/ Thesis Project 06/2008 by Verena Vogler
SUPERVISOR: Martin Sobota
/topview
INTRO
The movements of water like the flowing of a river provide a sustainable form of energy which interacts with all structures that interfere with the water’s current. In this project, the river´s energy is used to move a mobile platform, the so-called „structure“, in which the energy from the river is taken up from the front elements and passed on from component to component down to the tail of the structure, which moves around like the tail of a whale or another aquatic organism. As opposed to a snake which uses its own energy, this floating structure takes advantage of the river as source of primary energy and is moved around passively through the water. However, it s movements can be controlled actively through a fine system of gates and underwater-channels, in a way that closed gates rise the resistance against the water current and thus the affected part of the structure is dragged back and transforms the shape of the structure. After this internal deformation, the structure moves in relation to the river and to its fixation point as a second response. Both first and second responses of the structure towards the river’s water current bring about an oscillating and sustainable, natural movement.
STRUCTURE
In the run-up to this project, experimental testing on how structures of different shape and skin can move orthogonally to water current has brought some insight into principles of movements in water. Both active movements (snake !) or passive movements (algae or resting animals attached to a stone) have been investigated. Parallelograms near-parallel polygons proved most efficient and flexible for the projects’ purpose.
SURFACE ELEMENTS
Different surface elements were designed as an adaptable skin for the underlying moving structure. As reference, the BMW design project “GINA” was used, a futuristic automobile with an adaptable skin that integrates aspects of structure, function as well as design.
In our structure, the surface elements are of great value to include different functional aspects in the platform, for example exhibition components and walking area components. Also, they work as an additional way of controlling and restricting the structure’s movements. In particular, parallelograms of the structure are being restricted by surface triangles, which can be used as exhibition space (video projection etc.) as long as they stand upright as pavilions, and which block the structures movement once they are dragged to become flat triangles.
After all, the floating components and the surface element interact to bring about the oscillating movements of the structure in response to the water’s energy. Once we put this floating structure in the context of the London Thames River, these slow movements make an excellent ground for an public exhibition space. Different walking corridors, artistic elements and exhibition areas take up the rhythm and flow of the river to offer a unique and sustainable experience to the interested visitor.
Click here in order to download the Final Presentation as PDF ->
vv_-presentation.pdf
