“Storefront” is a prototype for a translucent screen suitable for interiors as well exteriors. The screen is made from 99 different components and gets visual qualities from the way how light hits the surface as well how it plays with the figure of people and objects on the opposite side. Thanks to the variation in geometry and surface finishes translucency, reflection and refraction change with the angle of the spectator. During the day the screen gets animated by people passing as well the change of the sun, while at night projected gradients of light animated the surface. 

The forms are made without the usage of a mold using robotic incremental sheet forming to stretch flat pvc sheets into the desired form. Compared to vacuum forming, this process cuts waist drastically while offering more flexibility for geometrical surface treatment.

The prototype was built and assembled in the context of the workshop “lightweight assemblies” at the Southern California Institute of Architecture.

Course Description.
In this workshop students will build a lightweight curtain wall using robotic incremental sheet forming combined with 2d milling for the production of the components. Students will learn about incremental sheet forming as a fabrication process which allows free forms within a set of constraints. In the process students will learn grasshopper to operate an industrial robot, as well use 3d printing and laser cutting to build the necessary attachments and fixtures for the install. The first day will look at precedents and explain the process and design solutions involved in designing the system, as well the cover the tools needed for designing such a system. The second and third day will be used for production and install of the full scale prototype.

Instructor:

Curime Batliner

Participants:

Kevin Shah Maulana
Pengju Hou
Suhan Na
Hyoseon Park
Andrea Cadioli
Eleonora Orlandi
Alejandro Loor

Special Thanks to Jake Newsum