Half Forms - Material agency in spatial formations

Resource scarcity and climate change are global challenges that also affect the architecture and construction sector. To address these problems, innovative concepts are needed that go beyond traditional building materials and processes. This research project aims to explore the potential of a little-known material called vulcanized fiber to open up new possibilities in sustainable design and architecture. Our approach integrates advanced design tools and methodologies, inspired and supported by other disciplines such as material science and philosophy, to create responsible and stimulating architectural spaces. The vulcanized fiber itself also contributes to the design of such spaces. Vulcanized fiber is a unique cotton- and cellulose-based material that is produced in sheets. It offers several advantages for architectural applications, such as its eco-friendly properties, durability, strength, and lightweight. A special aspect of vulcanized fiber is its natural deformation during the drying process, which results in a distinct aesthetic. In addition, this material has the potential to improve structural performance and offers ambiguous spatial qualities and functionality. Our research aims to investigate these characteristics and to understand the levels of control between the predefined shapes and the self-forming process of vulcanized fiber. The main objective of this project is to develop a prototypical design and construction method using vulcanized fiber. We will integrate advanced architectural design techniques such as simulation, machine learning and specifically machine vision to explore the potential of the material. By combining these methodologies, the project aims to create non-standard, transformable building components with complex geometries. Our goal is to expand the spatial and constructional possibilities of sustainable architecture and contribute to the development of environmentally friendly design and building practices. To achieve our goals, we will build on advances in paper construction and adapt them to the unique characteristics of vulcanized fiber. Through a combination of digital and analog techniques, we will design spatial structures that take advantage of the material`s distinctive properties. By understanding the specific characteristics of the material and their implications, we will take a bottom-up approach to creating architectural spaces. This approach will involve combining natural-physical phenomena with innovative design tools, allowing us to formulate a contemporary expression of sustainable architecture. In there, the vulcanized fiber material is as much a designer of the space as the architect or the user.