(bio)Plastic Morphologies

What if Bioplastic could be used as a green construction material ?

Plastic can acquire any shape you give it.

But what about the natural behaviour of the viscous material?

Experiments consisting in elongating the viscous material can reveal an interesting form configuration that has inherent structural properties.

The rules defining the the material configuration are then coded into a script that enables to digitally replicate the shape. The structural performace of the shape opens the opportunity for many applications.

A bridge is imagined following the same formal configuration.

Material Matters

Here is a video explaining the workshop “In Silico Building” (tutors: Paul EHRET & Philipp EVERSMANN) taking place in the Faculty of Architecture at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). They produced the stunning folded steel structure which you saw on during our unit trip and which was part of the “Material Matters” exhibition at the Centre George Pompidou in Paris, france.

Harumi Nakashima

I came across an article from the Architecture/Art website Muuuz  which Andrea Graziano posted on his very prolific  Facebook page. The sculpture below were created by a Japanese artist called Harumi Nakashima (1950- Bio Below). He took part of the Sodeisha group in Japanese Modern Art, his main interest lie in the Earth and its constant dialogue with his own hands as well as Movement (source). The sculptures are currently exhibited at the Galerie Nec Nilsson and Chiglien in Paris.

“Born in Japan in 1950, Harumi Nakashima studied at the Osaka Art College, where he switched from a design to a ceramics concentration. He has since gained notoriety for his free-form sculptures and his dot patterning. He also did a series similar to the Ecstatic Series, in which he did not employ his characteristic dots. Without the patterning, the dynamic bubbling shapes are nevertheless undulating and vibrant.”  Artist’s statement: “Attaching a coil pinch by pinch as if I listen to the voice of the clay, clay, techniques, and I become a trinity to produce a work.” – Honoo Geijutsu article From the Museum of Arts and Design 

 Above: Porcelain Sculpture from the “Suffering Form” Series