bubble flats /school

a RARE runway

in an industry where stunts and surprises push the boundaries of style and taste, this design for an exclusive runway ensures that the newest fashions come out in the greatest environment. settled along the shores of RARE, a secluded, scenic site allows for quiet backdrop for a loud entrance. strong lines rip through the hemispherical domes, guiding fashionistas to a head-on encounter with a runway that dominates the scene as it floats above the water’s surface. high fashion is placed on a pedestal, separated by the shoreline.

inspired by the surface tensions of bubbles, a study of tension of threads and fabrics spawns a fresh method of fabric tensegrity; a perfect cover for a burgeoning fashion center.

the project undergoes an evolution of sorts, reflecting the progressive understanding and creative utilization of tensegrity concepts; commonplace tensegrity simplexes evolve into complex fabric-based tensegrity networks. utilizing this concept as a skin and capitalizing on its large open forms, the tensegrity bubbles act as a shelter and a frame, but neither confines nor sequesters the platform or performance. further use of tensegrity is explored in the utilization of three-member simplexes to create an ultra-light truss-like network. formed from such lightweight members, it is possible for the utilization of the bubble flats as a temporary or travelling structure.

this project acts as a study of tensegrity and a foray into potential creative architectural implementations.