HYGGE: Bent Wood Structure Report

STRUCTURES 1 : WO O D

HYGGE

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ANDREI NEMES ADRIAN HUTCHISON TYLER MCDONALD BRAEDEN MARTEL

S T R U C T U R E S 1 : WO O D BENT WOOD CONSTRUCTION

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In our bending and tying of bent wood members we too were bent and held together by one another in our exploration of the structural forces and capabilities of bent wood.

After our successful and bountiful first harvest of the finest birch and maple saplings we began our exploration with a ring of three birch saplings, to create multiple binding points allowing us to bend and tie the first structural roof members to two anchor points (footings). After these two arches were tied in, we examined in plan and elevation drawings the structural and aesthetic principals behind a structure which grows, into an asymmetrical structure, a bulbous at one quarter and a low humbling entrance across. Bending three members between ‘footings’ circle and the larger of our two main arches we created the bulbous cavern we’d imagined and our main structure was complete.

Now that an aesthetic form had been produced we applied point and shear forces examining how the structure behaved.

With each direction of force we found weaknesses in the overall strength, from point load, torsion, and shear bending.

Testing and bending more saplings to create cross bracing amongst the structural members creating various triangles throughout create a shared and even distribution of forces.

This even dispersion of forces created a much stronger, and ‘whole’ structure from the many bent members. Lastly a ‘belt’ was added to the bulbous half arches horizontally to join them into a more uniform, load sharing structure.

This overall composition, thanks to load distribution, the structural rigidity of the triangle and the forces within the bent saplings elongating at the exterior of the arch, and compressing on the interior, create a sturdy form. Upon preliminary testing the structure can support the weight of 2 group members, (over 300 pounds) in point load (at most connection points).

Little warpage occurs when shearing forces are applied, also achieved by the cross bracing spoken of above.

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FOUNDATION Three saplings joined together to form a base. The connections present opporutnity for vertical growth of the structure.

ARCHES Saplings placed in tension find themselves meeting at a focal point articulating the strength of a natural arch.

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STRUCTURES 1 : WO O D

NOOK Properties of saplings under force are exploited in order to achieve asymmetry and a space that conforms to human scale.

POISE The structures asymmetry is supported by saplings put in tension at 45 degrees. Thus fragility is overcome by equilibrium using tension.

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sapling reach toward a vast sky embraced in the warm sun alas bound together as one find meaning where they lie

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