Hello Architect makers…. The time we have all been waiting for has finally arrived… With the machine cutting running at all possible hours of the day and shifts are taken in rotations. The assembly begins and the exhibition is planned. The pieces are being assembled to their pairs with the rod and tube in between, once all are paired the building begins.
The pieces attached to the base are screwed together to all three bases. Two to three people work on each base. Once the bases are joint and the height of each leg is high enough, it is time to combine the sides. Additional supports are placed and beams are constructed to hold up and support the weight while building. Good teamwork and constant communication is seen throughout the process as one action done by one person leads and affects the next action done by another.
“…Dancing queen, Feel the beat from the tambourine, Oh, yeah...” ABBA’s dancing queen jams while we work, a few pieces broke due to the pressure of the assembly and trying to curve pieces to their joints. The broken pieces are quickly cut once more and replaced by new ones (all thanks to the organized working method and efficient numbering system). As predicted by the Karamba model, the stress of some pieces is seen as both the tension and compression act simultaneously. Karamba’s estimation of the deformation is seen in the pavilion and therefore we resolved to tying the pieces to the building and trees around using butterfly screws on the middle rods.
It is awesome to see the fruit of our hard labor come to life, all that we have learned and gained is seen through the pavilion and the exhibition. We understand that often in site the results sometimes require to shift and alternate in order to work. Working in a group taught us the importance of communication, using methods that are clear and being organized in the work ethics. We enjoyed this adventure and hope that our followers did too.
Till next time,
The architect makers
Hello architect makers….. With last week’s important insights from the engineers, we split into new and old groups and get to work. The flow of work and information is seen from one group to the next. Everybody is responsible for understanding their spot in the cycle and the friends they ought to communicate with so that workflow does not require longer hours.
The engineering group task is to place a fragment of the parametric model created in the Sofistik software (using a plugin in rhino) along with the plywood’s physical properties in order to estimate the deformation, shear forces, wind and support dimensions. This process is done with the support of Mor and Itamar from the firm. We further placed the full model in Karamba so that to compare The two softwares.
The bases group are the first to get physical on site, with the support weights calculated, the reinforcements in the concrete are structured and placed. Precautions are taken through the placements of additional steel pallets in the casting- in case the pavilion deforms the way karamba displays. Furthemore, the middle steel rods remain long for the purpose of attaching cables- this precaution is taken for the same purpose.
The joinery group decides on the strongest joint that best fits the pavilion and it is manually placed on the pieces before the first cut. The kerfing is also selected after the many experimentations and graph plots.
The coding team successfully coded the shifting modular shapes and later created a numbering system for the pieces so that once the building begins the work is organized and monitored. The numbered pieces are flattened, the kerfing code is placed, and the laser cutting begins…
Hello architect maker…. As we chose the winning pavilion last week we split into working groups and managed different aspects of the project. First up is the logistics team that simplified and worked in detailed coordination in this complex operation involving many people and supplies. They made sure that we are organized and prepared in our teams for the week’s meeting with the engineers firm, Kedmor.
The groups worked on the development joints between the pieces that can withstand tension and compression on two axis, as well as base joints that connect the wooden pavilion to the concrete bases. Other groups coded for the triangular grid as well as the gradual change in the pieces’ size due to the sun penetration and the microclimates in the location.
Carrying the week’s scaled models to the engineers firm was not an easy task. As students we are used to the funny stares and occasional sympathetic eyes. However, we rose to the challenge and managed the task with a few comments from passers of “hey, Architecture” and a smile.
At the firm we discussed the optimal shape, joint and base, learning that the shear force is the strongest at the middle steel rod between two pieces. The joint is a vital component of the design process as the forces transfer through them towards the ground joints. The ground joints combine both concrete wood and steel to create the most effective structural base.
Kedmor engineering Firm:
