Continuing Frei Otto’s research into wool thread self-organizing patterns, we studied ‘optimized path systems,’ similar to Gaudi’s catenary curves. Our studies where made by pulling thread taught through a 25 x 25 grid drilled into top and bottom plates. Next the thread was slackened by 8% and dipped into water. Through cohesion and gravity the threads rearranged into an efficient path system. The rules informed by these ‘wet grids’ were digitally reconstructed into an integrated structural system, in which building skins, floor slabs and the programmatic needs of a high-rise tower are intertwined.

Through our research, we found that three base configurations formed the entire network, the X-node, Tangent, and Y are the parent configurations that form endless possibilities while still maintaining a singular topology. Using these three parent shapes and the calculated interaction capabilities, we further explored with digital and physical models. By recreating the wool thread system using connectivity calculations, and 2D networking, we where able to create a 3D matrix of 21 possible structural tower systems. Each of these structural systems could be fully developed into tower configurations using the same procedure described, creating near endless tower configurations.

In order to reinforce and test our structural system we built a 1:150 scale physical model of the tower that stands nearly 6’ tall. The physical model fabrication process began by cutting the digital model at each floor section. We then used a FDM printer to fabricate 1600 pieces, carefully labeled and organized in 10 floor sections. We assembled the model from the ground up- securing each floor slab with column sections of the adjacent floors using .5” steel pins. The result is a near-seamless column line between floors and accurately distributed compressive loads between floors.

Work published in: Research & Design 2: Textile Tectonics- In collaboration with Matt Erwin and under instruction of Lars Spuybroek.