Parasitic Architecture – Meditative Wax Cocoon
LIGHT WEIGHT BIO-COMPOSITE STRUCTURES
Meditative wax cocoon – A sensual second skin
Irene Ayala Castro | Kathleen Bainbridge | Javier Lopez-Alascio | Ricardo Mayor Luque
Tutor. Alex Dubor + Pablo Ros
Assistant. Spetial colaboration. Kunal Chadha
Parasitic Architecture – Meditative Wax Cocoon
Using natural fibres, we have developed a cocoon for relaxation and mediation during the Nowhere Festival. While the festival is a fun and vibrant atmosphere – these parasitic pavilions latch to the side of existing infrastructure to give a space of relaxation and quit. A time to reflect or have a sneaking nap between parties.
Nowhere Festival
If you know freedom is SOMEWHERE to be found
If the desert surrounds you EVERYWHERE
If there doesn’t appear to be ANYWHERE left to go
Seek refuge NOWHERE
MECHANICAL ART
Cocoon
The fabrication process.
Using the Kuka robot and computational design, we programmed the computer to lay threads of flax fibres to create an array of intricate patterns.
Each triangular pattern can be produced in approximately 15 minutes.
Noting that the current method is to manually apply the wax to the flax threads, the tool we designed has the capacity to ‘pre impregnate’ the thread with wax to speed up the manufacturing process. Further advancements can be made on this – and we are excited to stat testing txt semester.
THE NEXT STEP
Architecture
Evolving production to suit alternate geometry and functionality.
From the video it can be seen that the computational system integrates flexibility and variability, to allow vast amounts of variety in the final ‘cocoon’.
Moreover, the Kuka has been programmed to work in 2D for this set of prototypes, there is also the possibility of laying fabric in 3D to make curved surfaces and reduce seams.
A project for the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia
For Light Weight Bio-Composite Structures
Faculty | Pablo Ross + Alexander Dubor
Meditative Wax Cocoon
For other projects in this course, refer links below: