Diagrids have become an iconic architectural element. Living in the age of Foster + Partners’<\/a>Hearst Tower<\/a> in New York and the Gherkin<\/a> in London, these famous buildings boast diamond-shaped weaves that creep up their elongated fa\u00e7ades, resembling rockets on a launchpad, prepped and ready for take-off. Over the past decade, diagrids have been frequently incorporated to impress the public and challenge what is geometrically possible.<\/p>\n Composed of an intersecting framework of metal, concrete or wooden beams, the criss-crossing triangular pattern of a diagrid creates a mutually reinforcing support system. Just as you were told in middle-school geometry, triangles will not collapse under pressure, given that its joints are strong enough. With such a functional application, it is intuitive that the sinuous pattern would be implemented and transformed on ceilings \u2014 a core structural element of a building.<\/p>\n Interpretations of the diagrid are infinite. This collection shows those employed as structural supports, sculptural elements and dramatic shading screens. Regardless of their initial intention, the diagrid ceiling leads visitors to look up, gaze in admiration, and experience their surroundings under particularly extraordinary conditions.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Balmond Studio<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Balmond Studio<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Balmond Studio<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Serpentine Gallery Pavilion with Toyo Ito<\/b><\/a> by Balmond Studio<\/a>, London, United Kingdom<\/p>\n The intention of this Serpentine Pavilion was to transform the most ordinary spatial typology \u2014 a box \u2014 into something extraordinary. Inspired by the intersecting channels throughout London\u2019s Hyde Park, Balmond used a network of crisscrossing lines to form the pavilion\u2019s shape. The sharp structure is composed of supportive steel blades and a checkered pattern of glass and aluminum panels.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Hufton+Crow Photography<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Hufton+Crow Photography<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Hufton+Crow Photography<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n King\u2019s Cross Station<\/b><\/a> by John McAslan + Partners<\/a>, London, United Kingdom<\/p>\n Completed in 2012, John McAslan + Partners were commissioned to modernize and refurbish the historic King\u2019s Cross Station. Representing a vibrant site of civic pride and place-making, the project created a highly expressive concourse, which acts as the beating heart of the design. The building\u2019s dramatic diagrid, which fans out like a massive umbrella, performs as both a sculpture and ceiling.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Architecture Commons<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Architecture Commons<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Architecture Commons<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Hong Kong International Airport Preschool<\/a><\/b>by Architecture Commons<\/a>, Hong Kong<\/p>\n The Hong Kong Airport Preschool is a new facility that provides daycare to airport employees. Through extensive glazing, the design takes advantage of the terminal\u2019s high ceilings and proximity to the stunning Lantau Mountains. The daycare\u2019s utilities are lined up against the back wall and defined by a series of pitched roofs. The same shapes are transformed upwards into a wooden diagrid, which wraps the back wall and ceiling. The design accentuates a gradient in both color and pattern.<\/p>\n Hackney Service Centre<\/b><\/a> by Hopkins Architects<\/a>, London, United Kingdom<\/p>\n Located in London, Hopkins Architects\u2019 Hackney Service Center is a new administrative building that occupies five principal floors. The main focus of the building is an atrium, which features a glazed atrium roof that integrates an array of photovoltaic cells. Such technology helped achieve sizable reductions in the building\u2019s carbon emissions.<\/p>\n \u00a9 NOJI<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 NOJI<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 NOJI<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Scale of Ply<\/b><\/a> by NOJI<\/a>, Dublin, Ireland<\/p>\n Previously dark and damp, this two-story Victorian house was transformed through a lattice plywood structure, which was carefully shaped in order to allow light to penetrate deep into the plan. For this project, plywood was selected to achieve three goals: strong aesthetics, structural support and economic properties. The structure was prefabricated offsite, which increased accuracy and quality of the build.<\/p>\n \u00a9 School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n ZCB Bamboo Pavilion<\/b><\/a> by Chinese University of Hong Kong, School of Architecture<\/a>, Hong Kong<\/p>\n ZCB Bamboo Pavilion is an innovative public event space, which is composed of 473 bending bamboo poles, each hand-tied together based on traditional Cantonese bamboo scaffolding craftsmanship. The large diagrid shell structure, which supports a seating capacity of 200 people, is used to host performances and events that promote low-carbon living.<\/p>\n \u00a9 Foster + Partners<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 Foster + Partners<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Smithsonian Institute, National Portrait Gallery<\/b><\/a> by Foster + Partners<\/a>, Washington, United States<\/p>\n The Smithsonian Institute occupies the former United States Patent Building, which was built between 1836 and 1867 and is described as one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States. Since 1958, when the building was rescued from demolition, the site has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The diagrid enclosure of the building\u2019s central courtyard flourished out of a desire to create one of the largest event spaces in Washington.<\/p>\n \u00a9 IwamotoScott Architecture<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n \u00a9 IwamotoScott Architecture<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n Pinterest HQ<\/a><\/b>by IwamotoScott Architecture<\/a>, San Francisco, Calif., United States<\/p>\n The program for Pinterest\u2019s new headquarters was envisioned as a series of porous layers, which were concentrically designed around an atrium and staircase. At the front of the building, a plywood diagrid waffle acts as the threshold between the city and interior space. The geometric design acts as a canopy above the lobby, reception, coffee bar and public event space.<\/p>\n Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work by uploading projects to Architizer<\/a>\u00a0and sign up for our\u00a0inspirational newsletters<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Interpretations of the diagrid are infinite. In this collection alone, we look at those employed as structural supports, sculptural elements and dramatic shading screens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"architizer_featured_type":"projects","architizer_featured_image":"2113887","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,3],"tags":[15],"architizer_project":[],"architizer_brand":[],"architizer_firm":[],"architizer_product":[],"class_list":["post-16985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-collections","category-inspiration","tag-collection"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\t
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