2hD / Workshop

I just returned from a five-day eco-building workshop at the EkoSense community in Blatuša, Croatia, for some hands-on work on low-tech construction.

A very refreshing approach to making buildings: no tape measure, no drawing, no laser level, no materials shopping… Just a chainsaw, some odd tree trunks found on the land, strawbales from the neighbouring farm and some buckets of clay dug up from the foundations.

             

Click here to download:

eco-building-in-blatusa-kIkHznlhqGxBpplmBsxx.zip (2796 KB)

A big thank you to the EkoSense folks in Blatuša for their inspiring enthusiasm, warm welcome and fantastic home made sour cream!

We were commissioned last March by the Lille Métropole Museum of Modern Art, in France, to conceive an innovative pavilion to host the ceremonies celebrating the museum’s re-opening after five years of refurbishment and extension works.

Challenging the existing negative paradigm of event tents, we designed a diaphanous inflatable textile structure to create a mesmerising spatial experience for visitors to the Art Museum and a striking backdrop for its high-profile public events.

We have teamed up with Inflate, experienced makers of successful inflatable event structures, to produce the custom-designed pavilion that fitted within the tight budget of the not-for-profit art organisation, while being versatile enough to host the wide spectrum of events envisaged by the museum, from official receptions to dance performances.

We have just received the photos of the first inflation test of the structure at Inflate's workshop and we are quite thrilled! (Images: Inflate)

     

Click here to download:

testing-our-new-inflatable-pavilion-ymbrzqwBJHAGGyyFkthx.zip (614 KB)

More on this after the installation of the structure in Lille at the end of September!

This week at Mannings School it was all about preparing material for an exhibition. Rather than drawing plans, we decided to photograph the lightboxes the students made last week from above. The models were fine as lightboxes, but a bit scrappy for the plan view, so we added some sketchy detail and people.

Continuing our work with Manning School (see 3rd March article), we brought the school pupils to Nottingham Trent University, where they worked with 2nd year NTU students from the Interior Architecture course. With help and guidance from the students, the school pupils built lightbox models, lit them carefully with coloured light and took these evocative photos.

           

Click here to download:

lightboxes-xqeoaCDkfAnbCofpcfbj.zip (214 KB)

Working with pupils at Mannings School in Nottingham, we surveyed a classroom that will be converted into a creative learning space. A quick Sketchup model was then virtually 'unfolded' to create a printed paper net. In class the students then cut and glued to create sketch physical models, before starting to experiment with transforming the space. Next time we will use thicker card, and investigate laser cutting. Rapid prototyping might be the logical step, but then a whole stage of physical creation of the model, and understanding folding, geometry and nets would be missed, so maybe not.

         

Click here to download:

School_net.zip (626 KB)

Today it was confirmed that 2hD Technical Director had an allergy to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus faeces a.k.a. house dust mite poo. Our New Products department moved quickly to develop a solution. All we need now is a teeny robot to assist at change time.

A scale paper prototype for a ceremony kimono folded out of a single sheet of fabric (1300x1600mm)

As every year, I prepared a little musical sampling for my friend M.

You can listen to the actual compilation on Spotify...