Portfolio 2019

COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN PORTFOLIO {Sebastian Comanescu} Selected professional and academic works from 2014 to 2018 in chronological descending order

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A HOUSE MADE OF EACH OTHER {scan or click}

{extra photos}

CONTEXT: LOCATION: DATE: STATUS: DESIGN:

Street Delivery 2019 Bucharest, Romania june. 2019 Built Sebastian Comanescu

FABRICATION TEAM: Sebastian Comanescu Sorina Dumitru, Andreia Delianu PROJECT ENABLERS: Kaustik, H3, Hubs

METALINGUAL POETRY TURNED INTO A SCULPTURAL STRUCTURE Part of the festival theme; Poetry in the Streets the project entwines the history of language as a tool with architecural discourse. Two motifs intertwine in a structure bringing toghether the symbolism of “home” and the language of contemporary symbols.

30 contemporary hieroglyphs are repeated in an almost schizofrenic manner to a count of approximately interlocking pieces.

THE CONTEMPORARY CONDITION Tthe Alphabet is one of the most fascinating tools devised by humans. It uses a mechansim of compression that allows infinite information to be conveyed using roughly 30 symbols.

The Internet: The initial limitations of long distance information transmission gave birth to platforms like twitter which initially imposed a 140 character limit due to harware limitation.

This is not the case anymore. Data transmision has flawlessly integrated in society. Image transmission is done with such ease that compression methods such as the alphabet have become obsolete (in regards to size). The Emoji has made its way into every day language, however there is no rational way to convey its meaning by speech

SOFT ACTUATED ENVIRONMENTS {scan or click}

{video files}

CONTEXT: LOCATION: DATE: STATUS: TEAM:

Soft Architectural Assemblies WS Prague, Czech Republic april. 2019 Prototype II Sebastian Comanescu, Daniel Krejci Yomna Elghazi, Marketa Osifova TUTORS: Vasilija Abramovic, Jan Petrs PROJECT ENABLERS: CTU Prague Interactive Architecture Lab ,FLO|W

A RIGID FRAMEWORK PUT IN MOTION BY A SOFT INFRASTRUCTURE Aminig to probe the hypothesis that a soft exterior/ envelope is a required attribute of an object displaying life-like characteristics we turned our view toards colapsable structures and and plate assemblies. Through a series of special joints and similar modules the installation shows the potential of imprecise movements.

Soft Robots based on compliatnt mechanisms like pneumatic muscles offer actuation with low mechanical complexity. The elements are robust and cheap but fuzzy in terms of precision and predictablity. The deficit was compensated by sensor feedback loops while we were tackling problems regarding actuation and interaction between elements.

GEOMETRIC PRINCIPLES/STRUCTURE/ACTUATION TESTS

INFRASTRUCTURE The intstallation is controlled by an arduino board driving a series of pumps and solenoid valves.

The contracting motion is induced by means of axialy placed hand-crafted origami muscles. The module near the controll board executes a coreography through a rig of 8 3d printed elastic muscles placed beween the flaps.

TOWARDS WALKING ARCHITECTURES The spaces we explored were topological bubbles - combinatorial processes depicting the connections between movements. The zip-space emerges as a sub-typology of intersticial space as a measure and a protagonist of the dillatiations and contractions of the event-space. Unforseen elements are fed into the urban system.

SOND DRIVEN ASSEMBLIES By superimposing the urban island model and the new simulation, the contours of the objects and existing bodies, previously so important gradually vanish in the whirl. The new structure delineates itself and the aggregate begins casting shadows.

Ideonella sakaiensis was identified in 2016 by a team of researchers after collecting PET debris. The bacteria uses an enzyme that combined with water breaks down PET plastic into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; substances which on their own pose not threat to the environment. The supposition is that future gene editing tech will

allow the synthetization of a similar bacteria that would be able to break down waste and generate mineral aggregates as a biproduct. Due to the fact that we are reffering to the microscopic level; the pipeline would be so short as to allow the user to interact with the landscape via a device; commanding modifications based on the waste available

SOFT ROBOT AGGREGATIONS {scan or click}

{video files}

CONTEXT: AAG 2018 LOCATION: Gothenburg, Sweden DATE: sept. 2018 STATUS: Prototype TEAM: Sebastian Comanescu, Yuqiong Lin Filip Loguin, Kevin Ron Schulz, Martin Genet, Erik Widell TUTORS: Pieter Francois Theron Burger, Marc Schulz Jan Philipp Drude, Tim Germershausen PROJECT ENABLERS: dMA Hannover

EXPLORATIONS INTO THE ARCHITECTURAL POTENTIAL OF SOFT ROBOTS As part of ongoing research at the department for Digital Methods in Architecture (dMA), developing systems of electronic boards and integrating in them as nodes in a system that extends the plug and play metaphor of visual programming, the workshop aimed to delineate a pipeline for creating soft robotic networks.

Soft Robots based on compliatnt mechanisms like pneumatic muscles offer actuation with low mechanical complexity. The elements are robust and cheap but fuzzy in terms of precision and predictablity. The deficit was compensated by sensor feedback loops while we were tackling problems regarding actuation and interaction between elements.

FUZZY, INDETERMINATE, ANIMATED SPACES The process involved designing and 3d printing moulds, casting the soft actuators and ultimately assembling a network and a choreaography. The scale models./ installations aimed to pose questions regarding fuzziness, softness, indeterminacy, interaction and their relationship to architectural space and the possibilities that might arise when

attempting to transpose those concept at a larger scale.

The coreography was determined partly by integrated light and proximity sensors integrated in the actuators during the casting process.

SOL DOME {scan or click}

{festival video overview}

CLIENT: Bahrain Light Festival 2017 LOCATION: Manama, Bahrain DATE: nov. 2017 TEAM: Mathias Gmachl, Sebastian Comanescu Mathias Gmachl, Samuel Turner FABRICATION: Sebastian Comanescu, Roosa Tulvio ENGINEERING CONSULTANT: Format Engineers STUDIO: Loop.ph

THE MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF CARBON MEETS TRADITIONAL WEAVING TECHNIQUES BROUGHT ABOUT BY COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN The SOL Dome is a lightweight sculpture measuring 12 meters in diameter and reaching a height of 5 meters. The underlying geometry and construction technique is based on the chemical, molecular bonds between carbon atoms. Each link distributes bending forces between its neighbours giving birth to an uniformly taut structure.

The 2000 circles that make up the structure were woven on site by a team of 4 during 3 days. The lighting setup was comprised by a polar array of solar powered spotlights that imbued the sculpture with a rotational breathing rhytm.

BASE GEOMETRY/ TOPOLOGY/ RATIONALISATION Blue: Hexagonal Clusters ( low curvature ) Green: Septagonal Clusters ( medium negative curvature) Magenta: Pentagonal Clusters (high positive curvature) Furthermore, the final model is divided in modules based on the intial geodesic geometry.

The discretisation of the geometry is achieved to simplistic representation of the interlocking nature of the rings. Studio material tests and previous experiences with similar structures confirm that this approximation provides an accurate depiction of how the final object will behave.

Pink: Original Topology.

Blue: Analysis links - this ensures that any given circle is only connected to its neighbours in one point while also being connected to the reinforcement lines.

Light/Dark Grey: Reinforcement

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CURVATURE INFORMED TOPOPLOGY

The topology of the base model takes shape as a result of the basic principle that a rod that is bent into a circle will try to revert to its origi{scan or click} nal(straight) shape whilst attempting to stay planar. Therefore, the relaxed triangular topology is clusterized in n-gonal patches that roughly match the local curvature.

DISCRETISATION/ANALYSIS/DEFLECTIONS/REINFORCEMENTS K2E Analysis by Format Engineers

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PHYLLOTAXIS ASSEMBLY DISCRETISATION

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MODULE PLACEMENT MODEL

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DISCRETE ANALYSIS MODEL

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WIND DEFLECTION (reinforcement patterns)

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WIND DEFLECTION (no reinforcement)

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SUB-ASSEMBLY

unrolled(left) rolled(right)

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The rods are checked for structural faults, woven in flat sheets and then rolled in to make up the modules that will be used for the sculpture.

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SET UP unrolled(left) rolled(right)

(1)(2) the first row ouf pre-assembled modules is linked to the keystone. (3) In order to compensate for the bending forces the structure is lifted from the ground and the rest of the modules are linked in mid air (4)(5)(6). The bottom row is woven directly on the suspended sturcture (7). Before removing the supports the carbon fibre reinforcements are interwoven to shape up the final piece (8).

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CLOSE-UP

final setup and light tests

Following the assembly the lights are set up and secured around the piece.

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CLOSE-UP

main vantage point

Main vatage point, overlooking a pool of water and final lighting color scheme.

POLLINATION PALACE {scan or click}

{festival webpage}

CLIENT: Pestival 2018 LOCATION: London - United Kingdom DATE: oct. - dec. 2017 STATUS: Proposal/Feasibility Study TEAM: Mathias Gmachl, Sebastian Comanescu Rachel Wingfield, Agostino Nickl Aarup London ENGINEERING CONSULTANT: Aarup London STUDIO: Loop.ph, Mamou-Mani Architects

A BIOMIMETIC LIGHTWEIGHT TEXTILE MULTILAYERED ARCHITECTURE INSPIRED BY LARVAE AND POLLINATING INSECTS Pestival comissioned Loop.ph and Mamou-Mani Architects to develop a bespoke pavillion meant to house the centerpiece exhibition at the event scheduled to take place in Hyde Park in May 2018.

The Pollination Palace proposal is meant to house the final performance/experience in the

The aim of the final design was to provide the festival with an easily transportable and deployable bespoke structure that would be used in the further iterations of the festival. To this aim we explored both conventional (established) and experimental lightweight structural systems.

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LAYOUT STUDIES experience integration

CONCEPTUAL STUDIES morphology and transformation

Seeing as the Pavillion aimed to provide a transformative experience; both the conceptual inspiration and the graphic style of the experience were based on old encyclopedia illustrations. More specifically diagrams related to the morpology of the honeybee larva. The layered structure is therefore seen as a supermiposition of intermediary states occuring simultaneously

The Pestival concept was revolving around a linear experience lined with several exhibitions and pavillions.

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EARLY STUDIES DEVIATIONS

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INTERIOR STUDIES layering and membranes

The approach to the interior and experience aims to flood the senses with vibrating colour, fractalic patterns and herbal fragrances by taking direct inspiration from the microscopic structures of pollen up to the insect scale.

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Double walled Immersive Space Big Capacity Low spatial differentiation Crowd control on the outside

Alternating Tunnels (uneven) Two Independent spaces; one connected to the exterior, the second one only accesible through holes in the membrane

Alternating Tunnels (even) Two independent spaces to be accessed from different sides; Two separate experiences next to each other

Aluminium truss structure cross-braced with steel cables, translucent PVC as external weathershield

Linear Tunnel Linear “Journey”-like experience

Linear Tunnel Linear “Journey”-like experience with a central clearance as a performance/ gathering space

Linear Tunnel Linear “Journey”-like experience with a central interior space for a collective immersive experience

Linear Tunnel Experience with multiple interior spaces for different themes/moods

Outer Membrane Transparent PVC, possibly printed

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FINAL LAYOUTS overview and detail

Middle Membrane Polyester Mesh

The final proposal places the Pollination Palace in a free flowspace allowing for ease of access while taking into acconut ticketing and accesibility issues.

Interior Membrane Blackout PVC Structure Aluminium Trusses Triangular Profile Tensioned by on Steel Cables on Ground Cross-braced, mounted on groundachored profile

Exhibition/Queue 210 sqm 150 persons Foyer 150 sqm 100 persons

Entrance/ Ticketing Picnic/ Family Area

Food

Insectopia

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Amazonia

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50 0m m

780 sqm flooring

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Village

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Facilities/ Restrooms

Sponsor Area

B r: 9750 mm

Food

Spatial separator keeping light out and directing flow; hosting Laser projectors: min. 10 000 lumen

A r: 77 50 m m

Entemophobia Pollination Palace

Immersive Chamber 400 sqm 400 persons

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1025 0m m

I r: 8750 mm J r: 7250 mm

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ESTABLISHED a cross braced arching truss structure An Aluminium Truss Structure cross-braced with steel cables. Reinforced translucent PVC as an external weathershield.

EXPERIMENTAL type 2 large scale tensegrity exoskeleton LVL-Timber X-shaped Struts encompassed in a polyester strap net.

Exoskeleton

Translucent PVC sheets are deployed in the ridges

Exoskeleton Aluminium truss structure cross-braced with steel cables, translucent PVC as external weathershield

Exoskeleton LVL-Timber X-Shaped Struts in a Polyester Strap Net

Cocoon Shell Semi-Translucent internal Polyester Skin, suspended from anchor points external structure

Cocoon Shell Semi-Translucent internal Polyester Skin, suspended from anchor points external structure

Pollinarium Membrane Blackout PVC Membrane for immersive projection, printed on the outside

Pollinarium Membrane Blackout PVC Membrane for immersive projection, printed on the outside

Cocoon Shell The Space Between the two internal membranes is used to conceal technical infrastructure such as audio and video equipment, projectors, cabling, lighting, etc.

Pollinarium Membrane The immersive experience space

Exoskeleton Translucent Weathershield

Time conscious assembly method Seeing as access for the construction teams in Hyde Park is limited the constrcution process has to be limited to a 3 day span.

Ribs Circular Aluminum Trusses

(1)Supporting rails and flooring (2)-(9)Steel Trusses and cross brancings (10)-(15)Weathershield is attached in strips between the pairs of arches (16)-(18) Two interior membranes and infrastructure

Endo-Net Macro Patterned Membrane

Cocoon Projection Space

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AV-Interfaces Metaspace for Infrastructure

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Cristae Interior Landscape

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EXPERIENCE DESIGN A sensorial space design inspired by plant and insect exchange

The interior expierience design takes inspiration from insect vision, attempting to transcend common misconceptions and provide an inspiring, educational experience in regards to how the insect ecosystem works.

Once inside, visitors will be drawn into the immersive projection chamber, with surround sound, that takes them through a microscopic journey of pollination, lasting approximately 10 minutes.

Bumble Bee Buzzer - A Piezo activates the membrane, creating a high frequency hum noise. The frequency is informed and directly influenced by the movement of people in certain areas of the space.

Psychedelic Calyx Cruise - During certain time a secondary projection, designed based on patterns sampled from flower calyxes (patterns that indicate the presence of pollen) is superimposed over the main projection.

“An exoskeleton (from Greek) is the external skeleton that supports and protects an animal’s body, in contrast to the internal skeleton (endoskeleton) of, for example, a human.”

-Wikipedia “By preventing dehydration the exoskeleton has allowed arthropods, especially insects, to invade most terrestrial habitats. The flexible joints in the exoskeleton of creatures such as the lobster allow great freedom of movement.”

-Encyclopaedia Britannica

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(Left) Exploration of a tensegrity system where the tension members (usually cables) are replaced by a continuous elastic membrane - which in the end proved too flexible to be feasibly scalable to the desired size (Center) A modular tensegrity plate system inspired by the work of David Georges Emmerich (Right) A type 2 tensegrity structure inspired by Kenneth D. Snelson’s X-Piece Series

EXPERIMENTAL TENSEGRITY STUDY MODELS - EXOSKELETON (left)rod-reinforced membrane (center)modular n-gonal (right)class 2 tensegrity

BLOK 42 {scan or click}

{workshop brochure}

CONTEXT: Fibrous Agency Workshop LOCATION: Florence, Italy DATE: jul. 2017 STATUS: Speculative AUTOR: Sebastian Comanescu TUTORS: Bogdan Zaha, Daniel Bolojan En{coded}Fields (Tutors) PROJECT ENABLERS: D.Chromosome (Organisers)

AN EXPLORATION INTO FIELD CONDITIONS, AGENT BASED SYSTEMS AND STRATEGIC UTILIZATION OF INFORMED MORPOLOGIES. At a macro scale, the project looks into field conditions and the generation of such fields in a manner that can help structure a possible urban condition.

“Field conditions move from the one toward the many, from individuals to collectives, from objects to fields.” (Allen, 1999:92)

On an object scale, an agent based, self-organizing system is used to drive the skin design.

By encoding design intent within the individual agents that comprise the system, structurally and environmentally informed exo-skeletons envelop one of the archetypes generated by the field interactions.

URBAN SITUATION - FIELD CONDITIONS north: Blok 21 - part of a socialist urban development center: Sava River forming islands near its discharge point in Danube - portuary area and abandoned industrial sites

ABSTRACT north-west & north-east: Blok 58 - industrial area/ heating plants/ portuary waterfront south: Snejak - residential neighbourhood, mainly low rise, pre-modern buildings Careva Cuprija - urban neighbourhood

The contemporary urban space is limitless as it is defined by a circuit of unlimited actors. However, it is comprised of “shards” that manifest continuity without being contiguous.

ARCHETYPES

FIELD MAP

“It is necessary to change the ideea of place for “situation. A situation must be constructed; it is not a passive interpretation of a project; situations(...) propose the project in some way - Metapolis(2003, 552)

As a mean to studying dynamic systems/network theories we chose a millieu of “shards” in which we saw the potential for generating a basic field condition. The situation emerges at the confluence of modernist industrial and historic urban fabrics, encompassing an island and surrounding area on the Sava River.

BEHAVIOURAL DINAMICS - EMERGENT FIBROSITY The philosophy behind agent-based system is that complex behaviour can be generated by establishing multiple iterative interaction within a system; based on a set of simple rules. As such, agent based systems are concerned with the mechanisms of self-organisation, and what types of rulesets lead to specific behaviours. Because agents dynamically negotiate their spatial positions and generate states via interactions, local negotiations of a series of parameters can be established.

(04)(10): Wander - minmal cohesion values and narrow detection angles between agent. As a result, brief interactions generate a dense exoskeleton comprised of a series of thin interwoven fibers.

COMPLEX LARGE SCALE BEHAVIOURS GENERATED BY THE AGGREGATE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN LESS COMPLEX AGENTS

(07)(08): Attraction - a high velocity system is empoyed to negotiate the transition between the ground and the object. Driven by a 3D map, high interaction areas in the upper part coupled with low intensity areas on the ground make up a fibrous structure mainly vertical with node-like formations.

A complex system emerges from the interaction of its components in such a way that the system is not reductible to the simple sum of its parts. Although they may emerge as chaotic, patterns are frequently found, thus self, organization occurs.

The system employed aimed to generate and/or modulate the topology of the existing object through flexible tactics. Rather than forcing the agents in certain situations, 2D or 3D maps alongside with relation and action criteria were inserted in the system as soft behavioural guidelines.

(01)(06): Separation - Gradient transitions in behaviours from bottom to top instill lower cohesion values in the agent system. As a result of increasingly erratic behaviour the exoskeleton is comprised of finer, more convoluted threads.

(02)(09): Swarming - medium cohesion values coupled with separation values generate an exoskeleton with fairly distributed, medium-sized (03)(05): Follow - high cohesion values and wide openings. The fiber have relatively large diameters detection angles driven by 3D maps. The resulting and converge towards the edges of the volume formation is made of thick vein-like fibers due to the long interactions between agents

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KASTLE C3 {scan or click}

{conceptual explorations} {manifesto for a society in 2067}

UNIVERSITY: “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture LOCATION: Bucharest, Romania DATE: mar. - jun. 2017 TEAM: Sebastian Comanescu, Cristina Costea Didier Chifan TUTORS: Dorin Stefan, Dan Dinoiu, Ioana Ardelean

IN-FOLIE A SPCULATIVE DEPICTION OF BUCHAREST AS A COSMOPOLITAN CITY IN 2067 “[...] this new moral and spiritual social structure (in 2067) reveals itself as a milleu of unstable subsystems. In continuous transformation it rearranges in a perpetual fl ux of contractions and expansions; a fl ow that is the basis for new circulation patterns, paths of experience and, in fact, the experiment itself”

“[...] the society witnesses a new vocabulary in this state of perpetual change. Architecture folds upon itself in an assemblage driven by the unstable parameters of social structures; it assumes risks, off ers chances, holds the user in an excited state, always a work in progress.”

-Exempts from the Manifesto for 2067

ZIP-SPACE, CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAMS AND MODELS FLOW OF USERS, EXPANSIVE POCKETS OF FUNCTIONAL SPACE

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS USER INTERACTION

IDEONELLA SARKAIENSIS

Ideonella sakaiensis was identified in 2016 by a team of researchers after collecting PET debris.

The bacteria uses an enzyme that combined with water breaks down PET plastic into terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; substances which on their own pose not threat to the environment. The supposition is that future gene editing tech will

TOP VIEW

By superimposing the urban island model and the new simulation, the contours of the objects and existing bodies, previously so important gradually vanish in the whirl. The new structure delineates itself and the aggregate begins casting shadows.

SECTION

ISOMETRIC

The spaces we explored were topological bubbles - combinatorial processes depicting the connections between movements. The zip-space emerges as a sub-typology of intersticial space as a measure and a protagonist of the dillatiations and contractions of the event-space. Unforseen elements are fed into the urban system.

SPECULATIVE CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM ACHIEVED VIA USER DRIVEN GENETIC ENGINEERING AND GEARED TOWARDS MORPHING WASTE INTO MATERIAL allow the synthetization of a similar bacteria that would be able to break down waste and generate mineral aggregates as a biproduct. Due to the fact that we are reffering to the microscopic level; the pipeline would be so short as to allow the user to interact with the landscape via a device; commanding modifications based on the waste available

THE “DAY AT THE BEACH” FRAMEWORK A SHIFT OF VALUE FROM OBJECT TO PROCESS

USER INTERACTION

Architecture used to be about making walls, roofs, etc. Now that time and space are subjects of erratic compressions and expansions, architecture will embrace intensities as new devices; building links, tensions, bifurcations or continuities. The new urban strata is by its nature a functionally amorphous space succumbed to the vicisitudes

The old built environment has become a landscape, nothing but an aggregation of frames with nostalgic values but devoid of functional content.

Through spontaneous processen of temporal spatial ocuupation; dillatations and compression of functionalities, we add said content hoping that by exploiting it, somthing unexpected might emerge

THE ANALOGY OF FUN; WE BELIEVE IN SANDCASTLES We see the citizen in 2067 as “an infant” building a sandcastle. What one might call a futile goal, seeing as the sandcastle is ephemeral by nature.

What is envisioned here is a sence of purpose by experimentation and process rather than by finite object. A set of activities from which the status quo of a new type of society emerges.

Architecture becomes a game and just that.

Architecture becomes entertainment. This new anthropic state of architecture is driven by an increased complexity of the interaction between “user” and “used”; Time becomes the key element of the consumer society and space... architecture becomes a pretext to consume time.

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BOTTOM LAYER (1) to (5) reused old urban fabric (1)(2)(3) Hospitality, Retail & Workspaces - some of the urban objects perform well and, although they may suff er transformations, via adaptation will endure in the near future.

(4) Underused public spaces & empty lots - will evolve into spaces that facilitate the diff usion of users into the megastructure.

(5) Underused public spaces & empty lots - will evolve into spaces that facilitate the diff usion of users into the megastructure (6) Underused and/or abandoned buildings - will be used as research labs and dispatch points of the “enzime”

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MEDIAN LAYER (6) to (15) hybridisation strata 14

(7) MILLEFEUILES GALLERIES InfoPoint doubling as an Art Gallery (8) THE LODGE & VOLATILE STAGES - upgrading the performance space of the existing theatre (9) HELIX - main access to the upper level (10) DRIPPING FOYER - Verically Diagonal public space (11) TRashBARY - KASTLE’s gift shop; a waste library that is used to extend and alter the megastructure (12) KARDEN - Kitchen + Garden (13) RED HOT LIGHT DISTRICT one of the urban functions that has endured since antiquity, elevated for the last decades of the 21st century (14) OVERBEARING SUPPORTS - structural supports doubling as high speed vertical circulation shafts 05

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UPPER LAYER (16) to (20) new urban strata (16) CLOUDY BEACH - Wokspaces, playspaces (17) OVERHANGING GARDENS Experimental agriculture (18) PLATO-PLATEAU - Vantage point, public debate space (19) DEBRIS CREVASE - Drones acces the TRashBARY (20) CAVERNOUS GALLERIES Art and performance area

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PROMENADA NOVI SAD {scan or click}

{cgi video fly-by}

CLIENT: NEPI Rockcastle LOCATION: Novi Sad, Serbia DATE: juy. - sept. 2017 STATUS: Under Construction TEAM: Andrei Ivanescu (PA), Laura Ivanescu(PA) Sebastian Comanescu, Oana Tutu, Didier Chifan Laura Dumitrescu, Sivana Ciobanu OFFICE: HB Design Bucharest

A SELF STANDING URBAN ACTOR ROOTED IN THE CITY’S URBAN FABRIC The site is geographically positioned at the intersection of Novi Sad’s two most important traffic routes while having a close connection to the historical center.The design ambitionsly explores the contextual possibilities offered by the neighbouring stadium and sports centre. The two park terrances contribute to the surrounding

sport-related area with a high-end gym, a running track and courts (tennis, badmington, streetball) generating a synergetical architectural effect. Together with the upscale retail facilities, restaurants and cafes the programatic elementents aim to provide a new urban destination for Novi Sad.

FUNCTIONAL LAYERS NEGOTIATING SITE CONDITIONS WITH URBAN NECESSITIES The interior functional layout comes as a response to the geological conditions of the site toggether with the 3 main acces points. The parking volume on the north side comes as a necessity due to high groundwater levels. This is seen as an opportunity to facilitate public acces on the green terance reinforcing its position as a central element.

UNDERGROUND & CIRCULATIONS

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

The placing of the parking volume allows the concentration of functional circulations that reach a maximum amount of retail spaces using the least amount of footprint. As the corners of the volume are not occupied by retail infrastructure anchor retailers on the first floor can use those spaces as double exposure storefronts.

THIRD FLOOR

technical park terrance running track courts parking levels cafe

Pedestrian Entrance from Stadion Plaza

Public Elevators Interior stair connecting parking levels

Service /Evacuation Corridors

Evacuation Stairs

Pedestrian Entrance from Cara Lazara

Escalators

SECOND FLOOR

cinema foodcourt park terrance running track streetball courts parking levels food trucks gym

Commercial Gallery

Main Entrance

Pedestrian Entrance from Stadion Plaza

FIRTS FLOOR

retail parking levels

Pedestrian Entrance from Cara Lazara Speedramp from GF to SF

GROUND FLOOR

retail parking levels restaurants

Sports Park and Green Terraces on Roof

Interior ramp access to all UF-TF parking levels

UF -TF parking levels

Speedramp from GF to UF

car access from Oslobodenja Boulevard underpass/Cara Lazara to underground floor parking

Main Entrance

car acces from Cara Lazara along the speedramp to second floor parking

Main Parking Access

Exterior ramp access to all GFb-TF parking levels

car access from Oslobodenja Boulevard along the interior ramp car access from Oslobodenja Boulevard along the exterior ramp to every upper parking level

UF parking level

access to UF parking levels

Underpass to UF

Boulevard Oslobodenja

exit to Cara Lazara

Speedramp from GF to SF

BASEMENT

technical parking levels retail hypermarket delivery yard

CAR ACCESS TO PARKING LEVELS Cara Lazara

UF -TF parking levels

Speedramp from GF to UF

Interior ramp access to all UF-TF parking levels

car access from Oslobodenja Boulevard along the interior ramp car access from Oslobodenja Boulevard along the exterior ramp to every upper parking level

UF parking level

access to UF parking levels

Exterior ramp access to all GFb-TF parking levels

CAR ACCESS TO PARKING LEVELS Cara Lazara

car access from Oslobodenja Boulevard underpass/Cara Lazara to underground floor parking car acces from Cara Lazara along the speedramp to second floor parking

Main Parking Access

Speedramp from UF to GF

exit from SF parking

exit from UF parking

UF -TF parking levels

Exit through interior ramp from all UF-TF parking levels

Cara Lazara

UF parking level exit from UF parking

exit to Bd. Oslobodenja CAR EXIT FROM PARKING LEVELS

car exit from parking floors to Boulevard Oslobodenja car exit from underground parking floors

exit to Bd. Oslobodenja

Underpass to UF

Boulevard Oslobodenja

car exit from upper parking levels to Cara Lazara (along speedramp) Boulevard Oslobodenja

AN INTERIOR DESIGN SCHEME DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A LANDSCAPE OF NATURAL LIGHT

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The building derives its character from the central funnel-like atrium (void) which cuts through the volume from bottom to top. Smaller similar voids form under the skylights enhancing the overall quality of the interior space by allowing natural light to permeate deep into the dense commercial space. The medium height vegetation that surrounds the skylights selectively filters the light adding a sense of natural environment to the overall experience.

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A FACADE SYSTEM THAT MAKES THE MOST OF THE GENERAL GEOGRAPHIC POSITION

The southern facade (200m long) is a matrix of photovoltaic cells aligned in a way that captures the maximum amount of sun energy

PV Cells Facade Module

PV Cells Facade Principle

PV Cells Facade Unroll - 7 A.M.

PV Cells Facade Unroll - 11 A.M.

PV Cells Facade Unroll - 15 P.M.

PV Cells Facade Unroll - 19 P.M.

Perspective Study of Solar Energy Intake at 13 P.M.

0% Capacity

100% Capacity

{scan or click}

{ETEM blog/news}

ETEM Intelligent Tectonics V1.0 Sofia, Bulgaria; Munchen, Germany jul. 2016 Built Sebastian Comanescu, Adrian Auth Ertunc Hunkar TUTORS: Boyan Mihaylov, Georgi Kazlachev Alberto Lago (Eng) PROJECT ENABLERS: DesignMorphine (Organizer)

A MODULAR, REUSABLE, PERFORMATIVE PLATE STRUCTURE TO SHOWCASE ETEM’S NEW LINE OF DICHROIC BOND PANELS The proposal takes its name from the scientific name of the Moray Eels family, known for their coloured, dichroic-like patterns. The proposal takes intro account the general premises of an expozitional stand and “slithers” around the supplied walls rather than asserting itself as a freestanding structure and blocking visibility.

BASE SURFACE

CURVATURE ANALYSIS

The plate system is based on the general layout of the pannels provided by ETEM and takes into account factory routing methods that only allow for bending angles in increments of 45 degrees.

The solution therefore forms an exquisite background for presentations and display while being easy to fabricate, transport and (dis)assemble.

PANEL GENERATION

SCALE AND COLOR curvature driven

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

ASSEMBLY PRINCIPLE

ASSEMBLED SUBSET

EXPLODED SUBSET

ARRAGNGEMENT OPTIONS

1:1 DETAIL PROTOTYPE

MURAENIDAE PAVILLION

CLIENT: CONTEXT: LOCATION: DATE: STATUS: TEAM:

TYPICAL PANEL

FOLDING PRINCIPLE

135 FOLD

90 FOLD

45 FOLD

{video overview by NOUMENA}

An introductory session into the principles behind implementing robotics and 3d printing at a larger scale. Working with a non-standard material (candlewax) and adapting/improving a physical tool to deal with the material constraints and specificities.The investigation began through phisycal experimentation after which the data was fed back

COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLY SYRINGE

BACKPLATE ROBOT MOUNT HEATING COIL

SYRINGE LEUR ADAPTOR SOLENOID AND MOUNT

COUPLING SEAL PLATE RUBBER SEAL

L BRACKET

TOP PLATE

VALVE RUBBER SEAL BOTTOM PLATE

NOZZLE

TOOL & SET-UP

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A RESEARCH SESSION SET ON EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIGITAL AND PHYSICAL TOOLS; INVESTIGATING MATERIAL AND TOOL PROPERTIES AND LIMITATIONS

MATERIAL BEHAVIOUR

ADDITIVE TOPOLOGIES

CONTEXT: Rese ARCH Lab Sessions LOCATION: Bratislava, Slovakia DATE: dec. 2015 STATUS: Prototype/Research TUTORS: Stuart Maggs TEAM: Sebastian Comanescu, Andrei Raducanu Andrei Padure, Konrad Zellner, Ralf Bliem, Konrad Zaremba Afshin Koupaei, Francisco Tapia, Giorgio Castellano Noumena, rese Arch PROJECT ENABLERS: Slovak University of Technology

into Rhino/Grasshopper to inform the design strategy.

The custom 3D printer mounted on the 6 axis robot was altered in accordance to on site observations by adding an ardunio controlled gyroscope in order to enhance control by adjusting the fl ow of material based on the tool angle.

CITY PARK MALL {scan or click}

{drone footage by local media} {cgi video fly-by}

CLIENT: NEPI Rockcastle LOCATION: Constanta, Romania DATE: 2015-2017 STATUS: Built TEAM: Andrei Ivanescu (PA), Laura Ivanescu(PA) Sebastian Comanescu, Oana Tutu, Didier Chifan Laura Dumitrescu, Sivana Ciobanu OFFICE: HB Design Bucharest

RENEWING THE IDENTITY OF ONE OF CONSTANTA’S MOST KNOWN SHOPPING DESTINATIONS The project included a retail extension, a new overground parking, and a redesign of the facades and the foudcourt, doubling the total GLA and increasing the avaliable parking space three times.

The overall redesign of the facades enhances the buildings overall relationship with the neighbouring park and waterfront by making use of earth

toned materials, green walls and gabions. The project aims to reasert the retail center’s image as a conscious urban actor thus bringing a modern contribution to the city’s oveall image while preserving the ambiental quallity of its surrounding area.

ACCES APPARATUSES RENEWING THE IDENTITY OF TINATIONS The new volume and the facades take their shape from the sloping of the site. Working toghether with the acces ramps, a series of sloping volumes and broken diagonals act depiction of the landscape. The toned aluminum cladding speaks a modern language with reference to local archetypes

Backlit copper-clad volumes mark the acces points. Digital tools and techniques were employed in order to minimize material waste and allow for a ease of on site management and assemby. The and diffusion screens were number and color tagged before being delivered on site together with the construction documents.

KINETIC SOUNDTRAP {scan or click}

{presentation video by LAVA}

CONTEXT: LOCATION: DATE: STATUS: TEAM:

Kinetic Structures Workshop Stuttgart, Germany jul. 2016 Built

Sebastian Comanescu, Elena Chidrik Bogdan Hambasan, Carmen Matiz, Agnieszka Misztela, Peeradon Warithkorasuth, Matthias Gebhard, Sven Hoffman, Agnieszka Kacprzak, Pom Sophakorn, Didem Acar, Safa Ameedee, Enrico Cacciapuoti, Peter Katholnigg, Martin Rechner

TUTORS: ARCHITECTS: ENGINEERS:

Matthijs la Roi, Piotr Baszynski Kim Boris Löffler Tobias Jarosch, Robert Vierlinge PROJECT ENABLERS: LAVA, Axon Bollinger & Grohman

A KINETIC PLATE INSTALLATION THAT IMPROVES ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE

The space is designed to be as open as possible but diff erent usages need diff erent acoustic properties.Sound absorption and refl exion, therefore need to vary to enhance the spatial qualities needed for both daily activities and special events.

During one week, together with a team of students and professionals we developed a plated structure that moves like a drape and acts like a sound dampener, based on previous studies carried by LAVA and Bollinger Grohmann.

1.5MM ALUMINUM PLATES

PULLEY AND HOOK SYSTEM

02. BASE SURFACE

03. FORCE-DRIVEN MODELLING

04. HEX PANELISATION

05. ACOUSTIC SCENARIO 1

06. ACOUSTIC SCENARIO 2

MOVEMENT SCENARIOS

TECHNICAL RIG

01. CONTEXTUAL ADAPTATIONS

D-LINKS ARTICULATION SYSTEM

A general model was approximated during the fi rst phase in order to provide a basic overlook on the general dimensions of individual elements.

The materials were, afterwards, measured, manually processed. The use of contemporary digital deviced allowed us to update and generate the cutting patterns in matter of seconds.

01. BASE GEOMETRY

02. SIMULATION MODEL

03. EQUILIBRIUM MODEL

04. BEAM GEOMETRY

05. BEAM DISCRETISATION

06.JOINERY

07.BEAM OUTLINES

08.TAGGING

09. FINAL OUTPUT

10. GUIDE MODEL

FINAL MODEL

{extended description} {build phase videos}

STUDY MODEL

{scan or click}

During the summer of 2014, Plai and Edukube hosted a design workshop named Grasshoppers in Aether; The aim of the workshop was to teach local students to take advantage of new media in relationship with analogue fabrication methods.

The client’s request to use roughly 1 cubic meter of upcycled planks set the initial constrains.

BEAMS

BULB PAVILLION

CREATING A CENTERPIECE FOR THE RELAXATION AREA USING COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN TOOLS, LOW TECH FABRICATION AND UPCYCLED MATERIALS

CLIENT: Plai Festival LOCATION: Timisoara, Romania DATE: sept. 2014 STATUS: Built TUTORS: Sebastian Comanescu, Andrei Ivanescu ENGINEERING CONSULTANT: Daniela Krohnert TEAM: Tudor Avramescu, Manuel Brudiu Paul Ardelean, Raoul Vintila, Laurentiu Cauni edukube(Zoran Popovici) PROJECT ENABLER:

THANK YOU! E-MAIL: sebastian.cmnsc@gmail.com +40754831722 TELEPHONE: @k.om.a INSTAGRAM: sebastian_comanescu SKYPE: +40754831722