The design of our tower was driven by several criteria: || maximization of material usage
|| repetition of a single member
|| achieving of several possible configurations

As a result of a successful implementation of the first and the second criteria, we were able to make use of 97% of the available material, consequently reaching the height of nearly 5 meters in the virtual model simulation. Nevertheless, the height of the virtual model was modeled in the “perfect world” conditions, thus not reflecting such important physical criteria as material stress capabilities and the vertical load distribution in a structure of this type. Having assembled several sections of the tower into their envisioned arrangement, we confirmed that such material as wood fails in direct correlation with the grain its cut along and the amount of stress it experiences in the thinnest joinery areas. We realized that in order to reduce the stress||strain loads in our tower we need to drastically reduce the total height of the structure and hence tackle the third design criteria, multiple configurations using a repetitive single element.

The base unit of the structure is a slightly curved uniform strip of wood that interlocks with two more identical elements to form a stiff, yet elegant triangle. Further mirrored upwards the newly formed two triangles visually mimic an “expanded metal” element, and are connected via cross-joints in the center and longitudinal joint at the vertices of the triangle. Once unified into one and rotated 30 degrees the units begin locking into each other, thus reinforcing the overall structure of the tower. Lastly, to break the uniform look of the structure we introduced the “turning torso” movement, physically rotating one third of the overall tower height by 15 degrees at each joint.

95 % use of material

Top View

Assembling pieces to form a triangle || 2 triangle form one unit || 2 units joined by cross joints

Scale Comparison

STOPMOTION

Our tower has finally been erected!

Our series of crosses stacked up on top of each other are successfully interlocking through a series of bending profiles and locking joints. From the beginning of the design process we placed a heavy emphasis on maximising our material sheets, whilst minimising cut times and wasted material. We tested many locking configurations with respect to cut sizes, experimentation with bending, and identifying stable forces. As each cross interlocks with the cross below it, two side of each face bend in opposite directions to accommodate for the insertion of the flat piece slits cut into it. We started at a width of 19cm at the bottom, and tapered the structure up to 8cm at the top. The connection to the base was solved by creating an orthogonal grid which allows the cross to anchor into securely. The structure reaches a total height of 3.35 metres!

Renata de Castro Lotto – Ramin Shambayati – Richard Aoun