Variable Cavity
RISD Architecture 15'
By creating a versatile building component, it is possible to construct a range of layouts with a single unit. With regards to the unit’s orientation and relationship to adjacent members, varying conditions can be formed. The units can act as structural components for a wall or foundation, and can be filled and reinforced with conduit or rebar. They can also be arranged to create openings for lighting and ventilation.
The cast pockets create an aesthetic on the undulating wall. They help to overcome the stagnant flatness that is attached to concrete. Utilizing the casting potential of the material intrigued me. Each cavity is unique, working by itself and as a whole. In addition, they reduce the weight of the unit and create structural coffers. The pours perform to collect rainwater, allowing for cool breezes to be present.
Shifting, overlapping, and reorienting can create openings and thresholds. This offers variability and customization based upon desired conditions. Scale is important in every aspect. The units must coincide with one another. They must meet the scale of a building, the scale of a human, and the scale of a machine. All of this can be acquired with a single variable mold. Thickness can be controlled through proximity. Size is determined by a numerical factoring.
