Creases and Folds: Applying Geometry to a Pop-Up Fashion Pavilion
by
ARCHIVES
Yujing Li
Submitted to the Department of Architecture
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Bachelor of Science in Art and Design
at the
Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTEI
OF TECHNOLOGY
JUN 0 9 2010
LIBRARIES
June 2010
@ 20 1O Yujing Li. All rights reserved
The author hereby grants to MIT permission to reproduce and
to distribute publicly paper and electronic copies of this thesis
document in whole or in part in any medium now known or
hereafter created.
....
....
....
....
............................
Signature of Author.............
Department of Architecture
May 22, 2009
Certified by
.......
K)
j. Meejin Yoon
Associate Professor of Architecture
Thesis Supervisor
Accepted by ..........................
..............
... . ......................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
Les Norford
Professor of Architecture
Chairman of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
Thesis Supervisor
J.MeejinYoon
Associate Professor of Architecture
Creases and Folds: Applying Geometry to a Pop-Up Fashion Pavilion
by
Yujing Li
Submitted to the Department of Architecture
on May 22, 2009 in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Art and Design
ABSTRACT
This thesis explores the architectural opportunities embedded in geometric folding by studying the limitations and possibilities of a
variety of patterns. In particular; the thesis focuses on theYoshimura or diamond folding pattern. By manipulating specific rules guiding the
diamond fold, the surface can be adapted to enclose a variety of volumes for different programs.The adaptations of the diamond fold
rules are tested in a design for a pop-up fashion pavilion. The result is a geometric form that acts as a canopy, enclosure and inhabitable
surface to hold program elements such as a marketplace, small fitting rooms, and a runway.
THESIS SUPERVISOR: J.MeejinYoon
TITLE: Associate Professor of Architecture
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my parents for their support and advice
To archfamily for keeping a smile on my face
To Robert and Bill for being the best cheerleaders
To Meejin for always challenging me
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION / 8
RESEARCH / 9
DIAMOND FOLDING BEHAVIORS / 31
DESIGN PROPOSAL / 35
APPENDIX / 50
BIBLIOGRAPHY + IMAGE CREDITS / 52
INTRODUCTION
The first half of my thesis semester was
spent researching geometric folding, their
rules and patterns, and also how they can
be applied architecturally and spatially.The
initial explorations simply involved folding
mathematical patterns with bristol paper
and observing their behavior at different
states of folding and unfolding. However,
it soon became apparent that these
studies did not suggest any architectural
qualities and remained only paper objects
and surfaces. My research then turned to
how the surfaces and patterns could be
manipulated, mutated, activated to create
sectional and volumetric variety, facades,
or adaptable walls.
The cataloging of pure mathematical
folding forms allowed me to discover the
advantages and disadvantages of each
system, while the research of the folding
manipulations provided the basis of the
design proposal.
RESEARCH
Folding Catalog
Accordion Patterns
Protruded Patterns
Hybrid Patterns
Pattern Manipulations
Scale
Hard/Soft
Cinching
Pop In/Pop Out
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fig. I
partially folded surface area: 60%
fig. 2
folded surface area: 50%
PATTERN
MANIPULATIONS
SCALE MANIPULATION
This series explores the effects of different
scales of a hybrid pattern applied to
surfaces of the same dimensions. As the
scale of the pattern increases, it begins
to act as a volume rather than a surface
pattern when folded.
TOVe
HARD / SOFT
A hard plexi surface is applied to the'outer' surface of a protruded pattern (left)
and a hybrid pattern (right) such that only
the plexi is exposed when the pattern is
fully folded. The hard panel surface suggests a sheltered canopy, protective facade
or inhabitable surface, while the soft inner
surface suggests something porous. In
the hybrid pattern test, on the right, the
soft surface is removed entirely and can
become an operable aperture for daylight
or ventilation.
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unfolded and folded hybrid pattem
ided Pr-oT.! _idic.cl11 ,) , 1,
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CINCHING
This series explores how a surface can
be folded and unfolded via a cinching
mechanism. The hybrid pattern isapplied
to a cylindrical surface.The surface can be
folded by pulling strings at two ends which
forces the surface to bunch. Due the
creases, the bunching takes on the geometric pattern. A detail of this particular
cinching method not illustrated here isthe
change of the inner space from one large
volume when uncinched and two smaller
volumes when cinched.
si
front view
POP IN / POP OUT
This exploration looks at the adjustments
to the sectional properties of the diamond fold. By a changing a valley fold to a
mountain fold, or by applying a horizontal
fold instead of a valley fold, the volume
has an entirely different spatial quality.
eLevat on
ANALYSIS
PATTERN VARIATION
GROWTH
SURFACE
PROTRUDED PATTERNS
heavily dependant on
symmetry
only multidirectional growth
uniform outer surface when
fully folded (no valleys and
peaks)
ACCORDION PATTERNS;
not symmetry dependant
potential for variation both
linear and multidirectional
only ribs are revealed when
folded, no 'outer surface'
HYBRID PATTERNS
somewhat dependant on symmetry
multidirectional expansion
outer surface with peaks and
valleys when folded
MUIRA ORI PATTERN and DIAMOND PATTERN
Both patterns are based on folded parallelograms. The nature of the diamond fold is
more 'architectural' because the folded surface forms a curvature that can be read as a
vault space or a c shaped enclosure.The thesis explores the possibilities and variations in
manipulating and deploying forms created by the diamond pattern using the pop in/pop
out method.
DIAMOND PATTERN
BEHAVIORS
The diamond fold is characterized by
straight valley fold (ribs) and diagonal
mountain folds.
A characteristic of the diamond pattern
isits ability to vary between a solid
surface and a single strip surface. A strip
occurs when a solid surface is cut along
the rib.The separation allows the strip
to fold independently from the surface.
Independent folding allows gaps to
appear between the strips.These gaps can
become apertures for visual connections,
daylight, ventilation and circulation.
unfolded with crease lines
typical folded diamond pattern
solid
The solid surface behaviors allow the
surface to fold without any gaps between
different ribs. However this causes global
curvatures along the surface which then
need to be regularized in order to be
placed on a flat site.
global curvatures
strip
permeable, independent variation
FOLDING ANATOMY
The diamond pattern isanalyzed by
observing the behaviors of single strip. All
parts of the anatomy of a strip (including the dimension of the diamond) can
change and are interrelated.
width
10 degrees
pitch angle
A few important characteristics to note:
- in order to go from flat to bent,
the pattern must fold
rotation
angle
- the greater the rotational angle,
local change
the smaller the pitch angle, the greater the
depth of the strip.
spine
The rules of a strip can be extrapolated
to a solid surface. In the solid system, all
the strips are aligned towards the global
central spine rather than their individual
spines.
mountain fold or valley fold
global adjustment
flat
inhabitable
bifurcate
daylight, ventilation
STRIP / SOLID INTERACTION
In the system for my design, the surface
always rises off the ground plane as a
solids surface, but can then split into strips
to provide spatial variety to accommodate
different programs.The diagram illustrates
how the system progresses and resets
itself .
slip
circulation
bend
volume, shelter
rejoin
reset the system
REGULARIZING
By applying horizontal creases to the system,
the solid surface can fold while overcoming
global curvatures as described previously It
also allows the strips to fit into a grid system
which becomes important once it isapplied
onto the site.
horizontal bend for 2+ strips
horizontal crease lines
horizontal bend for spine adjustments
1I
central spine
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adjusted spine
after bifurcation
DESIGN PROPOSAL
SITE
The site is located in Bronx, NewYork where
there is a burgeoning street style fashion
movement. Located off Fordham Road, the
site is located along a stretch of ground floor
commercial and retail stores.The pavilion can
be used as a market during the weekends
and weekday nights, but also serves as a semicovered park during other times. The pavilion
takes over a parking lot that connects two
streets, Webster Avenue and Park Avenue.
Site: Bronx, NewYork
Current Use: Parking Lot
Square Footage: 20, 000sf
bus
railcommercial
-
GRAIN
The site is divided into 8' strips that align
to the angles of the site. Some parts of
the grain 'thicken' to become solid surface
which provide coverage for a larger
spaces.
189th Street
The site plan on the right shows the parts
of the design where the geometric form
serves as canopy and as flat inhabitable
runways'.
(U
(U-
(U
-
I
/'
8' grain alignment to site
plan through canopied spaces
north
CIRCULATION
The canopied zones serve as the space
for the bulk of the program.The open
zones provide space for a meandering
flow.The zones are connected by the the
flat'runways' which serve as circulation.
The circulation paths can also be closed
off in sections to serve as a formal runway with canopied audience seating areas
along the sides.
program zones
swarm circulation canopied zones
'runway' circulation
GRAIN AND PROGRAM
The thickening of the grain can happens
in multiples of 8 feet wide strips and can
accommodate different programs which
have varying capacity demands
\
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/L1
7I
V
R,
24'
8'
16'
retail
fitting rooms
clothing display
workshop
runway
runway
workshop space
runway seating
park
PANELING
The regularity in the dimensions of the
strip allow the same size panel to be used
throughout the entire design. All panels
are 4'x 8', exactly half of the standard
sheet material size.
ark bench
47
indoor event seatina
workshop space
runway seating
outdoor movie seatina
panel component
standard sheet material size
FOLD ABNORMALITIES
By using the pop in / pop out
manipulation, a mountain fold can change
to a valley fold, creating a new spatial
quality. Inthe design, the manipulation is
applied to three specific programs that
require differentiation from the standard
diamond fold space.
fold pattern
location on site
section
typical market and event seating
standard diamond fold
indoor/outdoor transition
reverse 2 mountain/valley folds
1,
bench
single strip flat to bent
fitting room
horizontal fold
A=.............
dt
RENDERINGS AND MODELS
I
A
SECTIONTHROUGH CENTRAL RUNWAY
43
VIEW FROM WEBSTER AVENUE
MODEL AT 1/8 SCALE
46
MODEL AT 1/4 SCALE
MODEL AT 1/4 SCALE
48
APPENDIX
BIBLIOGRAPHY
IMAGE CREDITS
APPENDIX
FOLDING / GEOMETRY PRECEDENTS
fig 3.
Liam O'Brien
Weathers Permitting (2010)
Materials:Wood
Tom Wiscombe
Light -Wing (2003)
Materials: Metal, Fabric, Light
Employs geometric varations to create
outdoor conditions
Uses a light fabric over a metal geometric framework
fig 6.
Office dA
Installation for MoMA (1998)
Materials: Folded sheet metal
1L*'I
Employs unique scoring technique for
folding metal
Obra
Beatfuse (2006)
Materials:Wood and fabric
Uses propelyene mesh pieces to cover
structure
fig 7.
I g J.
Pier Luigi Nervi
Orvieto Aircraft Hangar
Materials: Concrete and brick
University of Cambridge
Cardboard Pavilion (2009)
Materials: Cardboard
Diamond gridded structure allows for
an extremely thin shell
Uses diamond pattern on cardobard
to create pavilion structure.
FASHION PRECEDENTS
Zaha Hadid
Chanel 2.55 Traveling Pavilion
(2008)
An art exhibition pavilion made out of
fiberglass panel facade with a two year
life span.
mNN
Work Architects
Target Pop Up Store (2003)
OMA
Prada Runway (2008)
Free standing curtain dressing rooms
throughout the store
Untraditional ramped runway winds
through existing colonades to engage
to the space.
OMA
Prada Epicenter NewYork
(2001)
Alexander McQueen Runway
(2008)
Uses fabrics decoration as well as
walking surface.
Intergrates event space serves both as
a circulation and retail display space
fig 10.
OMA
PradaTransformer Pavilion
(2009)
Tig
14.
Hyperbolic tensile texitle surfaces used
as enclosure for runway and seating
within a larger hall.
A rotating fashion pavilion adapts to
four programmatic needs.Textile cladding with street frame.
Tig i 1.
Yves Saint-Laurent Runway
(2008)
fig 15.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chalayan, Hussein. Hussein Chalayan. Rotterdam: NAi Publishers, 2005. Print
Hodge, Brooke. Skin and Bones: Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture. NewYork:Thames and Hudson, 2006. Print.
Kronenburg, Robert. Portable Architecture: Design and Technology. Basel: Birkhauser, 2008. Print.
Miyake, Issey. lssey Miyake Making Things. Paris: Foudation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, 1998. Print.
Mollerup, Per. Collapsible:The Genius of Space Saving Design. San Francisco: Chronicle, 200 1.Print
Siegal, Jennifer More Mobile: Portable Architecture for Today. NewYork: Princeton Architectural Press, 2008. Print.
IMAGE CREDITS
Fig I. www.spacesymmetrystructure.wordpress.com
Fig 2. www.spacesymmetrystructure.wordpress.com
Fig. 3.Weather Permitting:A Field Guide toTransitional Environments by William O' Brien (2010)
Fig. 4 www. officeda.com
Fig. 5 www.explorations-architecturales.com
Fig. 6 www. emergentarchitecture.com
Fig. 7 www. obraarchitects.com
Fig .8 http://www.arplus.com/9298/cardboard-banquet-cambridge-uk-by/
Fig. 9 www. work.ac
Fig. 10 www. galinsky.com
Fig. I I www. prada-transformercom
Fig. I 2 www. nytimes.com
Fig. I 3 www.wallpapercom
Fig. 14 www.wallpapercom
Fig. 15 www. wallpapercom