Page 45 - Designing Ways 268

SURFACE
SOLUTIONS

Darwin Bucky

Ahmedabad, India

nd black design studio unveils
Darwin Bucky, a black box that
Acan be used as an exhibition
gallery, a town hall, an expo centre, a
performance arena, or even serve as a
bar or a nightclub. It is designed to be
placed in public gardens, exhibition
grounds, or even in a city centre. The city
of Ahmedabad was chosen as the cultural
context, with similar performance theatres
scattered around the city. A prototype, 12
metres in diameter, was engaged through
multiple cultural events to investigate
user demand for an architectural product
occupied as a functional black box
theatre and an exhibition gallery; with a Aerial view Site Context
maximum occupancy of 100 people. Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Concept & Form the Darwin product ideal for locations skeletal stability, the conical shape and to the base pedestal. The tectonics allows
Restaurant and Bar (Render) As temporary visitors to this planet, where road access is difficult, electricity is triangulated planes on the fascia respond for an open floor plan of 116m², while the
Photo credit: Darwin Projects
it is important that we leave behind scarce, and excavation is undesirable. The well to the desired acoustics. dynamic silhouette of the space breaks
minimal footprints that may impact form ideation is guided by its structural monotony. This further contributes
our future generations. Therefore, it performance. The aesthetics are thus Structure to a unique spatial experience for its
is important to cohabit with nature, a derivative of a performative design The unique aesthetic language is occupants. The ridges of the structure are
rather than 'inhabiting' it. Therefore, approach. Darwin Bucky is designed to achieved with an intention of structural designed for load distribution, electrical
permanently impermanent buildings are encapsulate a space with half the material honesty. The spacious volume of 520m³ conduits, and ambient lighting, with
the future. required by conventional structures, thus is achieved through a unique shell unique joinery for waterproofing. The
Darwin Bucky aims to strike a balance optimising the use of steel to achieve structure that is assembled on site. A flat- doorway is placed at the highest point
between materiality and technological material efficiency. pack system of 1mm thick folded metal on the intermediate ridge, extending
advancements in the field of design, and Lightweight, insulated modular panels insulated panels can be transported in outwards to form a threshold. A brick
to engage the craft knowledge of metal as are prefabricated and flat-packed for a shipping container. Ridges mapped base binds the staggering edge and
a material. The design process involves efficient transportation. In addition to throughout the form anchor the structure complements the stark nature of the
highly efficient parametric models which
allow customisation of several variables
to achieve the specified volume. The Flat-pack Folded Metal Panels Assembly
computational model can adapt to the Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani
base diameter and dynamic heights
to achieve material efficiency through
optimised tessellation.

Materials and Assembly
Darwin Bucky is designed as a
prefabricated kit of parts that can be dry-
assembled on-site and disassembled when
required. It is made of legacy materials
like steel, wood, aluminum, and glass,
and the durability and cost of Bucky are
comparable to that of a conventional
building. It does not require a plinth or a
foundation to build on, nor does it require
heavy equipment for transportation and
erection. These unique factors make

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