Allied Design

- Hrishikesh Chhaparwal, Jayesha Chimanpure, Apoorva Bhorkar & Shravani Wagh

Intent - The intent of working with this method was to closely understand the gravity and the geometry that acts on a material simultaneously in order to acquire a desired form. The form could be a repetitive one comprising of single units, which when stacked together form a larger entity. It also focused on the exploration of materials and their response to gravity acting upon them to create a form.

APPARATUS used here was a cubical frame made out of wood to hang the material in it with the gravitational forces acting on it by locating the suspension co-ordinates on each side of the cube for the accuracy that needs to be attained to generate a desired form with precision.

PREPPING THE APPARATUS

Started by making cuboid wooden frames, to anchor the material. Two frames (20mm thick), with markings at every 20mm.

1) 500x500mm wooden frame.

2) 400x400mm wooden frame.

One bigger wooden frame, 1200mmx1200mm, (around 50 mm thick), with markings at every 50mm.

Glass fiber and Resin

Plotting the geometry

FORM EXPLORATION + DESIGNING

We began with exploring different fabrics and the fall that they had to offer. The initial exploration included tying or pinching the material/fabric and experimenting w its fall in different ways to achieve a simple form. We moved on to designing a modular form, which will be achieved through the principle of gravity. The design consisted of multiple units, that would be staked or joined to create a space. For our group, we decided upon a 6-unit, curved form.

Resolving the Geometry

We then experimented with making the same form again, but with a different method. This time, we attached the form upside down to get the desired curve.

EXPERIMENT 1

we started with a 400x400mm frame and tried resolving our form on a smaller scale. we tried exploring the height of the form in this attempt. A stencil cutout of the derived geometry was used to cut out the glass fibre. We then clamped the form using clips and string and further cladded the structure with resin. We made our mixture in smaller quantities and multiple batches for better application and for it to harden efficiently

For every batch, we used-

Resin- 200gm
Cobalt-2gm
Hardner-6gm

For our group, we decided upon a 6-unit, curved form In which the object is standing under its own weight, supported at its side and endpoints with only gravitational force and no other load acting on it.

We then further made a stencil and cut the glass fiber accordingly. Glass fiber is a mesh that can be suspended and stretched to a form that helps it to work on the principle of gravity. We further clamped the glass fibre on the ends of the fabric in such a manner that the pinch on the ends adds an amount of tension to the glass fibre in gravity. By clamping the ends and adding a string through the midpoint, we achieved our desired form.

We then moved on to clad it with resin for the structure to be stable.

quantities for every batch -

1. Resin- 300 gm

2. Cobalt- 2 gm approx.

3. Hardner- 6gm

Lastly, after applying resin, we let it dry for a day or so and later cut it with a grinder for smoother and cleaner edges.

we also noted the dimension of the strings to get the exact curve while making the same form again.

Collaborated Project

Steps :

Tests to determine the material and the forces at work on it:

Make a framework to tie the form

Leave some parts hanging onto gravity

Apply paper mache/resin and let it dry

Material- Glass Fibre

Hardening substance- Resin

Wooden framework: 3000mmx3000mm

Cloth: Length- 2600mm Width- 2600mm Fabric sag- 600mm

Using plastic as the base support, the middle formwork was achieved and the curving sags created by the glass fibre were controlled.

Stretching the plastic from the edges gave a comparitively flat surface at the intersection.

Using a cotton cloth as a stencil we derived the geometry on the glass fibre.

Using the exhibition stands as supporting posts we let the resign applied glass fibre to rest on it giving it a form of a pavilion.

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