Expandable Surface Pavilion

Cologne, Germany

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Expandable Surface Pavilion

Cologne, Germany

YEAR

2011

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

As a development of ongoing research designers Pablo Zamorano, Nacho Martí and Jacob Bek, in collaboration with the Emergent
Technologies & Design Research Programme at the Architecutural
Assoiciaiton, are exhibiting an exciting new experiment in pushing the
boundaries of a highly efficient and sustainable fabrication process of a standard
natural sheet material. The design
manifested into an exhibition and meeting room pavilion that explores
complex geometries generated by simple cut patterning in sheets.

One of
the largest inefficiencies in building systems today is the overlap and lack of
integration between building elements. The Expandable
Surface System looks to integrate all elements into one - structure, facade
and shading while developing a sustainable mode of fabrication. In order to
achieve this out of the sheet material, the system will need to utilize double
curvature. This reason alone, a non-homogeneous cut pattern was required to
allow for vertical resistance, while allowing for rotation or bending to permit
a reasonable horizontal span for inhabitation.
To
realize the built structure, the team underwent extensive structural and
geometric digital analysis to understand and anticipate the reaction between
the material and pattern. A system of mathematical relationships were derived
to control found material properties digitally. This iterative process was then
scrutinized and revised by findings resulted from structural analysis. The
ability to understand material properties from the standpoint of geometry lead to
the success of the project. These processes are always directly linked to
designing for material efficiently, reduced construction waste, and low energy
means of fabrication, transportation and assembly. It was a great lesson for the
designers to learn from the material. This feedback was the guiding factor in
the design process.
While the
construction not only examines issues of material, geometry, and computation;
the success of the design was contingent on questions of fabrication, minimal
waste, and deployability. In rethinking contemporary modes of construction,
this proposal aims to achieve zero material waste. The fabrication process is
down to less than 2 percent waste. The system logic and geometric design is
embedded in the material directly, rendering no need for additional systems of
support or assembly. With minimal or zero energy, digital fabrication files can
be sent to CNC facilities all over the globe in seconds, with minimal time or
energy loss in transportation. Since the pattern is made out of straight lines,
the cutting time for each panel is 18 minutes.
Panels
can then be formed and locally assembled onsite without disposable formwork
waste. It becomes key to not only evaluate a design, but understand and design
for the full lifecycle of the structure from harvesting materials, to design,
fabrication, installation, and material reuse.
As a
truly novel method of design and construction, the Expandable Surface
Exhibition Pavilion continually
questions contemporary practices to look to a more seamless and sustainable
building process. From this natural progression and design process, the
environmental and light qualities offer an extraordinary user experience. Inhabitants quickly develop a
relationship with the material, design and fabrication process.