Fall 2024
Studio Critic: Robert Stuart Smith
Studio Members: Holly Smithberger, Kelly Lopez, Breland Land
Fluid Frameworks explores the potential of Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) to create integrated architectural systems of walls, columns, and slabs using recycled plastic filament. The project leverages simulation testing to assess printability, load capacity, and material efficiency, ensuring a balance between structural performance and sustainable resource use. By integrating 3D printing with parametric modeling, the design considers how fabrication techniques can generate surfaces that seamlessly merge structure, aesthetics, and accessibility. The prototype features protruding handles that serve multi-functional purposes, allowing the built environment to actively support users as they move through a space. For example, in an interior corridor, these handles could function as both a tactile guide for visually impaired users and a support for those with limited mobility, demonstrating how digital fabrication can enhance spatial inclusivity while maintaining architectural expression.