Towards Active Fabrication

Towards Active Fabrication explores the potential for new material applications while re-thinking the role of fabrication in the process of form-generation. The work presents the development of a composite material system consisting of two weak, flexible materials that when put together allow for variable states of stiffness and become structural through the process of fabrication. This morphogenetic act occurs at the moment of making as a result of the interaction between the two materials, their geometric arrangement and the fabrication process. The aim is to investigate a novel approach to integrated design, where the fabrication process of a composite material actuates and increases material performance. Our current investigation has been carried out through a series of experiments with latex and plywood sheets. Latex was selected for its elastic properties and its capacity to store energy when stretched. The aim was to use latex as a base membrane onto which 2Dpatterns would be applied in order to produce deformation in accordance to pattern design and material orientation. In the design of the 2D-patterns both isotropic and anisotropic materials were tested. The stretched latex in combination with 2D-patterns generates 3Dgeometries through controlled buckling. The direction of buckling enables multiple stable states I the system. Having a bistable modular system is another aspect that I currently being digitally and physically explored as part of the work-in-progress.