BEX Convention Exhibition

This design study revisits more basic concepts of an experimentation with thin sheets. Here, the concept is turned into a 6 metre long and 2.3 metre high shelf-like structure. Unlike previously listed attempts of turning sheets into primary surfaces, here they are used as waffle frames. Different to the more regular waffle grids, in this case individual sheets are agin bent and can thus change connectivity from one to another layer. I coined the term of Dynamic Hierarchies for the concept of changing states between form giving and supporting layers. The bending of individual sheets puts them in active bending again, hence putting the whole structure in a permanent state of tension, creating a force that is pushing outwards. Textile fabric is used to counteract these forces and pull the individual parts back together. In addition, vertical sheets are rotated around their vertical axes, contributing to the lateral stability of the assembly. In addition, this aspect is utilised as a visual effect, orienting vertical sheets according to different viewing angles in order to either block or direct views through the structure. 

The fabrication (construction) is carried out in a very straightforward process of interlocking sheets. They are pre-assembled in five different parts. The textile fabric stretches across all five parts to tie them together and lock them in place. The differentiation between different forces in play (tension, compression, lateral stability) hints in the direction of tensegrity structures in terms of its tectonic expression.

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