Project by: Manuel Jimenez Garcia, Jeroen van Ameijde, Manja van de Worp, Christina Dahdaleh, Sulaiman AlOthman and Nada AlQallaf
With AAVSKuwait. Students: Reem Abdulsalam, Jassim Alabbad, Dalal AlBaker, Muneera Albanwan, Ali Alblooshi, Lulwa Aldihani, Khaleefa AlHemli, Sara AlQahtani, Sultan AlSamhan, Diana Ashkanani, Nour Yaqoub Jaafar, Lucinda Smith
Collaborators: Mai Al Busairi - Parallel Studio, Mohamad Albualian - Parallel Studio, Abdullah Bukhamseen - KUZ Store, Meshal Al-Khamees, Mohammed AbuHakmah, Salman Qasem, Ehsan Rahimi
Material used: 1.280 pieces (4 types), 6.262 rivets, and 40 Montana Gold spray cans (20 different tones)
PixelSpace showcases a radically new approach towards the construction of digitally designed architecture, translating intelligently arranged building components into a system of discrete material components with integrated functionalities.
DISCRETE MATERIAL SYSTEM
Using a three-dimensional grid and the concept of voxel combinations, a small range of components has been designed in multiples of the standardized size of 100 mm.
Diagonal surfaces have been introduced into the components to allow for the indirect filtration of daylight while at the same time blocking direct sight lines to be able to provide privacy. The standardized dimensions used for the geometry of the components offer the possibility for the pieces to be rotated around three axes, thus further expanding the range of options for filtering light and views without adding additional unique pieces.
Using combinatorial patterns of different types and sizes of elements, variations in structural performance, shading, and privacy generating qualities have been located around different zones of the pavilion.
COMPUTATIONAL PATTERNS
The ‘PixelSpace Pavilion’ is constructed out of a custom-designed, multi-performative component system.Using pattern combinations of different types and sizes of elements, the walls of the pavilion incorporate variations in structural performance, shading and privacy filtering. A computational process was used to generate the component stacking patterns, matching the qualities of the pattern to the requirements for the different areas of the enclosure. This pro- cess incorporates specific site relation-
ships such as blocking certain light angles or framing certain views towards the viewpoints in the direct surroundings.
The project demonstrates an approach to- wards high-resolution construction materials, that create optimised functional and exciting environments. The use of a customized software application for these types of processes allows the role of the architect to focus on the overall qualities of space while being able to control com- plex material organizations indirectly and economically.
Rather than using separate materials for structure, cladding, shading, etc, the ‘PixelSpace Pavilion’ demonstrates a digitally designed building component system that can integrate these functions. Using combinatorial patterns of different elements, the pavilion offers a spectacular immersive experience for visitors that high- lights the opportunities and spatial qualities that new and complex dig- ital technologies can offer to architectural spaces.
