Elastic Architecture / Studio Jan Knippers
The Elastic Architecture studio workshop aims to introduce the potential of material-driven deformation behavior for architectural applications. The workshop is organized by PAACADEMY in collaboration with ITKE, University of Stuttgart. A certificate of attendance will be provided in collaboration with ITKE.
Elastic Architecture
Despite the common perception of our built environment as something static and permanent, architects and engineers have been seeking reconfiguration and adaptation throughout the history of architecture. This led to many concepts and technical solutions that might facilitate architectural applications to adapt to changing spatial and structural demands and environmental influences.
Most technical movable applications are utilized by so-called rigid-body mechanisms, where hinges join rigid elements with specified degrees of freedom. In contrast to this clear functional distinction between stiff elements and joints, the investigation of biological systems reveals numerous motion principles based on the elastic deformation of fibrous materials, known as Elastic mechanisms. These Elastic mechanisms use the interrelation between form, structure, and material – inherent to biological systems – to achieve great variation of motion possibilities while keeping the mechanical complexity comparatively low. Besides performative aspects, the investigation of biological Elastic mechanisms offers interesting design potentials. Mechanisms based on elastic deformation often only need a small actuation impulse to actuate a complex three-dimensional output motion – not obvious but still plausible to the observer, an aesthetic value of complex biological motion.
Bio-inspired Elastic architectural applications have been realized in projects such as the One Ocean Pavilion (SOMA Architects, Knippers Helbig Advanced Engineering), the bio-inspired Flectofold façade shading device (ITKE/ ITFT, University of Stuttgart) or the ITECH Research Demonstrator 2018-19 (ICD/ITKE/ITFT, University of Stuttgart). The mentioned examples use the elasticity of the used materials – mainly fiber reinforces polymers (FRP) – in combination with geometrical articulation to adapt their shape through elastic deformation to distinct functional demands, without mechanical hinges or the geometrical constraints of linear translation axis. In contrast to those actively controlled responsive systems, the Urbach Tower (ICD/ITKE, University of Stuttgart) uses the moisture-dependent shrinking behavior of wood for self-shaping of curved wood panels to overcome complex and energy-intensive mechanical forming processes.
The workshop aims to introduce the potential of material-driven deformation behavior for architectural applications. Thus, various simulation and form-finding strategies will be introduced to design with elastic deformation and motion. The workshop participants will work in small groups (3-4 students) on a small design task to exercise the taught skills.
The workshop will be integrated within parts of the ITECH Seminar “Form and Structure”, which provides an introduction into various structural systems, simulation strategies, and their potential for architectural design.
Schedule:
Thursday 02.12.2021
13:00 – 14:00 Opening Lecture by Prof.-Dr. Jan Knippers (Introduction lecture to elastic deformation in an architectural context)
14:00 – 18:00 (Karamba Workshop)
Tuesday 07.12.2021
Video Upload Motion Calculation I
- The introduction of the concept with Timoshenko beam theory
- Shape matching method demonstration with kangaroo example
Thursday 9.12.2021
9:30 – 18:00 (Workshop Q&A)
Thursday 16.12.2021
9:30 – 13:30 (Sofistik Workshop)
14:00 – 18:00 (Workshop Q&A)
Tuesday 11.01.2022
Upload lecture “Motion Calculation II”
- Temperature change method with Karamba example
- Abstraction for pneumatic actuation methods
- FEM simulation method with sophistic
Thursday 13.01.2022
9:30 – 18:00 (Workshop Q&A)
Thursday 20.01.2022
Submission Assignment
Important Notes:
- The Elastic Architecture studio workshop by PAACADEMY will start on Saturday, December 2, at 13:00 (GMT+2).
- Total sessions: 7 Sessions
- Daily schedule: 09:30 – 18:00 (GMT+2) (each session may vary in duration)
- Each session and the entire studio will be recorded and videos will be available for participants just a day after the class for an unlimited period of time.
- A certificate of attendance will be provided ITKE upon delivering the final project.
- The studio workshop will be integrated within parts of the ITECH Seminar “Form and Structure” together with the students of the university.
- The studio has limited seats. Tickets are non-transferable & non-refundable. Please read before you purchase.
Software requirements
- Rhinoceros 3D version 6.0 or 7.0
- Grasshopper 3D
- Karamba 3D
The 90-day trial version can be downloaded from the website www.rhino3d.com/eval.html
You can download Karamba 3D from this link: www.karamba3d.com/download/
€550.00
