Sunday, September 5, 2010

Dynamic towers

Is it just me or do Towers based on diagonal grid system gaining popularity lately? there's the Hearst headqurters in NY by Foster & partners and Lotte tower hotel in Seoul by Skidmore, Owings and Marrill, to name just two.
Diagonal grid is a grid based on geometry with less then 45 degrees angles (in the "vertical" direction, where most of the load comes from).
Diagonal grids have some very interesting qualities: They are far more efficient as a structural system then the orthogonal (90 degrees) grid; and they are flexible and open for development and manipulation, and so are open to bald and interesting designs.
here is a simple 10 - minuets - model I made to get a firm grasp on this idea.
I started with a simple square on the left, standing for a floor plan. Another type of floor is done with the same square, but with trimmed corners. The floors are placed on top of eac hother, and finally, a diagonal grid connects the two types of floors. Voila.
I hope I made the idea of diagonal grid somewhat clearer for you,
and encourage you to visit again,
Yours,
The Virtual Architect

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