Project aim:

1- Produce a 1:1 expandable sphere: 3m in diameter structure made of curved links joined by pivots into scissor pairs that allow the structure to open and close, fold and unfold, expand and contract.

2- Closed System: The structure is to be actuation by one point only. The idea is to make it expand in response to the weight of the inhabitant. This means that the structure must be symmetrical, which is also more efficient in terms of design and fabrication, as the parts would be identical and hence replicated quickly. 

Inspiration:

Hoberman’s expanding sphere:

The structure designed by Chuck Hoberman, is essentially a spherical polyhedron known as icosadodecahedron, that is a geometrical form made with inrtersecting circles. The development of geometric transformation is enabled by a rigorous design and engineering of hinged mechanisms capable of being folded without colliding with neighbouring components.

Form- finding process:

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