W.H. Vivian Lee W.H. Vivian Lee is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at University of Michigan, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning and a principle of Lee Macgillivray Architecture Studio (L/MAS). Lee has previously worked as Project Manager at SHoP Architects and LTL Architects in New York City. She received her Masters of Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School
of Design. Her research involves re-examining the role of craft and labor as related to digital fabrication in design.
References 1. One example, Camera Obscura, designed
4. Phragmites are the most popular thatching
and built by SHoP Architects in 2005, is the first
grass in Europe. In North America, however,
building to be entirely digitally designed and
this reed is considered an invasive species that
fabricated. In this precedent, aluminum and steel
is quick to spread and harmful to native wetland
components were directly laser-cut from 3D
flora and fauna. Since our client is the Matthaei
computer models. SHoP Architects devised new
Botanical Gardens, the use of this species in
construction drawing conventions to accompany
the pavilion raised much concern. While the
the custom kit of parts.
majority of the pavilion was constructed from local plant life, we meticulously threshed the
2. The Iraqi Mudhif and North American straw
minimum amount of phragmites necessary to
bale construction are structural examples of
create an organic structural tension ring for the
building with plant matter. In both cases, only
balance of the overall structure.
plants are used for both structure and envelope – The Mudhif are bundles of reeds in an arch
Image Credits
formation and Straw Bale Construction stacks
Anya Sirota, James Macgillivray, Alex Watanabe.
unitized modules of hay bales.
All image rights are owned by the author, WeiHan Vivian Lee.
3. According to William Cahill, one of two Master Thatchers residing in the United States; the
Hair, Spikes, Cattail, and Turkeyfoot is funded by
other being Colin McGhee. The title of Master
the Research Through Making Grant
Thatcher requires at least 5 years of mandatory
University of Michigan, Taubman College of
apprenticeship under a Master before a thatcher
Architecture and Urban Planning.
can work alone.
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