(C)SPACE PAVILLION – Temporary Pavilion for the DRL10 (AA)
ALAN DEMPSEY+ALVIN HUANG
London, United Kingdom
October 2007 (Competition winner announced)
Febrary 2008 (Expected completion)
Area – 100mq
[C]SPACE is the winning competion entry in the ‘AADRLTenPointZero’ Pavilion project, an advanced technology concrete structure that was erected in Bedford Square (London) in February, 2008 as part of the ‘AATen’ Exhibition.
The striking presence of the pavilion invites inspection from a distance and upon closer interac!on reveals its ambiguity through the merging of sinuous curves, structural performance, and programma!c functions into a single continuous form. Fibre-C elements perform as structure and skin, floor, walls and furniture.
The joining system in the pavilion exploits the high tensile strength of Fibre-C using a simple interlocking cross joint which is tightened by slightly bending each element as it is locked into consecutive cross elements. Consultation with the Fibre-C technical department in Austria has suggested that a flex of 15-20mm per metre can be applied without affecting the structural performance of the material. The appearance of small micro cracks on the surface is mitigated by using lighter material colours and a Ferro finish. The pavilion is fabricated from curved profiles that are nested on standard 13mm flat sheets and water cut. Once delivered to site the entire pavilion can be constructed by hand.
RADIOLARIA – Gazebo
ANDREA MORGANTE (FUTURE SYSTEMS) – ENRICO DINI
Produced by Monolite UK Ltd, London, United Kingdom
2004
Price: 200€(!!!)
This picture shows how “Radiolaria” appeared just after breaking the self-built shell at the end of the two week building process and after one week finishing by hand.
It is a two meter tall monolithic sandstone structure printed using approximately 200 -10mm thick layers of sandstone rejects, aggregated by a new revolutionary inorganic binder.
It is the first ever example of classic stereolithography being applied to the building industry and it is a huge innovation of both product and process.
This Gazebo was designed by London architect Andrea Morgante based on a small micro-organism called ‘Radiolaria’ and was printed (scaled 1:4 in respect of final dimension) with a 3D Printer developed by the Italian Engineer Enrico Dini.
Seen from the exterior, Monolite appears like a big aluminium structure inside which the building will be constructed. The printing starts from the bottom of the construction and rises up in sections of 5-10mm. Upon contact the solidification process starts and a new layer is added. The new material has been submitted to traction, compression and bending tests. The results have been extraordinary! The artificial sandstone created has excellent resistance properties.
Dini’s machine marks a vital step change from the shoebox-size 3D printing of today, to tomorrow’s ability to print complete structures on site. Although others have been working hard on the prototype, Dini’s machine is ahead of the pack, with the Architectural Association beating several others to get to the first marketable version.
