Research Prototype
Robotic Hot Wire Cutting
Research Paper
The Philips Pavilion by Le Corbusier and Jannis Xenaquis was a landmark project in thin shell concrete construction, only made possible by an experimental precasting strategy that deeply defined the architectural character of the hyperbolic paraboloid surfaces of the pavilion. Using this historic precedent this research presents a reinterpretation of the design of the Philips Pavilion, specifically tailored for Robotic Hot Wire Cutting technologies and a layered mold system, combining speed and material optimization towards more sustainable concrete construction processes.
This process entailed:
1) the creation of a novel subdivision system that allowed for stacking panel geometry with variable edge curves, inside the same stock volume.
2) the creation of a mold and casting strategy using this stacked geometry, to minimize waste materials.
By documenting the realization of an experimental prototype at a 1:2 scale, this research demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed strategy and its value in comparison with existing construction scale digital fabrication technologies for concrete.