Equinox Pavilion

Summary Post

Designed and Built by Waffluminati

The Waffluminati Team and our Contacts
Thomas Wynne-Bärwald	tom.wynne-barwald.23@ucl.ac.uk
Dasan Matthews	dasan.matthews.23@ucl.ac.uk
Ivan Law	ivan.law.23@ucl.ac.uk
Rex Hau	rex.hau.23@ucl.ac.uk

This installation went live on 20th March 2024, but I never did a write-up for it, so here is a short summary :-). It was completed at UCL as part of Design Make Live on the MEng Engineering and Architectural Design programme.

(there is a new project coming !)

The brief was to respond to the theme of the spring equinox, where the day length is halfway between the shortest (December 22nd, 2023) and longest (June 20th, 2024) days of the annual solar cycle.

We were limited to using cardboard as our primary material.

As a team, we wanted something mechanical that could physically move to symbolise change in the face of the seasons.

Animated GIF of an initial flower-unfurling concept.

We were also deeply interested in the kind of annual rituals we complete to celebrate the seasons.

Ring of generic plastic chairs via Pinterest, unable to find artist.

We started looking at waffle structures. They are a great way to deliver 3D volumes from sheet material.

Small waffle model of a body with a curved top surface.

A lot of time passed and this is just a summary, so this article jumps to the first stages of our final concept.

We decided on a modular subunit to make manufacturing simpler (just build loads of Lego-style blocks and then arrange them how we want).

I designed a simple, interlocking, fluted cube as a 3D solid model.

Image of the cube sub-unit in 3D modelling.

The pieces needed for one cube, image from industrial part-nesting software.

We then used software (Slicer for Fusion360) to turn this solid into interlocking sheets. These can be cut individually from sheets of cardboard.

Photograph of rex inspecting our first prototype cardboard-waffle cube.

Photograph of two cardboard cubes interlocking vertically.

With our subunits finished, we decided on a final form: a bigger cube with a moving wall to allow access.

Plan view render image of the final design.

Perspective render image of the final design.

Site plan image including our structure, mapped in GIS.

We designed and built a foundation frame to hold our structure, and enable the moving wall:

Photograph of wheeled door component of wooden base frame.

Then lots of laser cutting (>1000 pieces).

Photograph showing Trotec Ruby laser cutting interface with cube piece cut-jobs in progress.

Photograph of cardboard stack on way to manufacturing lab.

Some hours spent assembling each unit:

Photograph of Ivan at work at cube assembly.

Photograph of Rex next to a complete wall of cardboard cubes.

Build day :)

Photograph of two cube units being transported to site.

Photograph: assembly almost complete, Ivan and Rex discus on right hand side.

Finally, the structure stands in a field in the Olympic park :-) The structure is built for quiet contemplation. With natural light restricted to openings on two walls and the ceiling, the space is partially obscured from the outside world, and allows for a moment of calm through dampened visual and auditory stimulation.

Photograph: somebody peering through facade.

Photograph: a cube chair designed and built by Dasan, waiting for final assembly.

Photograph: Dasan is photographed, sitting on his throne, by C. Leung.

Pack-down took less than 30 minutes.

Photograph: flat pack of the cube structure from above, ready for cardboard recycling and part re-use.