Cast Bodies

Full description

BACKGROUND
This work extends research into the relationship between structural-based form-finding methods and swarm systems, respectively for evaluation in algorithmic design and robotic fabrication. It led to a prototype that attempts to explore the architectonic implications of the interaction of emerging computational design and robotic fabrication processes, and speculate on their future application to architecture.

CONTRIBUTION
The ‘Cast Bodies’ prototype is a printed polymer sacrificial formwork for an intricate spatial or façade structure. The lattice structure model was designed through the interaction of multi-agent algorithms and BESO structural topology optimization. A new algorithm integrating multi-agent and topological optimization was tested to generate lattice structures from the proposed façade/space opening. It describes a hybrid of architectural and structural behaviours through integrating two algorithms and the closeness of their interaction. This work contributes to areas of research that have been pioneered by Roland Snooks and Mike Xie in the application of multi-agent and topology optimization through robotic large scale 3D printing.

SIGNIFICANCE
The research was presented in the Future Prototype exhibition and associated catalogue curated and published by the Melbourne School of Design, Melbourne University, which was part of Melbourne Design Week 2020. Selection for the exhibition and publication was via an open call for submissions and blind peer review of submissions by the following experts: Donald Bates (Chair of Architectural Design, Melbourne University); Jane Burry (Dean, School of Design, Swinburne); Jon Yeo (TEDx Melbourne); Dr Paul Loh (Melbourne School of Design, Melbourne University); Mond Qu (United Make) and David Leggett (LLDS). It was also selected and exhibited at CITIX, 2021 the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale Italian Virtual Pavilion, peer-reviewed and curated by Tom Kovac (RMIT) and Alessandro Melis (Portsmouth University).