Generated lamella

Abstract

The hierarchical organization of information is dominant in the setup of tectonic structures. In order to overcome the inherent limitations of these systems, self-organization is proposed as a means for future design. The paper exemplifies this within the research project "Lamel la Flock". The research takes its point of departure in the structural abilities of the wooden Zollinger system: a traditional structural lamella system distributed as a woven pattern of interconnected beams. Where the original system has a very limited set of achievable geometries our research introduces an understanding of beam elements as autonomous entities with sensorymotor behaviour. By this means freeform structures can be achieved Through computation and methods of self-organization, the project investigates how to design and build with a system based on multiple and circular dependencies. Hereby the agent system negotiates between design intent, tectonic needs, and production. The project demonstrates how real-time interactive modeling can be hybridized with agent-based design strategies and how this environment can be linked to physical production. The use of knowledge embedded into the system as well as the flow of information between dynamic processes, Finite Element Calculation and machinery was key for linking the speculative with the physical.