Author: formfindinglab

Interviews, Our research

What did I learn from sunflowers swaying in a storm?

The BBC World Service asked me why sunflowers do not break in large storms.  The sunflower, its features and applications in architecture The sunflower demonstrates remarkable resilience to high winds through its ability to bend and sway, a behavior shaped by specific evolutionary features. These include its large, heavy sunflower head, a robust root anchoring system, a tapered stem, and the elasticity of its structure. … Continue reading What did I learn from sunflowers swaying in a storm?

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Miscellaneous, Our research, Structures

The effect of mechanics on love

Some disciplines like poetry, painting and music draw inspiration from emotions that revolve around the human heart. The movie “Engineering and Love” (Tonislav Hristov, 2014 ) reinforces a universally held concept that engineers inhabit a planet many galaxies away from planet Venus.  But it is less known that certain mechanically well designed and crafted artifacts have been crucial in the successful evolution of a love … Continue reading The effect of mechanics on love

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Interviews, Our research, Structures

What I am thinking: fictional engineer and artist Stephen Talasnik

Stephen Talasnik has always been exploring the intersection of drawing and building. His ongoing investigation explores the near seamless connection of drawing, sculpture, ephemeral site specific stage set, architecture, engineering and product design. In addition to major installations at the Storm King Art Center, he executed site specific installations at the Denver Botanic Gardens and Manitoga, the Russel Wright House in Garrison (NY).  In addition … Continue reading What I am thinking: fictional engineer and artist Stephen Talasnik

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Structures

Should we be Luddites or embrace future-oriented technologies ?

Every day we are bombarded with scary proposals in the news about how robots and artificial intelligence will take our jobs. This year, we, at the Form Finding Lab, wanted to find out whether we can leverage future-oriented technologies to make the design and construction of structures more sustainable, more efficient to construct, more visually daring and more democratic. In particular, we have looked at … Continue reading Should we be Luddites or embrace future-oriented technologies ?

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Miscellaneous, Our research, Structures

Not being afraid of the dark: Halloween, Szukalski’s ghosts and gothic cathedrals

Welcome back to the Form Finding Lab blog. With Halloween coming up, there is no better time to look at structural immersive environments that make us face and conquer our fear of the dark. Halloween is my favorite American celebration because it is magical, teaches me not to be afraid of the dark, and fosters creativity. (I promised myself to not include pictures of the … Continue reading Not being afraid of the dark: Halloween, Szukalski’s ghosts and gothic cathedrals

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Our research

Design Philosophy: Without Firmitas, no venustas or utilitas

Structural designers have imagined, designed and constructed urban forms that are large-scale and of single use, such as bridges and large-span roofs.  The main performance criteria of such structures are to resist the forces of nature, and to be economical.  In contrast to bridges, buildings are of relatively small scale, and have a complex human use; their form reflects the spaces people use. Their design … Continue reading Design Philosophy: Without Firmitas, no venustas or utilitas

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Our research

How will we live together?

Elias and Yousef Anastas most recent installation, All-purpose, was exhibited at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Yousef is an architect, part of the AAU ANASTAS architecture studio with his brother, and an alumn of the Form Finding Lab.One of their previous works, the Qamt stone bench, was featured previously in this Form Finding Lab blog post. Now, with the All-purpose … Continue reading How will we live together?

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Engagement, Miscellaneous, Structures

Why civil engineering students should make things

In today’s Member Voices article, my co-instructor and visual artist, Joe Scanlan and I discuss the value of haptic learning for civil engineering students; why learning and working with their hands makes them better civil engineers. The American Society of Civil Engineer’s Future World Vision calls for creative and motivated students to be attracted to the civil engineering profession so that they can bring novel … Continue reading Why civil engineering students should make things

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Engagement, Interviews, Our research, Structures

What is the future for shell design and construction?

Last Saturday (16th of January 2021), I had the great fortune of participating in a fascinating panel discussion about what the next trends are for shell design and construction with the structural and math wizard Chris Williams (Chalmers University) and the architectural engineer Philippe Block (ETHZ). The conversation was a bit provocative but actually also very insightful. If you missed it, you are in luck … Continue reading What is the future for shell design and construction?

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