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.
Matter is pleased to announce our Ply Shelves have been awarded both a jury selected and peoples choice AZ Award. To learn more or purchase your own Ply Shelf, visit C.W. Keller Furniture.
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.
The Ply Shelves have been nominated for a 'Best of Year' award with Interior Design Magazine. The nominee with the most votes wins the award. Feel free to cast your own vote and help us out, or pass this along to your friends if you like.
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.
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.
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.
Matter is proud to announce the Drawn Dress will be published in Issue 8 of Pidgin Magazine. Join us at the release party for champaign. Details below.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Center for Architecture
Street: 536 LaGuardia Place
City/Town: New York, NY
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.
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.
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
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This full scale mockup is a part of the larger research project addressing malleable architecture. We charged ourselves with the task of producing a physical showcase of the concept. In theory, the robot would constantly carve the wall, re-producing an envelope required for each moment in time. By utilizing a variable cone boolean operation, the inherent system that constructs the perforations in the wall are topologically intelligent enough to respond to scale and porosity.
More to come soon regarding the relevant research.
Brandon Clifford has been invited to present the 'Drawn Dress' at this years Princeton Research Symposium on Saturday December 5th. The PRS2009 is open to the public and registration is free.
Matter is proud to announce the 
