Project Overview

This project is a self-build pavilion on campus. Responding to the light, it shows unique morphing between different geometries. One is the fern, biological swirl form, and the other is the roof, architectural triangular form. These traditional design motifs seamlessly merge into a livable architecture by using today's electronic technologies.

https://vimeo.com/user20646020/scrollhuthigh

Project Details

The body is assembled from 40 sets of scroll system with sensors and actuators. During the day, the scrolls roll out and become the translucent roof shade of the pavilion. The photo sensor of each system is monitoring the daylight shifts of its surroundings, and the scroll is rolling out and back individually by a stepping mortar. At night, the scrolls roll back to the ends and work for bracket lights of the pavilion.

During the school semester, it usually stands on the open floor between classrooms, and students take breaks inside of its space. After each semester, it temporally is moved out and set on the grass between school buildings, and students enjoy playing around its space.

(1)What was the context for the project, and what were some of the challenges?
Once, architecture was a symbol of our new life. It was an integrated figure of arts and technology of the age. But today, new products and network services with sensors and actuators took over the role from architecture.

Applications of digital technologies to architecture have been limited to design processes on computer and fabrications with CNC so far. Even today, most of the built environments are separated from the technologies and still static. Just superficial manipulations, such as projection mapping and facade engineering are put on the surface of buildings.

The challenge of this project is the integration of digital technology and architectural space. How dose architecture dynamically respond to the surroundings? How is the interaction possible physically and effectively?

(2) What is our point of view?
Our approach is biomimicry, emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies. This project focussed on the manner in which a fern frond emerges. So, how is the manner applied to architectural? The answer is this pavilion with the transformation system between bracket lights and a roof.

(3)How dose the project work?
This project is expected to work as a pavilion, and temporally to provide a small but unique common space for schools, museums, mediatheque and other educational institutions.

(4)What are impacts of the project?
Our project is an experiment of architecture as the integration of arts and technology of our age. It is small but actually built, and physically interacts with its surroundings. The manner is not partial nor superficial, but is holistic and spatial.

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