Tannaitic and Amoraic Spontanaic

What did spontaneous architecture look like in Judea/Palestine of Late Antiquity? Here are a few sketches that illustrate cases which are described in the Mishna and Talmud of tractate Sukkah:

Drawings are taken from the book "Perush Chai" on tractate Sukkah

Enhancement Surgery

In our last post, we explained that we were going to try and see how large a span we could create with our existing technology. We called in the best plastic surgeons and ended up with some Pamela Anderson sized curves, which were just barely sturdy.
Inside, the structure was quite warm and snugly, actually it was surprisingly pleasant. But seeing as how we had maxed out the spanning capability of the structure, and could not think of another trick to increase its spanning capacity in pure tension, we were faced with a choice between two options: 1) Limit the size of our structure to slightly smaller that what is shown above, create three separate pods, and connect them together. OR 2) introduce another structural element, which could assist us increasing the span. We decided that due to our limited supply of egg crates and a desire to make a substantial inside space rather than a cocoon, that we would do the latter.
We decided that we would try to do as minimal a change as possible. In our structure, the wires had previously acted entirely in tension. Some of them were even completely flexible, ie they had no compressional strength. We kept the basic form, changing it to create a large space for the two girls and smaller space for the one boy. We analyzed the form and decided that if three of the wires could also act in compression, we would be able to greatly increase the span. Therefore, we are widening the pod from 9 columns to 10, reconfiguring it to make these two separate but attached spaces - a low, narrow space and a high, wide space - and introducing three stronger wires.
Below is the new scheme, as compared to the old one.

Peanuts

After trying to stand our egg crates up vertically, and the collosal structural that followed, we reexamined the possibility of forming a dome. The main obstacle has always been getting the egg crates into a sturdy dome shape that can support itself. As of yesterday, we had some encouraging signs, as visible in the pictures. We deepened the furrow in the middle of the structure, we're experimenting with a thicker wire, and mostly we have lengthened it. Our immediate goal is to see how large a span we can create.

do-re-mi

While trying to figure out how to properly construct our building, I noticed that my sketchbook looks like I am composing a symphony. Here is a page, as an example:


Each line shows 2 cycles of a weaving pattern. Below it lists the number of overlaying layers are found on each wire. to the right is a diagram showing the shape the pattern takes. The number in the circle is the number of columns in the pattern and underneath is the number of egg crates needed per cycle.
I shows our first pattern, II shows the most recent one. III and IV are studies for using 7 columns instead of 9, and V is a study for 8 columns. VI increases the indentation in the middle, VII introduces a window, VIII looks at how we can reverse the curvature and make it concave instead of convex.

Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out and...

Our last experiment involved building a egg crate sheet that was 2 meters long and 215 wide (tall). After trying to stand it up and noting that it could not support itself, we decided to try stressing the middle strip so as to create a double "peanut" curve. Then we decided that we would try to double the size to 4 meters long, such that we could create a full cylinder (yurt), hoping that it would then be able to support itself. Here are the preliminary results. Note that the floor and ceiling have come along nicely.

Experimentation

Today we assembled a two meter length of our 9-crate-long sheet, to test how it would respond to being stressed. We were pleased with the shape it took, which was also comfortable to lie in. However, the shape was not as strong as we had hoped. We believe that it can be strengthened by adding another curve in the middle of the structure, and this is what we intend to try next.
The form which the crates took has also led us to reconsider how our final structure will look. We discussed creating three distinct pods and connecting them centrally. Continued experimentation in the coming days will hopefully help us decide what to do.

Next Stage

Uploaded on authorSTREAM by jskarf

Downland Gridshell

Our method for constructing the egg crate structure is a bit similar to the Downland Museum, designed by Edward Cullinan Architects. The structure of the musem is a network of green oak timber layered in two directions. It was initially laid out flat and then jacked up to it's final form, creating a strong surface structure replete with multiple two-directional curves.

University of Michigan: Winter 2004, Construction II

When I was a student in the University of Michigan, one of our projects for Construction II class was to construct an installation that was 3 x 6 feet. We worked in groups of six and were given a number of objects which we had to incorporate into it, which included a flourescent light fixture, some tubing, some electrical cable, and a few other things. People designed some wonderful things, and it was especially beautiful at night, when all the structures were lit up (since we all had to use the lights that were provided). I unfortunately don't have pictures of all the projects - I think there were 16 - but here are some of the nicer ones.

Some highlights: the orange one with the plastic tubing has a compartment that rotates. The one with beer bottles is actually a cavity wall, which we filled with ice to keep our beer cold during the last week of studio. The one with phone books is one of the more comfortable chairs I've ever sat in. The one with a seat woven out of plastic tubing is a confession booth, which has a tape recorder and speakers. People sat inside and taped themselves saying stuff, and then the tape played on a constant loop. After a couple days it because a hodge-podge of different people saying things out of order, and added to the effect of the installations at night.

Surface Structures, Double Curvatures, and Egg Crates

Yurt has been hard at work weaving together egg crates and playing with the various forms. Thus far we have produces 5+ units of 2 x 1 meter sheets of sliced egg crates. On Monday, Rebecca journeyed back to the place where egg crates are born, in Netanya, to buy another 6 packages. So far we have already cut up 4 of them.

We think that there have been two major breakthroughs this week in terms of our building technology. The first breakthrough came with the realization (a number of people arrived at this conclusion simultaneously) that if we cut single units and wove them into our sheets, we would make the sheets lighter, save material, create fenestration and allow ourselves the possibility of playing with an endless number of patterns that could liven up the monotony of our single design. We have made a few sheets with some experimental patterns, and will continue to do so.
The second breakthrough, which came this morning, has to do with the edge of the sheet. Our sheets are four cut egg crates wide: ~~~~ At three points there are overlaps, but at each edge there is not. This means that the edges are not nearly as tightly packed as the insides. We realized that if we run a wire through the outside edges and tighten them, the edges will cup and create a curvature that will strengthen the would structure.
We think that if we widen our sheets and continue to decrease the number of egg crates, we can achieve a situation in which the top cups in and makes a dome. We aren't yet sure that this is the form we want our final structure to take, but we are very excited about this discovery.

New Concepts in Egg Crates

Today we disassembled our existing installation, recycled all its parts, and began work on a new concept. We aren't sure where it will lead, but we're plunging in head first nonetheless. Below are some images and a video that begins to illustrate the potential for this new system.