Robert Krawczyk

Professor of Architecture and Associate Dean
College of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL USA

Forms and their structural enclosures can be explored in a number of ways, in a number of scales. Extrusions, assemblages, or incorporating traditional structural systems; or ones according to mathematically defined elements. What forms emerge when a 2D curve is used as a 3D path for some section defined by a simple shape, such as a circle, an ellipse, a square, a rectangle, or a triangle? This series investigates a simple form based on approximately one-half of a Lemniscate of Bernoulli curve, developed about 1694. It is very similar to a common eight curve, except the loops are more elliptical. For the enclosure a diagonal grid was incorporated. These were generated using custom software and then 3D printed in metallic plastic.

Containing Air: 101f12
Containing Air: 101f12
8" x 6" x 6"
Alumide, metallic plastic
2014

101f12: two combined curves, first has a sweep angle of 90 to 270 degrees with a circular section radius varied from 6" to 5" combined with a second curve having a sweep angle of 120 to 240 degrees; intersecting each other.

At this non-architectural scale, the desktop, these forms could be thought of as Air Vases; containers to hold air, holding nothing at all. Sketches and other models can be found at the More Information link.

Containing Air: 101i11
Containing Air: 101i11
8" x 4.75" x 4.75"
Alumide, metallic plastic
2014

101i11: two curves combined, each has a sweep angle of 92 to 272 degrees with a circular section radius varied from 6.5" to 5.5"; intersecting each other.

At this non-architectural scale, the desktop, these forms could be thought of as Air Vases; containers to hold air, holding nothing at all. Sketches and other models can be found at the More Information link.