The workshop explored a flexible formwork system for materializing concrete curves in space. Due to the resistance and elasticity of the mould consisting of 3D printed TPU nodes and off-the-shelf PE pipes it is possible to build thin concrete structures with a minimal amount of material. The flexibility of the mould allows for self-calibration of the catenary network when the concrete is poured. Hereby, material behavior and computation are collectively used as tools for form-finding, calibration and fabrication. This method facilitates the understanding of material properties and its structural requirements into the computational model for a flexible system. It employs material behavior and physics as tools for form-finding, in both, digital and physical models.
Workshop Leaders:
Rena Giesecke (Digital Building Technologies, ETH Zurich)
Francisco Regaldo (ETH, Zurich)