
UNFOLDING SOFTWARE
A Simple Fabrication System for Unfolding Complex Architectural Surfaces
2016-2017 | In Collaboration with the Department of Visualization & Computer Science at Texas A&M.
Collaborators: Akleman, Kea, Wua, Borhani, Chen & Others
Links: Folding the Unfoldable
Video 1
Project Description: Our design research focuses on finding ways to simply and affordably address the problem of constructability of double-curved structures. By encoding 3D freeform surface information into a 2D workflow, we attempted to break down complex mesh structures into a number of discrete and flat quadrilaterals that could be translated into a fabrication layout. We developed an open-source software named UNFOLDING that provides a practical way of linking the process of production and assembly to freeform architectural design. After making UNFOLDING plug-in, we used the plug-in to design complex lightweight geometrical pavilions; the goal was to demonstrate the plug-in application through an architectural project. We used laser-cut quadrilateral panels to design and construct several complex forms. By using our plug-in, we were able to examine how the proposed designs could be discretized in ways similar to the given models. The goal was to address the design and fabrication process of large-scale architectural form.


