Banding Together

In order to create an interesting and consistent canopy component, the team decided to push the bending limits of wood. The lap joints had to be meticulously prepared prior to bending in place in the final assembly.

Physical Permutations - Version Two

 Hardware! How wonderful it is in aiding our ability to manipulate material. Every day, the wood seems to bend a little more than it did before.

Our explorations are still guided by the desire to find the form; something layered and fluid and sinuous. Structural concerns about how the layered "strips" all tie together are simmering on the burner; finalizing the formal qualities of the design will ultimately lead us to understanding how it will all come together.

Bolted connection detail

Still plenty of clamps...

Form evolution

Physical Permutations - Version One

There were smiles all around as the team embarked on 1:1 iterations. We were feeling optimistic about discovering novel ways of combining old techniques with new technology.

Design exploration centered around manipulation of the material in various planes was enlightening; while challenges in finding a way to maintain form and structural integrity emerged symbiotically, the true limits of the material became apparent as well.

Yes, there will be fewer clamps as we move along.

:D]

Easy does it...

Preliminary detail study

Form exploration, and the first prototype