Sylvia Felipe

HYBRIDa

HybGrid - From Form Generation to Form Adaptation

The aim of this project has been designing a system/process able to generate multiple and non-predeterminated shapes that are modifiable with regard to different spatial requirements. Our purpose has been achieving formal adaptability and not formal idonity. (ideal form)

For this purpose it is necessary to design a physical system (phenotype) able to articulate; but it is also important to design a process (genotype) linking the multiple spatial necessities to their multiple formalisations.

Phenotype: The physical system bases its formal articulation in the property of elastic deformation. As biomimetics engineering points out, this kind of deformation increases the shaping possibilities in a simple and economical way and also keeps the endurance properties that are characteristic of material continuity. This system is not a mechanical system performing via universal joints; instead it is based in elastic properties of materials such us polymers and fibre-composites (fibre-composites have a very optimized elastic/resistance capacity)

Specifically, the physical system is based in a grid made up of threes of fibre-composite strips. These strips are continuous and pre-shaped in order to achieve the needed inertia without extra-stressing the material.

The production method is quite simple. There doesn’t exist any differentiation in the physical conformation of the grid during the production process. Instead, the system can later generate formal and structural differentiation by changing the relative distances between these strips (fig. 1). These distances can easily change thanks to the use of some elements placed between strip and strip. We call these elements “actuators”. They have 4 positions –“A, “B”, “C” and “D”- that define 4 different distances between strips. The local manipulation of each “actuator” results, as in emergent systems, in a global change of shape of the whole.

Genotype: The different programmatic and spatial necesities are transferred to the phenotype by means of parametric control through software. Then, the design of the system implies the design of a plug-in in which the limits, the laws and the ranges of the system are parametrically introduced (Maximum and minimum curvature radii at a local and a global level...). Through this plug- in we are able to design the global configuration of the size and location of the required spaces. Once these spaces are digitally defined, the plug-in, calculates and transfers its required local position to each “actuator”. For example if the actuator labelled “90 A” should be on position “A” “B” “C” or “D”

We have designed a complex system able to adapt to multiple requirements thanks to the fact that it works by means of extremally simple laws. The clue is an alogarithm based in the conbination of four positions: “A” “B” “C” or “D”.

Within this frame, the actual form of the artefat is not any longer the product of the personal and unidirectional view of the architect, but it is directly informed by the system that makes it possible. Through the design process of such system the collaboration among different disciplines is necessary. In a way, the system is the catalist of information coming from disciplines such as architectural design, material engineering, software programming, structural engineering...The system generates shape, and each generated shape is different deppending of the spacial necessities that are required.

There doesn’t exist dicotonomy between form finding and adaptation of the actual form. The notion of form finding doesn´t stop in the building but remains after the building. It is not only how to design the artefact but also how to evolve it. In a way, this expands the traditional idea of form finding into a dinamic idea. The critic of architectural form is not built on the actual achieved shape but in the dinamism of the idea of infinite actual shapes within a method-process of design.

Sylvia Felipe

(HYBRIDa)

Sylvia Felipe and Jordi Truco, Architects by Escola Tecnica Superior d'Arquitectura de Barcelona and Distinction in MA in Emergent Technologies and Design at the Architectural Association School of London.

After four years of practice in Barcelona, they moved to London were they coursed a March at the Architectural association, obtaining several awards and working in a Responsive and adaptable architectures research project called the HybGrid. Once back in Barcelona they founded HYBRIDa, an Architecture research studio which is involved in the new technologies as a method for design including computation systems, using parametric and associative software, Data Driven Production and researching in material technologies.

They realized their interest on the academic carrier, so they started teaching at ESARQ-Universitat internacional de Catalunya. Jordi is currently teaching also at ELISAVA escola superior de disseny and Pratt Architecture at New York. They have been lecturing at different universities and institutions among ETH Zurich, Toronto University, FEIDAD Taipei and La Salle Barcelona.

HYBRIDa has been recently awarded by:

Programa Gènesis. Generalitat de Catalunya.
II Triennal d’Arquitectura de l’Ebre 2003.
AHRB (Arts and Science Research Fellowship supported by the Arts & Humanities Research Board, Arts Council England and the Scottish Arts Council.)
The British Institution Awards. Architecture section. At the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. (cat.1096)
The Holloway Trust Award by the AA. The HybGrid. 1st price. UK
Far East International Digital Architecture Design Competition FEIDAD. The HybGrid 2nd price. Taiwan.