Kangaroo Physics 0.074 Update

"Added 'Level Set' force, springs can now have upper and lower cutoffs, added depth dependent pressure force, added 'relative' and 'waterline' options to Wind force."

Food4Rhino

Flight Assembled Architecture - Gramazio & Kohler et Raffaello D'Andrea

"Die Professur Gramazio & Kohler, Architektur und Digitale Fabrikation lädt herzlich zur Ausstellung "Flight Assembled Architecture" am FRAC Centre Orléans ein. Gemeinsam mit Raffaello D'Andrea entwickelt, wird eine spektakuläre
Installation zu sehen sein, die vor den Augen des Besuchers "fliegend" assembliert wird und die langjährige Forschung der Kooperationspartner in Form eines visionären Architekturprojekts kulminieren lässt."

[via www.dezeen.com]

Tom Price - PP Tree Installation

"PP TREE INSTALLATION

Made exclusively from polypropylene pipe and nylon cable ties, this installation occupied an entire room at Industry Gallery, in Washington DC from September to November 2011.

The work partly pays homage to Washington DC's own iconic cherry trees, whilst also questioning our relationship with and attitudes towards plastics.

The longevity and ready availability of the industrially manufactured materials used to construct the installation stands in stark contrast to the ephemerality and natural beauty of the cherry trees and blossoms it emulates."

[via www.dezeen.com]

Preston Scott Cohen - Tel Aviv Museum Of Art

"Located in the center of the city's cultural complex, the program for the Tel Aviv Museum of Art Amir Building posed an extraordinary architectural challenge: to resolve the tension between the tight, idiosyncratic triangular site and the museum's need for a series of large, neutral rectangular galleries. The solution: subtly twisting geometric surfaces (hyperbolic parabolas) that connect the disparate angles between the galleries and the context while refracting natural light into the deepest recesses of the half buried building.

The building represents an unusual synthesis of two opposing paradigms for the contemporary museum: the museum of neutral white boxes and the museum of architectural spectacle. Individual, rectangular galleries are organized around the "Lightfall", an eighty-seven foot tall spiraling atrium. The building is composed according to multiple axes that deviate significantly from floor to floor. In essence, it is a series of independent plans and steel structural systems stacked one atop the other, connected by geometric episodes of vertical circulation.

The new building refers to the original building in such a way that the two can be seen as having a family resemblance. At the same time, it relates to a larger tradition of the new that exists within Israeli architectural culture. The multiple vocabularies of Mendelsohn and Bauhaus Modernism in Tel Aviv are re-synthesized in an architectural language that is internationalist and progressive in its cultural orientation."

[via www.dezeen.com]

VoltaDom Installation / Skylar Tibbits + SJET

"VoltaDom, by Skylar Tibbits - for MIT's 150th Anniversary Celebration & FAST Arts Festival (Festival of Arts, Science and Technology) - is an installation that populates the corridor spanning building 56 & 66 on MIT’s campus. This installation lines the concrete and glass hallway with hundreds of vaults, reminiscent of the great vaulted ceilings of historic cathedrals. The vaults provide a thickened surface articulation and a spectrum of oculi that penetrate the hallway and surrounding area with views and light. VoltaDom attempts to expand the notion of the architectural “surface panel,” by intensifying the depth of a doubly-curved vaulted surface, while maintaining relative ease in assembly and fabrication. This is made possible by transforming complex curved vaults to developable strips, one that likens the assembly to that of simply rolling a strip of material."

[via www.evolo.us]

Marshall & the World's Hottest Pepper

WFAE reporter Marshall Terry tries the hottest Pepper in the world.

..it´s more than a party gag, isnt it?? xD

YETI 3D - live programming environment for Rhino3D

Yeti is an opensource, live programming environment for Rhino.

Using Yeti you can build a parametric model through code and see changes instantly.

Yeti is still a work in progress and only offers a very basic geometry library at the moment, but you can improve it by contributing to the C# codebase over at bitbucket.

Design To Production

"designtoproduction

We support architects, planners, engineers, and contractors
in the efficient design and production of non-standard architecture.

designtoproduction implements digital process chains from design to production based on parametric CAD-models and offers consulting services for parametric planning, detailing, optimization, and digital manufacturing."

RFR Ingénieurs

"RFR is an engineering company that specialises in the design of complex structures and of sophisticated envelopes, in intimate symbiosis with the physical character of the building concerned. Its competence goes far beyond construction techniques alone, to attain the creation of the elegant structures that reconcile engineering and architecture.

The work of RFR is founded on mastery of the technical tools and of the associated scientific concepts. Its use of the most advanced computer applications and exploitation of the most recent technologies enable the company to generate a synthesis of construction parameters which lead to solutions that are at once rigorous，innovative and efficient.

RFR was founded in Paris in 1982 by Peter Rice, and is also based at Stuttgart in Germany, at Shanghai in China, and at Abu Dhabi in the Emirates. The firm has distinguished itself over the intervening years on many projects, executed in every part of the world. The wide range of skills possessed by its staff, composed of engineers, architects and industrials designers, enable it to operate in very diverse contexts, and to use the widest variety of materials.

RFR has been able to design structures of high quality, intended for unique locations like the Musée du Louvre or the Louis Vuitton store on the avenue des Champs Elysées in Paris, the Capitol in Washington, the Irish Parliament building in Dublin, or the library of the Indian Parliament in new Delhi.

RFR interprets its calling in terms of a global vision that is synonymous with quality."

Smarchitecture - Blog

"This blog is maintained and predominantly written by Dr. Thomas Modeen, partner of smArchitecture, which he founded with his wife Maysaa Al-Mumin in Kuwait in the Fall of 2008. The practice also has a base, and its origins, in London, where it's known as Independent Architects, which is headed by Paul Brady and Eng Ling Ho. The blog aims to provide a personalized outline of all our practice and discipline related escapades. smArchitecture is a research based architecture and design practice that retains a equal and collaborative footing within both practice and academia, with strong links to various academic and research facilities around the world. Our current interest involve the use of various computing based design methods and tools in the realization of physical builds (using both subtractive and additive CAD-CAM methods)."

adapa - adapting architecture

"ADAPA is a cross disciplinary company where the focus is on adapting technology and materials that have untapped potentials into an architectural context.

We are a small research based architectural practice, where we use research both to reposition ourselves and simultaneously to create projects that give us a completely different approach than other architectural firms.

We believe that the ability to design free, affordable and sustainable lies in the ability to understand and make full use of the latest technologies and production methods and introduce them as the basis for modern architecture."

Robots in Architecture

"The international Association for Robots in Architecture is originally a spin off association of Vienna University of Technology. Its goal is to make industrial robots accessible for the creative industry, artists, designers and architects, by sharing ideas, research results and technological developments.

Founded in December 2010 by Sigrid Brell-Cokcan and Johannes Braumann, robots in architecture is an open platform for everybody interested in the creative use of and innovative fabrication with industrial robots.

Robots in Architecture is engaged in applied research, soft- and hardware development, “robot pedagogics” – and in the question: how soon will robots revolutionize architecture?

We pursue the association’s goal by offering workshops and holding lectures at international conferences, schools, and universities, and by maintaining the Robots in Architecture homepage, which serves as a hub for all things robotic in architecture, art, and design."

D-Shape

"The 21st century revolution in building technology has a name. D-Shape.
The mega scale free-form printer of buildings.
What couldn't be done, now can be done."

"D-Shape is a new robotic building system using new materials to create superior stone-like structures.

This new machinery enables full-size sandstone buildings to be made without human intervention, using a stereolithography 3-D printing process that requires only sand and our special inorganic binder to operate. D-Shape is a new building technology which will revolutionize the way architectural design is planned, and building constructions are executed. By simply pressing the “enter” key on the keypad we intend to give the architect the possibility to make buildings directly, without intermediaries who can add interpretation and realization mistakes."

BLOCK Research Group

The Block Research Group is a scientific and educational platform around group head Prof. Dr. Philippe Block (ETH - Zurich).


Equilibrium
http://www.block.arch.ethz.ch/equilibrium

"In eQUILIBRIUM, the design and analysis of structures are taught through interactive, graphic statics-based drawings created with GeoGebra rather than text and equations.

Graphic statics is a powerful method for the design and analysis of structures that, by using force polygons and simple geometric construction techniques, provides intuitive visual information about the relation between form and forces in a structural system."

RhinoVAULT - designing funicular form in Rhino

http://www.block.arch.ethz.ch/tools

"RhinoVAULT is a plug-in for Rhinoceros® being developed at the BLOCK Research Group by Matthias Rippmann, Lorenz Lachauer and Philippe Block, that allows for the intuitive design of compression-only shapes, offering a maximum control of the geometry. This software is written particularly for shaping unreinforced masonry vaults, but can also be used for designing efficient freeform shells. Based on the Thrust Network Approach (TNA), which uses a force network as discretization of the shape, it is possible to internally redistribute forces within the network using force diagrams. This enables the user to generate exciting forms far beyond typical "hanging-net" morphologies."

PanelingTools for Rhino 5.0 Beta: (Updated September 6, 2011)

"A new release of PanelingTools plugin is now available for Rhino 5.0 Beta.
You can find download links and documentation at PanelingTools download
page.

New in this release:

Added mesh module support to paneling variable custom 3D components. It is
now possible to select a list of mesh modules or two meshes and calculate
mean modules.
Fixed a bad geometry bug when paneling surfaces with singularity.
Added support to generate mean curves with local bounding space.
Added the ability to define bounding space when creating variable mean
surfaces.
Added support for local bounding space for 3d variable modeling.
Added support to create notches in ptFinEdges and ptExtrudeEdges commands.
Fixed labeling objects UI bug.
Fixed crash bug when creating singular panels.
Fixed a bug related to applying variable patterns to diamond grids.
Added ptTriangulateFaces command.
Added GetPanelingGrid function to scripting to capture a paneling grid and
turn into two dimensional array of points."

Smart Geometry 2012 - Material Intensities

"Material Intensities

Imagine the design space of architecture was no longer at the scale of rooms, walls and atria, but that of cells, grains and vapour droplets. Rather than the flow of people, services, or construction schedules, the focus becomes the flow of light, vapour, molecular vibrations and growth schedules: design from the inside out.

The sg2012 challenge, Material Intensities, is intended to dissolve our notion of the built environment as inert constructions enclosing physically sealed spaces. Spaces and boundaries are abundant with vibration, fluctuating intensities, shifting gradients and flows. The materials that define them are in a continual state of becoming: a dance of energy and information."

Obscura Digital >> CueLight

"Transform any pool table into a digitally-enhanced video experience. High-definition imagery responds in real-time to every shot. User-selectable themes yield infinite possibilities. As seen in the Paradise Tower Penthouse, Hard Rock Hotel & CasinoTM, Las Vegas and the Esquire SoHo apartment." Obscura Digital

< via http://micasaessucasa.tumblr.com >

Kim Pimmel _ Compressed 2: Pulsating Magnetic Ferro Fluids and Soap Bubbles

"I combined everyday soap bubbles with exotic ferrofluid liquid to create an eerie tale, using macro lenses and time lapse techniques. Black ferrofluid and dye race through bubble structures, drawn through by the invisible forces of capillary action and magnetism.

Time-lapse sequences: Nikon D90, Nikkor 60mm macro lens and custom built intervalometer.
Motion-control: Arduino driven scanner platform and mirror rigs
Score: Ableton Live"

Kim Pimmel

< via http://thisiscolossal.com >

Baku Tollgate 1 - SOLID Recognition Award, category "international"

"Der Empfang ist beeindruckend. Ein über 70 Meter langes Ellipse begrüßt die abfliegenden und ankommenden Gäste auf dem internationalen Flughafen von Baku. 72 Meter spannt sich ein doppelt gebogenes Rohrfachwerk über die Haupteinfahrt.

Die Ingenieure von Waagner-Biro verbanden perfekt Dreigurtbinder mit durchgehenden Blechen. Die Stahltechnik ist bei diesem Bauwerk auf seinem Höhepunkt. Drei Elemente und zwei Materialien verschmelzen als wären sie immer eins gewesen.

In der extrem kurzen Bauzeit von zehn Monaten entstand für den Bauherren Silk Way Holding das zwei Millionen Euro Objekt. "

Digitale Vision und gebaute Wirklichkeit - Über das Bauen von geometrisch anspruchsvollen Gebäudehüllen

Digitale Vision und gebaute Wirklichkeit. Über das Bauen von geometrisch anspruchsvollen Gebäudehüllen
Ziegler, Rene; Schneider, Benjamin;

Im letzten Jahrhundert haben Architekten für ihre Entwürfe vorwiegend geometrische Grundformen wie Würfel und Quader, Zylinder-, Kegel- oder Torus-Flächen verwendet. Seit den 60-er Jahren des vorigen Jahrhunderts werden die digitalen Werkzeuge der Designer aber ständig weiterentwickelt (Nurbsflächen) und tragen nun zu einer quasi unbegrenzten Erweiterung des Formenvokabulars bei. Computer und entsprechende Software (CAD/CAM) dienen nicht nur zur Erstellung von technischen Zeichnungen oder zur Ansteuerung von CNC-Maschinen in der Fertigung, sondern unterstützen vor allem auch die Konzeption neuartiger biomorpher Formen. Die Arbeit mit digitalen Werkzeugen und Inhalten ist zum globalen Industriestandard geworden. Die Tendenz, einfache lineare Formen aufzugeben, welche aus einer überschaubaren Anzahl einzelner ähnlicher Elemente bestehen, und diese durch einzigartige Skulpturen zu ersetzen, entstammt der schöpferischen Vision der Künstler und deren Willen, Dinge weit ab vom banalen Gebrauchsgegenstand zu schaffen. Diese Landmarks sind zu Sinnbildern von Eleganz, Anmut, Fortschritt und Innovation geworden.


Artikel aus der Zeitschrift: Stahlbau
ISSN: 0038-9145
Jg.: 80, Nr.5, 2011
Seite 304-308, Abb.,Lit.

Christina Gohli

Knittings & networks of a young austrian artist.

Apartment Therapy

The Beautifulist

Liu Bolin - Hiding in the City

Liu Bolin, "The Invisible Man".
I like this concept.

3D Printed bicycle

"The 'Airbike' is made of nylon but, according to EADS, is strong enough to replace steel or aluminium and requires no conventional maintenance or assembly. It is 'grown' from powder, allowing complete sections to be built as one piece; the wheels, bearings and axle being incorporated within the 'growing' process and built at the same time. Because it can be built to rider specification, it requires no adjustment."

www.eurekamagazine.co.u

New Blade Runner Movie ??? :D

I had the chance to see my favourite sci-fi movie last week in Vienna in the Filmmuseum and I really was impressed. Such a poetic and fascinating cinematic experience is rare and I really hope, that they will continue the journey which was started by Philipp K. Dick in the late seventies in his novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? . This short story was filmed by Ridley Scott in 1982 and was a milestone in film history.
It is a pity that Scott apparently stopped working on the fifth part of "Alien", maybe to produce another fancy hollywood blockbuster.

So lets hope that they find a reasonable budget to produce "Blade Runner 2"!

Filmmuseum Vienna

"Das Österreichische Filmmuseum hat zwei grundlegende Zielsetzungen:

1. die seit Bestehen des Museums angelegte Sammlung von Filmen und filmbezogenen Objekten zu bewahren, auszubauen, zu erforschen und zu vermitteln;

2. entlang dieser Sammlung und durch Leihgaben das Medium Film in all seinen Dimensionen und historischen Erscheinungsformen darzustellen. Das Filmmuseum ist ein spezifischer Ausstellungsraum (Film als zeitbasiertes Ereignis, Erfahrung eines Aufführungsaktes), ein Sammlungsort und Archiv (Film als Artefakt, als lokales und globales Gedächtnis), eine Forschungs- und Bildungsstätte und ein Raum der öffentlichen Auseinandersetzung und Reflexion (Film als Knotenpunkt kultureller und gesellschaftlicher Diskurse)."

mnmlist

evolutetools for Rhino

"EvoluteTools for Rhino is an advanced Rhino plugin suite providing access to powerful geometry processing algorithms through a user friendly interface. Established computational tools from Evolute's core software library as well as ground breaking technology from our cutting edge research results provide you with functionality not offered by any other system. EvoluteTools for Rhino is available in several modules, building upon each other, targeting architects, designers, manufacturers, and constructors."

Design Modelling Symposium Berlin 2011

"In seiner dritten Auflage bietet das Design Modeling Symposium eine Plattform für den Dialog über experimentelle Praxis und Forschung im Bereich des digitalen architektonischen Entwerfens.

CAD/CAM basierte Technologien haben sich in den letzten Jahren zu gereifteren Anwendungen entwickelt, die es nun erlauben durch benutzerfreundlichere Programmstrukturen und deren Schnittstellen einen innovativeren Entwurfsprozess zu entwickeln. Dieser ist gekennzeichnet durch eine zunehmende Implementierung von Analyseinformation und Rahmenbedingungen der Herstellung, welche dann begleitend oder sogar entwurfsbestimmend für die Konzeption einer Bauaufgabe angewendet werden können. So erlaubten beispielsweise die Entwicklungen im Bereich von computerbasierten Geometrien den Entwurf und digitale Ableitung der Fertigungsinformation von CAM gesteuerter Konstruktionen, komplexeren Oberflächen und Raumgefügen, die das entwerferische Repertoire erweiterten, welches traditionell durch die Grenzen der darstellenden Geometrie bestimmt war. Diese innovativen Entwicklungen haben zu einer Veränderung der Entwurfsinhalte und Prozesse und deren Umsetzbarkeit geführt und Spuren in einer revidierten universitären Ausbildung und zeitgenössischen Architekturpraxis hinterlassen. Neben diesen konzeptionellen und technologischen Entwicklungen konnte jedoch eine thematische Beschränkung der verwendeten Entwurfsstrategien und ihrer Umsetzung beobachtet werden. Diese erweckten oftmals den Eindruck einer eigentümlich entkoppelten Architekturauffassung, die sich fast ausschließlich auf die digitalen Aspekte eines Entwurfsprozesses fokussierten. Der Brückenschlag zu einer existierenden zeitgenössischen Architektursprache, die sich in ihrer Gestaltung nicht in erster Linie auf die Möglichkeiten digitaler Werkzeuge konzentrierte, blieb dabei oftmals außen vor. Um zukünftig eine stärkere Vernetzung und Einbindung in diese Prozesse zu erreichen ist es demnach sinnvoll sich wieder verstärkt mit der Beziehung und Rolle von Werkzeug, Konzept und endgültiger Materialisation auseinanderzusetzen."