847410 AG Kurzentwerfen 1
Upside Down
Understanding form-finding methods is essential for designing lightweight structures and shaping the next generation of architects. In this short design course, we will explore and discuss the use of hanging chain models to generate innovative forms.
Course Instructors:
Fereshteh Khojastehmehr
Mohammad Hassan Saleh Tabari
Learning Objective:
• Give the students the insight to form-finding techniques
• Gain knowledge and experience into the flow of forces
Methods and Learning Outcomes:
• Defining the position of geometry in design
• Experimenting with physical hanging models
The initial steps of the class involved experimenting with hanging chain models to generate funicular shapes. By inverting these tension-only models, students were able to create compression-only structures. The final project was to design a chair using natural wooden branches that students collected from nature. The aim was an integration of aesthetics, functionality, and stability. The process followed the hanging chain model approach, inverted to achieve a stable, compression-only structure. Finally, the joints were fixed using gypsum, and the models were inverted. The chairs were tested with an 80 kg load of concrete blocks and by sitting on them, and they all performed perfectly.
