Shell Structures

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Expanding Bending-Active Bamboo…

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Conference Paper: Peer Reviewed

Expanding Bending-Active Bamboo Gridshell Structures’ Design Solution Space Through Hybrid Assembly Systems

by Ma C. Y., Chan Y. Y. and Crolla K.

ABSTRACT | This paper discusses the development and testing of a novel design method for the low-tech construction of bending-active bamboo gridshell structures. It expands this typologys current design solution space by combining and building up on two common production methods for light-weight shell structures: 1) the lay-up method, typically used in bamboo architecture in which members are added one at a time, and 2) the flatbed method, in which a prefabricated equidistant flat grid without shear rigidity is propped up and deformed into its final doubly curved shape. The novel methodology expands the systems design solution space by incorporating singularities within the grid topology and by layering multiple separate grids. This allows for spatially radically different building geometries without loss of implementation workflow efficiency. A demonstrator design project, tested through a large-scale prototype model, is described to illustrate the possible spatially engaging architectural design opportunities presented by the novel approach.

KEYWORDS | Bending-active structures; Bamboo architecture; Shell structures; Low-tech fabrication; Form finding

DOWNLOAD | http://papers.cumincad.org/data/works/att/caadria2021_333.pdf

CITATION | Ma, Chun Yu, Jennifer Chan Yan Yu and Kristof Crolla, “Expanding Bending-Active Bamboo Gridshell Structures’ Design Solution Space Through Hybrid Assembly Systems”, in A. Globa, J. van Ameijde, A. Fingrut, N. Kim, T.T.S. Lo (eds.), PROJECTIONS – Proceedings of the 26th CAADRIA Conference – Volume 1, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Online, Hong Kong, 29 March – 1 April 2021, pp. 331-340

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Designing with Uncertainty…

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Conference Paper: Peer Reviewed

Designing with Uncertainty: Objectile Vibrancy in the TOROO bamboo pavilion

by Crolla K. and Goepel G.

ABSTRACT | This paper challenges digital preoccupations with precision and control and questions the status of tolerance, allowance and error in post-digital, human-centred architectural production. It uses the participatory action research design-and-build project TOROO, a light-weight bending-active bamboo shell structure, built in Hsinchu, Taiwan, in June 2019, as a demonstrator project to discuss how protean digital design diagrams, named ‘vibrant objectiles,’ are capable of productively absorbing serendipity throughout project crystallisation processes, increasing designer agency in challenging construction contexts with high degrees of unpredictability. The demonstrator project is then used to discuss future research directions that were exposed by the project. Finally, the applicability of working with ‘vibrant objectiles’ is discussed beyond its local project use. Common characteristics and requirements are extracted, highlighting project setup preconditions for which the scope covered by the architect needs to be both broadened and relaxed to allow for feedback from design implementation phases.

KEYWORDS | Post-digital; Bamboo; Bending-active Shell Structures; Uncertainty; Objective

DOWNLOAD |  http://papers.cumincad.org/cgi-bin/works/paper/caadria2020_090

CITATION | Crolla, Kristof and Garvin Goepel, “Designing with Uncertainty: Objectile Vibrancy in the TOROO bamboo pavilion”, in D. Holzer, W. Nakapan, A. Globa, I. Koh (eds.), RE: Anthropocene, Design in the Age of Humans – Proceedings of the 25th CAADRIA Conference – Volume 2, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, 5-6 August 2020, pp. 507-516.

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Building indeterminacy modelling – the…

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Journal Paper: Peer reviewed

Building indeterminacy modelling – the ‘ZCB Bamboo Pavilion’ as a case study on nonstandard construction from natural materials

by Crolla K.

ABSTRACT | If unprocessed natural materials are the most environmentally friendly construction materials available, how do we develop and communicate design model and construction information that allows dealing with their volatile indeterminacies?

This paper discusses the design and development of the ‘ZCB Bamboo Pavilion’, a 30-metres-spanning, light-weight, bending-active gridshell from hand-tied bamboo poles, as a case study for the computational design and building information modelling of nonstandard architecture where both applied materials and employed craftsmanship are highly unpredictable in terms of accuracy and precision.
Reflective practice and participatory action research are used to extract knowledge on and challenge the environment of practice, and improve design and construction strategies. The project is used to discuss how traditional construction can be augmented through the strategic injection of computation in the design and construction process, how computation allows for a different mode of collaboration with increased impact for the designer, and how bespoke building information models enable an expanded architectural design solution space.
The paper concludes by arguing for a mode of digital design practice that more proactively operates within a field of real-world indeterminacy. The risk and ambiguity of working with indeterminacies are to be strategically balanced out against idealised digital set-ups and onsite opportunities.

KEYWORDS | High-tech versus Low-tech; Protocol for Error; Bamboo Architecture; Bending-active Gridshell; Form-finding; ZCB Bamboo Pavilion; Participatory Action Research; Reflective Practice

DOWNLOAD | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40327-017-0051-4

CITATION |Crolla, Kristof. “Building indeterminacy modelling – the ‘ZCB Bamboo Pavilion’ as a case study on nonstandard construction from natural materials,” Visualization in Engineering, 5:15 (December 2017)

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Bamboo Shelter

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Book Chapter

Bamboo Shelter

by Crolla K. and Klisz J.

ABSTRACT | The Bamboo Shelter by the Laboratory for Explorative Architecture & Design Ltd. (LEAD) is a temporary light-weight bending-active bamboo installation built on a rooftop at the UABBSZ 2015 exhibition. The design highlights and gives identity to a space for public gathering. This area is located in between the auditorium and adjacent cafe / exhibition building.

The installation is defined by an undulating membrane that is suspended between the building edges, bent over the handrail of the walkway up, and pulled down into a central seating area. This membrane is materialized by means of a diagrid made from thin bamboo sticks. These sticks are bent onsite and manually tied together according to specific building information that was extracted from computer models. These models employ digital real-time physics simulation tools to find form that is suitable for the selected material configuration. Specific annotation and construction documentation algorithms were developed to allow easy onsite construction without the need for conventional architectural drawings such as plans, sections or elevations.
This research project fits in a lineage of investigations on how computational design tools can be strategically inserted into low-tech construction methods and through this allow for innovative architectural outcome. The thesis is that by initiating form finding exercises from material and construction properties and restrictions, rather than from virtual speculation only, a much more practical and realistic project implementation becomes possible.
The Bamboo Shelter promotes the innovative use of natural materials that through their symbolic and cultural association enforce the local identity of the project location. But most importantly it illustrates how engaging architectural alternatives are possible from the simplest of means.

KEYWORDS |UABB 2015; Bamboo Shelter; Shell Structure

DOWNLOAD | https://www.amazon.com/Re-living-City-UABB-2015-Catalogue/dp/1945150033

CITATION |Crolla, Kristof, and Klisz Julien. “Bamboo Shelter”. In Betsky Aaron, A. Brillembourgn, H. Klumper, and D. Liu (Authors), Gideon Fink Shapiro (ed.), “UABB 2015 Catalogue”, Actar Publisions: New York, Barcelona, 2016, pp.632-635

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Shells Matter

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Journal Paper

Shells Matter

by Crolla K.

ABSTRACT | No innovation has prompted greater expectations within the architectural profession than the digital design revolution. Only recently, with virtually every single architectural practice accommodating personal computing one way or another, have firms started to use computers beyond a mere replacement or automation tool for old drawing traditions. Although not developed for that particular purpose, procedural design tools like Bentley’s Generative Components or Grasshopper, a plug-in for McNeel’s 3D NURBS modelling software Rhinoceros, allow for an easy production of highly graphical output. The ease by which these instant graphics can be playfully manipulated makes the tools popular weapons of choice for designers looking to creatively tackle problems presented by a primarily image-driven commercial development market. With no clear remaining architecture style or all-encompassing design paradigm to answer today’s building challenge, and with little or no convincingly remaining motivation for form, the general focus of architectural design thus shifts more and more towards pure graphics and form. Consequently, a wide, yet extremely shallow proliferation of parametric modelling techniques is currently taken place. As problematic as this uncritical tool implementation may be, it succeeded in pushing many across the first hurdles of computer programming based design methodologies, which has now widely permeated the scene.

KEYWORDS | Performance Integrated Design; Shells; Integrated Tectonics; BESO

DOWNLOAD | http://d.wanfangdata.com.cn/periodical/zhuq201205016

CITATION | Crolla, Kristof. “Shells Matter”, Community Design, Tsinghua University Magazine, Oct. 2012