1st structural approach

While trying to think of how the structure must be, several examples of deployable structures passed infront of my eyes. From simple deployments to snap-through structures, which use buckling as mechanical factor for configuration.

First of all, the structure should have such a geometry that, at the same time it enables the contraction and deployment, is compatible with the environmental control elements (cladding or any other element that will serve for sunlight and rain control).

As a fisrt approach, a geometry was chosen that can, at first sight, achieve the configurations. This image shows a series of deployable arches that, when placed together, form a roof. A similar geometry can be taken into considereation for reproducing the desired configurations.

Another aspect of the structure should be the tesselation that would be chosen in order to cover the space. There are some kinds of tesselations that are more appropiate to use for planar, or at least, single curved structures. If the structure is double curved or has a free form, some other tesselations, or even diferent shape modules, should be necessary to achieve the final form.

In terms of ease for study the behavior of such a desired structure, first I will work with regular modular shapes. Therefore I am currently searching the posibilities of an hexagonal module and the way it fills a curved shape. Maybe after some geometric analysis, I find more appropiate to slightly change the module of completely replace it with other geometrical shape.

The main concerns at this point are two: 1. how to create a structure taht can also be compatible with the cladding: and 2. How would the two wings of the structure adapt to each other in order to work as one structural entity.

Context for the structure

The context for which the structure is going go be design is a public square in Bologna, Italy. It is surrounded by small buildings (2 stories high) that have a coomercial usage. Shops, caffes and a restaurant will be facing to this public square. Therefore the need for a structure that can serve as a roof for sun and rain control is needed.

This architectural project corresponds to the Compresso Unipol and the architectural design belongs to Open Project. This images was courtesy of them and given to me just as a context reference by means of Michela Turrin.

According to the aim of the research question, there are to features to achieve with the design of such a structure:

1. Reconfigurations of main structure

2. Sun and rain control

For the reconfiguration of the structure, three positions considered to achieve. The first configuration would be giving a completely open space with direct sunlight. The aim of this stage is to still give the place a sence of open and outdoor space.

For the second configuration, a semi open shape is taken into consideration. This shape enables the shops and the caffes to have a protection and shade, while keeping the rest of the square completely open to the environment.

The third configuration would be when this two portions of structure that are coming from different sides connect in the middle of the square giving a different quality of space and light by completely covering the square, but letting diverse quality of light to come into the place.

So finally, the three stages are show in the following image. 1. Completely deployed structure. 2. semi open structure covering just shops and caffes area. 3. Completely open and contracted structure. Note that the representation of this images not necessarily corresponds to the final shape of the structure.