FlexMaps Pavilion

how to build a curved shape out of flat panels

Project data

337Spirals
75Flat panels
58Paving tiles
2Base supports
816Bolts
620Connectors
95Kg
3Boxes

Exhibitions

FlexMaps Pavilion at 17th International Architecture Exhibition,
La Biennale di Venezia

22 May - 21 November 2021 - “How will we live together?” curated by Hashim Sarkis;
Padiglione Italia “Resilient Communities” curated by Alessandro Melis;
Vittorio Giorgini’s exhibition curated by Marco Del Francia

FlexMaps Pavilion at the Maker Faire in Rome

18-20 October 2019 - https://2019.makerfairerome.eu/en/exhibitors/?ids=933

FlexMaps Pavilion at the Exhibition in Barcelona

7-11 October 2019 - https://www.jjo33.com/iass-barcelona-2019

Design

The design pipeline starts from a quadbased mesh, which defines the edge size and the total amount of spirals. Each spiral is embedded within a quad. Then, a physically-based optimization algorithm tunes the geometry of the spirals by using a simplified rod model whose mechanical parameters are interpolated from a pre-computed database of examples. Each example has been calibrated to match the behavior of an non-linear FEM simulation of an individual spiral subject to hundreds of load combinations.

The FlexMaps Pavilion is a bending-active single-layer piecewise non-developable twisted arc, which fits a bounding box of 3.90x4.00x3.25 meters and allows the visitors to go through it. The stiffness of the panels, called FlexMaps, is controlled by spiraling geometric mesostructures, which are computationally optimized in both size and shape to match the curvature of the target shape locally. As a result, various mechanical properties are obtained only by acting on geometric parameters. While commonly bending-active structures need rotational degrees of freedom in the assembly phase (i.e. hinged edges or pinned joints) or inflation loading, in the FlexMaps Pavilion each panel lays flat in the rest configuration and its final shape results from internal elastic forces that arise when connecting progressively the patches together. Apart from achieving a design-efficient solution and an aesthetically-pleasant organic appearance, the FlexMaps Pavilion allows easy fabrication and assembly procedures.

Fabrication

Limited bending energy is required to join the component reciprocally. 2D FlexMaps panels are fabricated by CNC-cut 20-mm plywood panels. The segmented pattern is user-defined to fit within 3 boxes. The ground edges are clamped in a plywood base. The free-edges that form two crossed arches are stiffened using segmented 6-mm plywood plates, providing additional restraint to the panels. FlexMaps connectors are encoded within the computational framework and are made of interlocking shapes, additionally secured by screws.

Work Group

Francesco Laccone

Luigi Malomo

Jesús Pérez (IST Austria)

Nico Pietroni

Alessandro Muntoni

Thomas Alderighi

Federico Ponchio

Bernd Bickel (IST Austria)

Paolo Cignoni

Acknowledgements

Visual Computing Lab Staff ISTI - CNR, in particular Marco Callieri, Paolo Pingi for helping multiple times to tirelessly assemble and disassemble the pavilion.

Antonio Rizzo, IPCF - CNR for providing the space where test the structure.

Administrative Staff ISTI - CNR for helping us to find and buy the needed material and services.