BIOLOGICAL REPLICATION
Porous Folds’ investigates the use of an organizational technique that replicates biological colonies to speculate upon natural behaviors such as repetition, variation, and density in housing. This project explores the spatial and aesthetic possibilities of using a single, geometric component developed through morphological transformations. The component is multiplied fourfold to generate a secondary component “pod” which comprises the basic unit of living and can subsequently aggregate in order to accommodate several different living arrangements.
CROSSBRED EXPRESSION
Situated across from the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the housing project geographically holds strong ties to historical Viennese architecture. The biological processes were crossbred with Baroque sensibilities to produce a system for living with possible connections to the roots of Viennese Gothic. Formal obsession and interest in digital fabrication ultimately creates a contemporary expression.
CURVED FOLDING
The formal logic of the pod design was driven by the concept of curved folding. Different from traditional paper folding with straight creases, curved folding uses curved creases to create continuously smooth surfaces.
Once the system of folding was initiated, explorations and investigations using paper models led to a highly iterative process of formal operations driven by an intrinsic relationship to materiality. Interest was taken in the techniques ability to create simple folded forms with geometrically complex surfaces.
DIGITAL FABRICATION
Inspired by research of robofold, each pod is constructed out of two uniquely cut planar pieces of sheet metal and assembled using the technology of folding metal with robots.
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
Designed to exploit the properties of the planar material, the pod component utilizes the inherent structural capacities of folded sheet metal. Structural stability is primarily created through tension from the limited number of curved creases. A secondary structural system was created to stabilize the aggregated pods and support the entire building. This structural system grew out of the same curved folding logic as the pod component.
SYSTEM FOR LIVING
The four meter by nine meter by three meter pods have rotational symmetry around a central circulation core. Different pod cluster configurations allow for various living arrangements, ranging from a studio apartment to a family occupancy. The regularity of the pod is broken by periodic mutations to create more unique living situations that fulfill specific functional and programmatic requirements.