Super Cube, we have been noticing a tendancy towards modular design lately, which was also the approach of the SUPRASTUDIO, which is part of the department of Architecture and Urban Design from UCLA (partners include Greg Lynn, Thom Mayne, Boeing, Walt Disney and UNESCO). The seminar of Gehry Partners and Gehry Technologies has created the “ Super Cube ”, a piece of furniture that can be remodeled to up to 50 stable configurations so far, created from CNC-cut alloy sheets of small thickness, which were then folded and manually attached.
Courtesy of Yuhao Zhu
The prototype is formed by two units that can be divided into smaller pieces. The 2 initial pieces can be folded into a cube, but also can be cubes by themselves. The surprising element of this design is the fact that such simple facets can create such modularity and difference in form. Contemporary design is all about smart use of materials and space, and examples such as the “Super Cube” are a step towards bringing industrial design into its new era.
Lidia Ratoi is a Romanian architect, educator, and researcher, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong’s Department of Architecture. With a background in both architectural design and theory, her work explores the intersections of technology, media, and politics in the built environment. Ratoi’s research focuses on the aesthetics of power, surveillance, and virtuality, with a strong interest in critical and speculative design. She has practiced internationally and exhibited in venues across Europe and Asia. Passionate about challenging conventional narratives, Ratoi integrates digital tools with philosophical inquiry, encouraging experimental approaches to architecture. Her contributions continue to shape emerging discourses in design and architectural pedagogy.