Output details
16 - Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
De Montfort University
Pavilion: Celestial Topography (THEKLA) -
Description:
Celestial Topography is a research project and pavilion constructed at 1:1 scale, inspired by the description of a fantasy city ‘Thekla’ in Italo Calvino’s book, invisible cities.
Celestial Topography is a research project and pavilion constructed at 1:1 scale, inspired by the description of a fantasy city ‘Thekla’ in Italo Calvino’s book, invisible cities.
The geometry of the pavilion is informed and aligned to stars and constellations above the city of Leicester at summer solstice. It is able to identify and track the movement and cycle of the stars at specific times of the year.
How the output was developed:
A 3D digital Rhino model of the position and angle of the stars in the sky above Leicester at a specific time and date. Use this model to track their movement and position over time.
Alignments between the pavilion geometry, structure, apertures, spectator and the constellations in the sky
A habitable and comfortable pavilion design for people to inhabit
Fulfil the brief requirements to create a ‘low-tech’ yet highly sophisticated architectural design
Utilize digital modelling and manufacturing technologies to construct a complex pavilion within an extremely tight budget and timescale
Create a design that can be easily dismantled, flat packed and re-erected in 24 hours.
The project exists in the design research context of:
Environmental simulation and alignment in relation to architectural design and process
Digital architectural design, fabrication and process
A narrative based design process
Methods:
Technical research into alignment involved combining multiple environmental simulation
Software to construct specific models of stars and constellations over time. These were used to inform the geometry and positioning of architectural elements and the specific position and shape of apertures and ornament.
Architectural design developed through a symbiotic process between physical and computer modelling.
Exhibition:
Graham Cartilege Pavilion Project: The Building Centre, London, October 2013
Authorship:
Ben Cowd is sole author of the work
