Rice Architecture
23EM_X11
EQUILIBRIUM MODEL / EXPERIMENT ELEVEN
Yao Xiao
Nhi Vo
Amelia Vasquez
Throughout our project, our group explored the use of platforms and parallel slotting systems to find equilibrium. We wanted to challenge ourselves by not using any strings and by using wood as our only material. We also wanted the challenge of working with larger pieces. We used our longest piece and implemented the slotting system in that, as well as the base to give us a regulated way to methodically add weight. We also wanted to play with the impact of removing weight and made an uneven cut into our platform, which impacted how we had to set up our iterations to get them to balance. When setting up our models, we noticed how very minute changes would impact the overall balance of the structure. After several iterations with the platform being parallel to the base, we turned the platform to be perpendicular to the base. This way, we were having to balance the platform in two directions compared to one. This created an addition challenge as the pieces resting in the slotting system had a limitation of weight that could be on an end of them before they came out of the slots.