"Topology is the NEW LENS to explore, chart & C.R.A.F.T the future"
The Center for Experimental Structures
Associate Director of Center for Experimental Structures
2012 - Present
The Center for Experimental Structures (CES) at Pratt Institute, School of Architecture, bridges the gap between advanced and emerging technologies of building with the making and shaping of architectural structures based on the fundamental principles of design in nature, and beyond. CES is unique within schools of architecture and design in the United States. Students participate in this research through various academic and professional routes. The Undergraduate Architecture Department is offering a minor/concentration in Morphology.
Topology Driven Automation 2019 / 2020
In this course, students developed prototypes that looked toward the specific topology of various periodic minimal surfaces for insight into advancing and automating manufacturing processes. Computational models were developed to simulate assembly sequence and structural forces.
Students: Matthew Malcom, Yuju (Ezad) Hung, Lucy Zakharova
Faculty: Ajmal Aqtash (with Robinson Strong)
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Topology Driven Automation 2018 / 2019
In this course, students developed prototypes that looked toward the specific topology of various periodic minimal surfaces for insight into advancing and automating manufacturing processes. Computational models were developed to simulate assembly sequence and structural forces.
Student: Aisha AlJassim
Faculty: Ajmal Aqtash (with Robinson Strong)
Inflating Formwork 2017 / 2018
Students in this seminar explored inflatable bladders as flexible formwork for casting cementitious structures. The formwork was suspended from pouring points at certain corners to allow the mesh to deform into catenary shells under gravity. Heat sealing patterns were developed to channel the mix into the bladders and direct structural forces through the grid shell. Students also tested woven aircraft cable and networked zip-ties as strategies for integral reinforcement.
Students: Vahhab Aboonour, Andreas Tellman, Iyatunde Majekodunmi, Haven Gordon, Mandy Xie, Andy Plasencia
Faculty: Ajmal Aqtash (with Robinson Strong)
Inflating Inflected Smoothness 2016 / 2017
Students in this seminar explored inflatable bladders. Heat sealing patterns were developed to channel the air into the bladders and direct structural forces through the grid shell. Students developed a wide range of creases to explore how induced curvature can be controlled via heat seal patterns.
Students: Iyatunde Majekodunmi, Vahhab Aboonour, Andes Plasencia, Aisha Aljassim, Liubou Lucy Zakharova, Aaron Miranda, Matthew Malcolm, Kalam Lin Siu
Faculty: Ajmal Aqtash (with Robinson Strong)
Thermo ~ Forming Inflected Smoothness 2016 / 2017
In another ongoing experiment, we explored methods to integrate the use of thermo-forming and machining (CNC / Robotics) sheets of plastic developed earlier (previous 2 semesters) to construct a larger topological structure. The approach was to understand the fundamental modules and how their varying differences can be achieved with a singular approach to construct and crop the module using a Dremel Tool attachment for the robot. With the use of computational tools, students proposed a massing for which the smooth and thickened layers were aggregated to produce the pavilion.
Students: Nubia Garcia, Tierney, Brandon Conde, Catherine Lim, Charlene Liang, Georgia Reyes, Jasper Hayes, Jay Liu, Jeff Offenbecher, Yoskiki Mino, Alexander Smith, Alex Vasilyev. Sadowski, Emily Hertzberg, Maximillian Foreman, Jonathan Cortes
Faculty: Ajmal Aqtash
Costa Tensegrity membrane Structure 2011 / 2012
We continue our experiments in the structural topology of minimal surfaces and combine the well-known Costa surface with the tensegrity principle. A ‘triple-layered’ module of a tensioned Costa surface is made from individual fabric elements that are stitched together in a saddle-shaped array to form a continuously tensioned membrane which holds the discontinuous zig-zag compressive elements in place, and apart from each other, in a co-operative structural action. The structure shows two types of holes in the membrane, the topological holes of the Costa surface and holes between adjacent membrane modules needed for a quicker physical assembly. Topological tensegrity membranes like this one open up new structural possibilities for shaping architecture.
Students: Blaine Campbell, Manuel Castaneda, Thorton Dai, Kyle Day, Kerim Eken, EunHae Oh
Faculty: Ajmal Aqtash (with Haresh Lalvani)
Constructive Minimal Surfaces 2010 / 2011
We continue our experiments in the structural topology of minimal surfaces and the alternative geometries of space combined with constructive and performative morphologies lead us explore minimal surfaces to cover space. Conservation of material, a basic sustainability argument, is tied in by definition. Here, we present architectonic studies of two different types of minimal surfaces, both completely different, yet constructed from the same unit element - a hexagon, in this instance. The first one is based on the known Chen-Gackstatter (CG) surface, and the second is a new one based on Apollonius circles. The former derives a toroidal loop composed of CG elements within an exoskeletal frame as an example of CG elements stacked along an axis, a line, that the latter is a more classic continuous surface that divides spaces into two parts
Students: Nathan Abbe, Bridgett Cruz, Kyle Day, David Kim, Brian Chu, Adrian Von der Osten,
Students: Brian Chu, David Kim, Jing Liu, Thomas Stroman, Kyle Day, Kerim Eken, Adrian Von der Osten
