x
line
x: approaching infinity
Is it possible to extend the capabilities of digital modeling tools beyond illustration? In order to answer this question someone should wonder first: what do digital designing tools exploit if not the infinite digital space?
A way to exploit this never-ending space would be an ever-expanding designing tool, which could cross the limitless digital environment through infinite approaches (results). Paradoxically, the infinite space can only be grasped by tracing its borders. In the same way the achievement of an endless line is based on certain conventions, which we configured by applying a method of trial and error. As a result we created a designing tool that produces a diversity of endless lines made out of sequential line segments and arcs by using Grasshopper.
We realize that the digital environment is not utilized in order to determine a final result, rather than to expand the capabilities of the designer. In this thinking, the digital model is an infinite process: every time a sequence of digital lines is produced the user would adapt them in real designing problems. Then an ensuing enquiry on the spatial issues would contest the adapted line and propose an alternative modification on the digital lines.
The presented endless line is only a sample. The project consists of six types of endless lines so far, each one in a variety of expansions. Also, the digital line has a printed utilitarian version which illustrates a variety of results through the use of pointers and grid. At this point a new question arises: is the combination of digital and printed results able to truly shape new space qualities? This question is yet to be answered.
The printed version includes a diagram of line's behaviour, an index of 56 variants and 15 variants printed on tracing paper with grid
Potential outcome
Enric Miralles + stusio Carmen Pinos, Igualada Cemetery, Barcelona
