Papers by Sascha Bohnenberger
Rethinking Comprehensive Design: Speculative Counterculture, Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA 2014) , May 2014
The bent timber laths of the Sound Bites grid shell create two types of performance space over an... more The bent timber laths of the Sound Bites grid shell create two types of performance space over an area of almost 100 m2. Such postformed grid shells are a well established design solution for creating curved forms from linear elements. Extending principles developed since the 1970s, contemporary digital tools have been utilised to drive a renewed interest in them, primarily through so-called form-finding techniques which connect digital and material models through a simulation of shape under bending loads (Nettlebladt, 2013) and the definition of efficient structural geometry acting under compression loads only (Hernandez et. al., 2012). This paper describes the workflow conceived and implemented for the Sound Bites structure. A central challenge of the research was for such a workflow to allow for the principles of grid shell design to be engaged in parallel to other tight constraints and design drivers. As such it needed to facilitate close collaboration between architectural, engineering and fabrication experts. This workflow was tested in the design and realisation of the full-scale structure within a six-week period. The grid shell design was developed through the manipulation of the shape of two edge profiles and the shell form spanning between these. Architectural and fabrication constraints were met and the workflow allowed for a sufficient level of structural analysis to be fed back to inform the design.
Since the early 2000s, primarily research-based projects have focused on the use of new materials... more Since the early 2000s, primarily research-based projects have focused on the use of new materials such as shape-memory alloys, light-emitting diodes (LED), film-encased photovoltaic cells and thermochromic paints. These materials offer a wide range of outstanding possibilities to the construction industry through their capacity to sense and respond to external environmental stimuli.
However, the advent of smart materials – multifunctional materials that are designed by chemists, physicists and biologists - pose challenges for design practices exploring such innovations.
Given the rich potential of these emerging materials and technologies for architecture, I was intrigued to know: what is necessary to introduce these materials in architecture?
In this thesis, I report on design strategies that involve extrinsic and intrinsic material properties. My research strategies included the use of digital design tools, physical computing and haptic-intuitive workflows in order to bypass a lengthy iterative design and analysis process through rapid intuitive feedback.
My research demonstrates the necessity of both a digital and physical interaction with previously little- or un-used engineered advanced materials, if the use of those materials is to drive change in the overall material system.
This proposition is developed and tested by practice-based research and design explorations. Centred on the idea of material-driven design processes, my research addresses the work of architects, engineers and materials scientists and locates opportunities for working together within a trans-disciplinary environment. Having direct interaction with materials and their behaviours generates an awareness of the material possibilities that enables architects to engage with engineers and materials scientists. In considering both theoretical and practical implications, my research contributes to the discussion of multifunctional materials as they emerge and their applications within architecture.
Adaptive Architecture Conference, Mar 2011
"Material science is constantly developing novel materials and innovative fabrication techniques ... more "Material science is constantly developing novel materials and innovative fabrication techniques to improve existing materials. Some of the most outstanding materials have been developed over the last 80 years. They are very commonly used in the fields of aerospace and car industry as well as in some areas of the building industry such as structural monitoring. By their dynamic behaviour smart materials can react to their environment in a very short time frame to adapt to the new surrounding conditions. Equipped with an embedded intelligence these materials offer a chance to create adaptive and interactive sun shading devices, energy harvesting façade systems and transformable spatial envelopes.
This paper is investigating the opportunities offered by smart materials and innovative design and fabrication techniques. Master and Bachelor students at the University of Kassel were invited to work with materials such as smart alloys and polymers, thermally and optically responsive materials to create various architectural design solutions."
PLEA - Passive&Low Energy Architecture, Jul 2011
The advent of new materials that are responsive to external environmental stimuli pose a challeng... more The advent of new materials that are responsive to external environmental stimuli pose a challenge for design practices exploring such innovations as they become available. A transdisciplinary approach between architects, engineers, designers and material scientists is viewed as an active response to such a challenge. Here, a flexible workflow and shared language is introduced and explored in terms of advances in the fabrication of longer afterglow phosphorescent materials, which have the potential to organically light urban infrastructure.
Structural Morphology Group International Seminar, Sep 2011
eCAADe 29, Respecting Fragile Places, Sep 2011
"This paper discusses a collaborative project by RDAI architects, Bollinger+Grohmann and the timb... more "This paper discusses a collaborative project by RDAI architects, Bollinger+Grohmann and the timber construction company Holzbau Amann. The project is located in a former swimming pool in Paris and it is part of the new interior of a flagship store of the French fashion label Hermes.
In late 2009, Rena Duma Architects, asked Bollinger+Grohmann to collaborate as structural engineers on a challenging design proposal within a very short timeframe. Three wooden lattice structures, the so-called “bulle” and one monumental staircase with a similar design approach characterize the interior of the new flagship store. The lattice structures are dividing the basement into different retail spaces. They vary in height (8-9 m) and diameter
(8-12 m) and have a free-form shaped wicker basket appearance.
Wood was the chosen material for these structures to strengthen the idea of the wicker-baskets and to create an interior space with a sustainable and innovative material.
Keywords. digital production; parametric design; mass customization; wood; digital crafting."
The development of new building materials has decisively influenced the progression of architectu... more The development of new building materials has decisively influenced the progression of architecture through the link between built form and available material systems.The new generation of engineered materials are no exception. However, to fully utilise these materials in the design process, there is a need for designers to understand how these new materials perform. In this paper we propose a method for sensing and representing the response of materials to external stimuli, at the early design stage, to help the designer establish a material awareness.We present a novel approach for embedding capacitive sensors into material models in order to improve material performance of designs. The method was applied and tested during two workshops, both discussed in this paper.The outcome is a method for anticipating engineered material behaviour.
Inside Smartgeometry: Expanding the Architectural Possibilities of Computational Design, Apr 2013
The ‘MicroSynergetics’ cluster at the Smartgeometry (SG) workshops in 2012 combined the usual var... more The ‘MicroSynergetics’ cluster at the Smartgeometry (SG) workshops in 2012 combined the usual variety of parametric modelling software, but also linked these to physical actuation to create a landscape of colourful machines. The parametric model became dynamic and the physical model similarly became a dynamic entity. These workflows not only suggest the ability of architects to create design tools to explore dynamic buildings, but also that through linking digital models and the building itself by utilizing sensors and actuators, the digital model has the potential to remain relevant and continue evolving beyond the design stage and into the life of the building. Here the leaders of this SG cluster explain some of their inspiration, theory, and some exemplary projects from this cluster’s work.
Designing the Dynamic, May 2013
The Materials Systems team in the Designing the Dynamic workshop developed a novel method for se... more The Materials Systems team in the Designing the Dynamic workshop developed a novel method for sensing, simulating and representing material responses to external stimuli. The approach of embedding capacitive sensors into material models was developed to improve material performance-based design, and could be generalised to other design explorations. The method was applied during the workshop to verify the potential for sensing and visualising material properties as a contribution to design iteration and to establish a material awareness early on in the design process. The outcome is a method for anticipating material behaviour early in the design process using measured data.
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Papers by Sascha Bohnenberger
However, the advent of smart materials – multifunctional materials that are designed by chemists, physicists and biologists - pose challenges for design practices exploring such innovations.
Given the rich potential of these emerging materials and technologies for architecture, I was intrigued to know: what is necessary to introduce these materials in architecture?
In this thesis, I report on design strategies that involve extrinsic and intrinsic material properties. My research strategies included the use of digital design tools, physical computing and haptic-intuitive workflows in order to bypass a lengthy iterative design and analysis process through rapid intuitive feedback.
My research demonstrates the necessity of both a digital and physical interaction with previously little- or un-used engineered advanced materials, if the use of those materials is to drive change in the overall material system.
This proposition is developed and tested by practice-based research and design explorations. Centred on the idea of material-driven design processes, my research addresses the work of architects, engineers and materials scientists and locates opportunities for working together within a trans-disciplinary environment. Having direct interaction with materials and their behaviours generates an awareness of the material possibilities that enables architects to engage with engineers and materials scientists. In considering both theoretical and practical implications, my research contributes to the discussion of multifunctional materials as they emerge and their applications within architecture.
This paper is investigating the opportunities offered by smart materials and innovative design and fabrication techniques. Master and Bachelor students at the University of Kassel were invited to work with materials such as smart alloys and polymers, thermally and optically responsive materials to create various architectural design solutions."
In late 2009, Rena Duma Architects, asked Bollinger+Grohmann to collaborate as structural engineers on a challenging design proposal within a very short timeframe. Three wooden lattice structures, the so-called “bulle” and one monumental staircase with a similar design approach characterize the interior of the new flagship store. The lattice structures are dividing the basement into different retail spaces. They vary in height (8-9 m) and diameter
(8-12 m) and have a free-form shaped wicker basket appearance.
Wood was the chosen material for these structures to strengthen the idea of the wicker-baskets and to create an interior space with a sustainable and innovative material.
Keywords. digital production; parametric design; mass customization; wood; digital crafting."
However, the advent of smart materials – multifunctional materials that are designed by chemists, physicists and biologists - pose challenges for design practices exploring such innovations.
Given the rich potential of these emerging materials and technologies for architecture, I was intrigued to know: what is necessary to introduce these materials in architecture?
In this thesis, I report on design strategies that involve extrinsic and intrinsic material properties. My research strategies included the use of digital design tools, physical computing and haptic-intuitive workflows in order to bypass a lengthy iterative design and analysis process through rapid intuitive feedback.
My research demonstrates the necessity of both a digital and physical interaction with previously little- or un-used engineered advanced materials, if the use of those materials is to drive change in the overall material system.
This proposition is developed and tested by practice-based research and design explorations. Centred on the idea of material-driven design processes, my research addresses the work of architects, engineers and materials scientists and locates opportunities for working together within a trans-disciplinary environment. Having direct interaction with materials and their behaviours generates an awareness of the material possibilities that enables architects to engage with engineers and materials scientists. In considering both theoretical and practical implications, my research contributes to the discussion of multifunctional materials as they emerge and their applications within architecture.
This paper is investigating the opportunities offered by smart materials and innovative design and fabrication techniques. Master and Bachelor students at the University of Kassel were invited to work with materials such as smart alloys and polymers, thermally and optically responsive materials to create various architectural design solutions."
In late 2009, Rena Duma Architects, asked Bollinger+Grohmann to collaborate as structural engineers on a challenging design proposal within a very short timeframe. Three wooden lattice structures, the so-called “bulle” and one monumental staircase with a similar design approach characterize the interior of the new flagship store. The lattice structures are dividing the basement into different retail spaces. They vary in height (8-9 m) and diameter
(8-12 m) and have a free-form shaped wicker basket appearance.
Wood was the chosen material for these structures to strengthen the idea of the wicker-baskets and to create an interior space with a sustainable and innovative material.
Keywords. digital production; parametric design; mass customization; wood; digital crafting."