November 22, 2009
UTNE READER

Bend the Rules of Structure

June 9, 2003
Peter Hall Metropolis 
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Pratt Institute professor of architecture Haresh Lalvani and his partner Bruce Gitlin, chief of the 40-year-old Milgo/Bufkin metal sculpting firm, have set out to ?crush structures to reveal what they really want to become.? With their AlgoRhythms project they have set out to change the way we perceive architecture and structure by letting metal assume shapes that form naturally under pressure. ?AlgoRhythms describes a method for folding a single sheet of metal into complex and elaborate forms, based on Lalvani's calculations,? Peter Hall reports for Metropolis. The end results most closely resemble the work of architect Frank Gehry, but the AlgoRhythms shapes are based on Lalvani?s ?genetic code,? which is based on morphological laws, variations of Islamic motifs, and molecular structures like the buckyball, a 60-atom carbon molecule. And they?re just getting warmed up. ?[Lalvani] argues that if his artificial genetic code were to be combined with biological or physical building processes, buildings could eventually be ?grown? into any desired shape,? writes Hall. Sounds trippy, man.
?Nick Garafola

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