Berlin Zoo 2017
University of Kentucky
College of Design
School of Architecture
ARC 499: Berlin Summer Program Design Elective
Course Description
Berlin Zoo explores the use of the systematic processes of digital design and fabrication directed towards the development of large scale interactive objects or a “micro-architecture.” These objects consider the relationship to human scale and proportion, materiality, and method of fabrication and assembly, in this case flattened templates that fold into the final product. Inspired by observations from a visit to the Berlin Zoological Garden, the final geometries are abstractions of animal forms migrating through the city.
We begin the course with an analytic exercise in order to extract concepts of spatial interactivity followed by a study of the patterns and materials that make up the tectonic fabric of Berlin. These act as the motivating driver for a series of material constructs that consider new relationships between digital design and assembly processes to examine how physical form can engage the public realm. The resulting architectonic characters are then reintroduced into the city as social activators for rest and play.
Emphasis on making is explored in this design elective and extensive use of the local toy and material supply stores is utilized for final presentation models.
Teaching Assistant
Drew McGurk
Students
Mitchell Archer, Sonata Caric, Shelby Carpenter, Whitney Corcoran, Deana Curran, Blane Hornung, Michaela Murray, Steve Ngandu-Sankayi, Mallory Rabeneck, Taylor Stephens, Shane Wireman
Image Gallery
Select to enlarge
-
- Tiergarten Frog, perspective, by Blane Hornung.
-
- Tiergarten Frog, model making, by Blane Hornung.
-
- Tiergarten Frog, unfolded skin and axonometric, by Blane Hornung.
-
- Tiergarten Frog, morphology, by Blane Hornung.
-
- Berlin Zoo, presentation boards.
-
- Without Feather Ado, unfolded skin and axonometric, by Mallory Rabeneck.
-
- Without Feather Ado, perspective, by Mallory Rabeneck.
-
- Seal-Bahn, axonometric, by Shane Wireman.
-
- Seal-Bahn, perspective, by Shane Wireman.
-
- Perspective, by Mitchell Archer.
-
- I Did That On Porpoise, perspective, by Michaela Murray.
-
- Macaw, perspective, Steve Ngandu-Sankayi.
-
- Berlin Zoo, final presentation and exhibition with guest critics.
-
- Berlin Zoo, presentation models.
