The DigiFAB seminar finished their final project for a parametrically designed and digitally fabricated inflatable wall. The PneuFrame is a deployable system of hinged X-braces and interconnected diaphragms that expand into a symbiotic structural system. Ant Farm members Chip Lord and Curtis Schreier were guest panelists who spoke to the students after the public premier of “What If, Why Not?”
DigiFAB@UHCoA meets ANT FARM
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Grotto build session 2
Work on the Grotto resumed today with much more of the forming accomplished. The digital model helps to organize the parts and locate them within the complex assembly.
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Inflatable Wall
The students at University of Houston College of Architecture in the current DigiFAB seminar are developing an inflatable component wall system. Ant Farm has been the source of inspiration to the class brought on by the forthcoming world premier of the documentary What if, Why not? Underground Adventures with Ant Farm directed by Laura Harrison and Elizabeth Federici at the College. Cinema Arts Society and Aurora Picture Show are curating the event. Ant Farm member, Doug Michals was based on and off in Houston and infamously taught at UHCOA. The structure is composed of hard and soft bodies that form an interdependent structure when inflated through the base plenum. The deployable frame modules are hinged on the sides and unfold in unison as the internal inflatable is charged with air pressure. The wall will be rear projection surface to screen videos during the after-party on the night of the opening (11/12/09). The class aspires to channel the collaborative work ethic of Ant Farm and apply it to contemporary notions of mass customization and kit-of-parts assemblies.
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Partial Architectures Exhibition Design
The students at University of Texas Arlington have initiated preliminary investigations into the design and production of a display system for the Partial Architectures Exhibit set to open concurrently with the TEX-FAB Workshop. The exhibition will be up on February 2nd, 2009 with the formal reception taking place on Friday February 5th, 2009 @ 6:00pm on the second floor of the architecture building.
Scheme 01
Scheme 02
Scheme 03
Scheme 04
Scheme 05
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New Harmony Grotto assembly begins
The students at University of Houston College of Architecture have started the assembly process to build the New Harmony Grotto. The Keeland Center will be site for forming and fitting of the components to aggregate into ribs and connectors of the structure.
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AAFAB conference and exhibition
Metalab made the trip over to London to the Architectural Association to present the Ceiling Cloud project. Other presenters included our friend from GSAPP days, Ben Aranda of Aranda/Lasch. The discussion was moderated by Alan Dempsey of the AAFAB Cluster along with Brett Steele the Director of the AA. We had a look at the exhibition afterward which was part of the London Design Week events. Joe Meppelink and Andrew Vrana went over via New York and presented the project at Columbia and caught up with Scott Marble, our visiting critic on the project… More images… Bustler
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AMBOX visit
Students in the DigiFAB Seminar at the UHCoA toured the fabrication shop at AMBOX, Limited. They have extensive stamping and forming capabilities shown here. One product is the Kevlar helmets worn by the US military. They can produce 70 per day and have made over 100,000 of them since production began. Their 4000W CNC laser will cut the components for the New Harmony Grotto project later this month.
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Ceiling Cloud @ AAFAB
METALAB will present the Ceiling Cloud at the AAFAB Conference on Friday, 09/25 at the Architectural Association in conjunction with the exhibition opening in London. The project won first place in the open competition in the Interior category. We will present the project at Columbia GSAPP on Wednesday, 09/23 at noon with Scott Marble who was the Visiting Critic in the studio.
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Photos from Tex-Fab