MPDA19 | Studio 2 Gridshells

All pictures by Andrés Flajszer
www.andresflajszer.com/

MPDA Studio2 focuses on the development, optimization and geometric control of lightweight construction systems, from their conception with small models, to simulation, calibration, manufacturing and assembly. This year, students have developed 3 functional prototypes of elastic strained gridshells from initially straight and flat GFRP profiles, with active membrane coverings. Under the motto of Lighter, Stronger, Faster, gridshell weight reduction was pursued while maintaining high performance through the active contribution of cables and membrane. All gridshells use the same 20mm circular profile, and cover a similar span. During the four months course, the students had an active discussion with a combination of regular professors and a panel of invited international teachers, experts in construction and simulation, including Riccardo Lamagna, Cecilie Brandt-Olsen, Daniel Piker and Prof. Christopher Gengnagel, who participated in workshops, reviews and jurys. Furthermore the course counted with the expertise of the manufacturing partners Sioen, Tecnipul and TP aquitectura i construcció textil.