instructor:: Ulrika Karlsson, servo/ krets
from the coherent
to the monstrous
This workshop explores the superficies of architecture through the use of developable surface geometries. The superficial will be explored as both a technical operation, through the fabrication of a series of constructive, often intersecting, surfaces and as a discussion on the relationship between substance and surface.
Outline
The workshop will study the growth and construction of autonomous species of developable surface cells (cones). These cells will be finessed as architectural substance – at one extreme maintaining internal coherence, at the other approaching the monstrous as individual geometric species begin to corrupt one another.
The site of the installation becomes important as we will work off and on the existing building through modulations and deviations. We will consider what performative qualities begin to emerge and what relationships are produced by working off, growing on or adding onto the existing architecture? Central to the workshop will be an evolving discussion addressing the monstrous and the familiar and how these qualities can be explored through the installation.
technique
We will develop techniques of modulation by working with simple parameters to generate controlled transformations of a given module. The module, a cone, is a developable surface; one that can be flattened onto a plane without distortion. The cone will work as a constructive parametrically variable element.
Working parameters include: the radius of conic base, the height of conic axis, the angle of the conic axis, and the angle of an elliptical section of a cone. The cone, and its developable surface geometry, will function as a tool for the production of modules (building material) at the same time as it will function as building material, a simple module which can be parametrically varied, for constructing the installation.
It is crucial to work with different operations to achieve connectivity between modules such as the intersection of cones, and the making of adjacencies through surface connections.
The parameters will be modulated according to an (iterative) incremental logic in the interest of producing gradient effects adopting to and working off the hosting interior context of the Kunstuniversität Linz. These techniques allow the installation to grow incrementally, to be adjusted to specific site conditions and to continuously be designed by, modulated by and controlled by the workshop participants.
Materials and Tools
A couple of tools with a set of measurable parameters (the radius of conic base, the height of conic axis, the angle of the conic axis, and the angle of an elliptical section of a cone/intersection lines) will be used to make modules and the differentiation of modules.
The different specified geometries of all student projects become developed using Rhino. For the material production of the modules and the installation the participants will use simple sheet material (cardboard) that is cut by a laser cutter. Connections are being made using cable ties and shelf tape.
workshop conducted by
Ulrika Karlsson
architect, servo
affiliated Professor in Architecture
School of Architecture
KTH-Royal Institute of Technology
Stockholm
