#cloud studio

Cloud and Sabine Marcelis

Hall Haus for Design Space AlUla, Milan Design Week 2024

Cloud Studio x New Bold U!

F I B E R w a v e PAV I L I O N

IIT College of Architecture

Cloud Studio: Design as a Performative Material Practice

Studio Professor: Alphonso Peluso

Studio Participants: Joseph Bertucci, Cecilia Campos, Dijon Dunmore, Xinyun Huang, Jared James, Ryan Kim, Dakotah Lucas, Jeffrey McQuiston, Nick Rienstra, Teresita Pineda, John Seaman, Jeffrey Wigen

Project Year: 2014

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Photo Credits: Sherry Huang

3rd Party Collaborators:

Chicago Composite Initiative http://www.chicagocomposite.com/

West Systems Epoxy http://www.westsystem.com/

CARBON_Lab is a student based design research studio within the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology devoted to the study of performative and adaptive physical fabrication. Directed by Studio Associate Professor Alphonso Peluso, the studios' current focus is engaged in working with composite fiber materials, specifically carbon fiber, and utilizing their unique properties within architectural design.

WHY CARBON FIBER?

Carbon fiber material is a flexible and malleable cloth that can be cut with scissors and easily formed and fit over three dimensional molds. When coated and cured with an epoxy resin, it can become hard as steel.Layers and layers can be added to enhance strength, giving the designer great control over structural properties while remaining incredibly light weight. When working with Carbon Fiber an appealing relationship exists that shifts back and forth from machine made to hand made throughout the fabrication process. Carbon fibers' amazing adaptive qualities have already been extensively utilized within the automotive, aerospace and marine industries.

IT'S TIME ARCHITECTS JOIN THE GAME.

CARBON_Lab believes that fabrication is a method of optimization with powerful potential when applied to design thinking. It introduces a new paradigm that connects the brain, hand, computer, and machine into direct lines of communication. It is a derivative of design, just as sketching is a derivative of thought.

FIBERwave PAVILION was designed along these lines of thinking. The primary unit was initially inspired by bi-valve shell structures, deconstructed and reconfigured into an adaptive unit in parametric modeling programs. Specific integration and tessellations of this base shell led to the overall dynamic form, the wave, which is designed to shift and morph when variably tensioned. 

Through the fabrication of a full scale carbon fiber pavilion, the studios' goal is to showcase the great potential composite materials can bring to architectural expression. The pavilion design is comprised of one geometric unit, ‘the shell’, repeated multiple times. The shell is extremely thin and light weight with an overall thickness of 1/8” (2mm) and weighs 1lb (.5 kg). The shell connects laterally at two points to another shell on either side with metal plates, creating flexible rows. The rows are then connected vertically by a bolted pin connection. A specific pattern of row length and vertical connections creates a curving wavelike structure called FIBERwave. The nature of the connections and the shell geometry allows the pavilion to undulate and morph. FIBERwave in this sense is an adaptive, parametric model designed to change and react to its environment over time.

FIBERWAVE IS AN ADAPTIVE, PARAMETRIC MODEL.

Carbon_Lab aims to challenge static processes within design practice and culture. We hope to explore new materials and inspire innovative procedures that push the boundaries of parametric thinking and produce meaningful and high performance results. Our intent is to become an expert resource in working with composites. Doing so requires a high level of digital modeling, fabrication, craft skills and attention to detail. A few of the exciting reasons for exploring the possibilities of composites within architecture are their ability to build lightweight, dynamic and easily variable strength structures.

The pavilion was funded by a 24 day Kickstarter campaign set out to raise $6,500. The Kickstarter project was successfully funded by 112 backers for a total amount of $6,937. Backers received incentives ranging from 3D printed earrings, 3D printed necklaces to t-shirts and a 1/6 scale carbon fiber replica of the shell unit. An additional $1,000 was needed and was raised by the students through weekly on campus bake sales.

Find us on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/IITFIBERwave

Read more about our Kickstarter fundraising at: FIBERwave Kickstarter