RETHINKING THE PHILIPS PAVILION THROUGH ROBOTIC HOT WIRE CUTTING. An experimental prototype

Abstract

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. By documenting the realization of an experimental prototype at a 1:2 scale, this paper demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed strategy and its value in comparison with existing construction scale digital fabrication technologies for concrete.