Material Transformations
Southern California Institute of Architecture, Fall 2003
Critic: Gary Paige

Program Statement:
This project encouraged tectonic exploration of a chosen material (aluminum rib-lathe) with the intention of producing an unconventional / unexpected furniture object with no "non-material" connections. Work was divided into three phases: tectonic research, atmospheric research--I desired to achieve the quality of "weightlessness"--and architectural production. The result of these tectonic and aesthetic concerns was the cantilevered, nine-bottle wine rack / truss shown above.

Tectonic Research:
I conducted a series of studies to examine ductility, possible points / types of connection, and the aesthetic qualities of rib lathe (normal, oxidized, stretched, smashed, etc.).

Atmospheric Research:
To achieve the desired quality of "weightlessness", I utilized the following transformations: shear, tension, oxidation, and compression. Sheets of lathe were dissected into individual strands, stretched / smashed beneath the wheels of a car, and then joined via a combination of heat, compression, and weaving (blowtorch / mallet / gloves).