Bent Out Of Shape is a series of student investigations generated in the course Arch 711A at Pratt Institute, Graduate Architecture and Urban Design. The seminar focused on the use of parametric design tools to model and simulate material behavior, specifically adaptable green façade systems that integrate structure, skin, glass, and plant life. Parametric systems were set up to design, visualize, analyze, and fabricate the system through Kangaroo, a live physics engine for interactive simulation, optimization, and form-finding directly within Grasshopper. The design and conception of each project blended computational design tools as well as traditional techniques of paper folding, which were envisioned as a new exterior façade for Higgins Hall. By utilizing these advanced computational design tools, it allowed for complex fold and cut patterns to be generated and simulated at large scales in order to predict real world behaviors. The exhibition is the final testing phase where each project is created at full scale. Issues such as material and machine tolerances, structure, full-scale production, performance, and assembly are confronted by each team.
Production Team: Lindsay Schragen, Matt Boker, Ulrika Lindell, Zach Grzybowski, Michael Monroe, Dan Hoch, Justin Koziol, Keith Alfaro
Sponsors: Dibond 3A Composites