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Thesis Info
- LABS ID
- 00949
- Thesis Title
- Bio Forms
- Author
- natalie alima
- E-mail
- alimanatalie AT gmail.com
- 2nd Author
- Jon McCormack
- 3rd Author
- Degree
- P.h.D
- Year
- ongoing
- Number of Pages
- -
- University
- RMIT
- Thesis Supervisor
- Jon McCormack
- Supervisor e-mail
- jon.mccormack AT monash.edu
- Other Supervisor(s)
- Roland Snooks
- Language(s) of Thesis
- English
- Department / Discipline
- Architecture
- Copyright Ownership
- Languages Familiar to Author
- URL where full thesis can be found
- Keywords
- Mycelium, feedback systems, material agency, adaptive fabrication
- Abstract: 200-500 words
- BioForms is a research project that explores the symbiotic relationship between material,
computational and design agencies engaged within robotic feedback loops. Through the
interaction of the digital and the physical, we are exploring the design implications of forms
generated within a design process predicated on the biological growth of mycelium. This
research has been developed through an experimental process for the design and fabrication of a series of objects, where these two processes are compressed into a simultaneous generative methodology. This approach establishes a direct dialogue between the digital and physical realms. A feedback process is created in which a computational design algorithm interacts and
responds to the volatile growth of 3D printed mycelium through vision systems and real-time robotic control. This is a data-driven, computational workflow, that extracts the organism’s physical agency for the design and fabrication of ‘mycelium made’ geometries. Our concern is to intertwine the architect’s intention and aesthetic concerns with the agency of physical materials until the two are indistinguishable. These forms emerge through 3D printing of a biological medium to fabricate living, adaptive geometries. Our purpose is to question the relationship of architecture and nature and to create novel forms that highlight the secondary role that material typically plays in the design process. We therefore demonstrate new strategies for architects to work with nature and living biological materials.