A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Blob architecture or structural fabric
Under the development of increasingly complexity of information and communication architecture has changed into information and media. This development has led to a kind of smoothness, which is called blob architecture. The characteristics of a blob are smoothness, irregularity and having a double curved skin. These three characteristics are quite a contradiction to conventional building methods. Trying to realise blob designs can bring up large problems if not all the consequences of the design are taken into account at the very start of the design process. There are two ways of blob design: form active shapes and free-formed shapes. The characteristic of double curvature of blob designs plays a very important role in the difficulty of the realisation process. When the form active way is chosen, the curvature is based upon an internal equilibrium of stresses in the surface, like soap film models or balloons. When the free-formed way is chosen, there is no relation at all between form and the structural system, it is just a sculptural design. Pneumatic structures and tensile structures in combination with bending stiff elements may play a great role in the development of the designs known as blob architecture due to there minimal dead load and form freedom. Transforming form active structure into surface active structures will give the key to realise this way of building. Developments in the technology of spider silk, weaving, pneumatic structures and vacuum injection are promising.
Blob architecture or structural fabric
Under the development of increasingly complexity of information and communication architecture has changed into information and media. This development has led to a kind of smoothness, which is called blob architecture. The characteristics of a blob are smoothness, irregularity and having a double curved skin. These three characteristics are quite a contradiction to conventional building methods. Trying to realise blob designs can bring up large problems if not all the consequences of the design are taken into account at the very start of the design process. There are two ways of blob design: form active shapes and free-formed shapes. The characteristic of double curvature of blob designs plays a very important role in the difficulty of the realisation process. When the form active way is chosen, the curvature is based upon an internal equilibrium of stresses in the surface, like soap film models or balloons. When the free-formed way is chosen, there is no relation at all between form and the structural system, it is just a sculptural design. Pneumatic structures and tensile structures in combination with bending stiff elements may play a great role in the development of the designs known as blob architecture due to there minimal dead load and form freedom. Transforming form active structure into surface active structures will give the key to realise this way of building. Developments in the technology of spider silk, weaving, pneumatic structures and vacuum injection are promising.
Blob architecture or structural fabric
Blob-Architektur oder Strukturtextilie
Houtman, R. (author) / Pronk, A.D.C. (author)
2002
13 Seiten, 40 Bilder, 25 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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