Tesselion : Adaptive Quadrilateral Flat Panelization

A new era of digital technology has emerged to enable freedom of design expression. Increasing complexity in surface curvature through rapidly developing digital techniques has enhanced an age old design problem of constructability of non-standard surface geometries. Along with the software for creating this complexity, intelligent capabilities for construction can be utilized through algorithmic and parametric logic. Simultaneously, improvements in fabrication technologies are clearing the way for a fully unified design and construction process. Simultaneously, the possibilities for both design and fabrication are reinvigorating the professional role of the architect.

Tesselion is a built project which demonstrates a system of flat panel tessellation derived from complex surfaces to enable ease in constructability and a directly evolved spatial environment through lighting, programmatic adaptation and structural simplicity. Each panel's uniqueness is afforded by the efficiency of digital fabrication while coded parametric relationships allow an emergent structural efficiency.

Recently the development of planar quadrilateral meshes has become a strong interest in the architectural community due to their potential ease for constructing complex surfaces. The project responds to this problem and proposes a method for flat panelization of free form surfaces which provides large scale, efficient and economic construction from flat sheet material.

Project Collaboration:
Marc Fornes (www.theverymany.net) Adrienne Yancone (www.diecreative.com)

Material Sponsor:
Alliance Metals (www.alliancemetals.com)

Fabrication Sponsor:
Continental Signs
(http://www.continentalsigns.net/)
Special thanks to:
Dr. Spinelli
Dr. Vini Nathan
Susan Frosten
Carol Hermann
Dr. Pastore
Jane Cespuglio
Christian Jordan
Steven Stein

Studio Support:
Scott Del Rossi
Joe DiCicco
Marc Woodcock
Ben Motyl
Trevor Horst
Brandon Kruysman
Jon Proto
Jared Laucks
Lisa Mathews
Amanda Tonetta
Jesse Vaughn
Josh Holmes
Vini Sickles
Tyler Stockholm
Schendy Kernizan
Veronica Emig