktori?

Comment by Ali Habibian on April 28, 2012 at 2:58pm: just so gra88888888

Comment by Andrea Graziano on April 28, 2012 at 7:04am: Totally agree with Arthur ... it's a masterpiece. I really hope to have the chance to see it in Paris at "Multiversités créatives" exhibition ! Congrats !

Comment by Arthur Mamou-Mani on April 28, 2012 at 4:23am: Congratulation to the team. This is such a beautiful piece of art.

Please could you tell us a bit more on the overall morphology and how it was designed?