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STRAIGHT EDGE PAVILLION
L.E.A.D ARCHITECTS [73] Straight Edge Pavillion | L.E.A.D | 2010
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An incredibly influential precedent project that we looked into was the Straight Edge Pavilion, once again designed by L.E.A.D architects who also designed and built the Dragon Skin Pavilion, a project that we took inspiration from earlier in the semester. Quoted by L.E.A.D as a ‘highly experimental wooden structure’ built in only 7 days from C.N.C water jet cut pieces of 7mm plyboard. The structure consists of cubesegments distributed onto a double-curved surface. The straight cube-edge allows for very strong plywood connections using a standard, hand-nailed box joint. By having the opposing edges not connecting orthogonally,
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a double curved surface can be created and L.E.A.D architects were able to produce an algorithmic procedure to calculate and distribute cube-segments onto the surface, and automate the generation of production drawings. A major feature of the Straight Edge Pavilion is its experiential quality. The connections between each cube edge create an arching structure that stands alone without assistance from supports. One can move within the structure, to view the folding pattern from within. This directly relates to the brief of the Wyndham roadside installation. If we could recreate a similar arching tunnel over the road using a similar method of cube edge
connections, that can be viewed by drivers from within. There are a few areas though that i believe we can improve on the design, to tailor it to our specific brief. The Straight Edge Pavilion is made from 519 unique pieces that had to be labelled and then tediously put together like a puzzle. One of our main goals now its to make fabrication relatively easy, so small pieces are unacceptable. If we can somehow connect each small piece into one over-arching piece, reducing the number from 519 to approximately 15 or so larger arches. This would reduce construction time and effort considerably and is a legitimate goal that i believe with the use of grasshopper we can accomplish.
The form of the structure is also relatively rudimentary. It would significantly add to the visual aesthetics of the design if the ridge undulated up and down rather than collapsing inwards. From within an undulating form would look much more interesting. Finally, if we are able to lift one of the edges off the ground, allowing sight lines from within the structure to the outside, this would allow light into the design and reduce the feeling of claustrophobia. Perforations within each honeycomb panel would also allow light to filter within.