I was thinking the other day about grids and how often they are used in the design process. It’s a simple strategy that can provide amazing results if used properly. Every decision is simplified because it’s all centered on the same idea, a grid, providing more time and attention to the complex technological aspects within the building.
When I saw this structure, I immediately noticed the gridded scaffolding. Although the steel frame is light in comparison to the heavy blue angular shape it sits around, it’s still highly noticeable. The rigid form appears to contradict the abstract nature of the interior structure made of stretched nylon fabric. However the grid brings order to the structure as the spikes protrude out to connect at certain intersections of the three dimensional grid.
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Wendy actively raises the awareness of how architecture can begin to have an ecological and social effect on the environment, winning the MoMA P.S.1 Young Architects Program competition for this year. When this structure is built, not only will it provide a place for visitors to enter and enjoy, but it will also neutralize pollutants in the air. The change in air quality during the 2012 summer period from Wendy is expected to be the equivalent of taking 260 cars off the road. The spikes, or arms of the structure spray water, mist, produce music and shade, creating zones for human interaction while expanding its impact beyond its envelope.
We often reward ourselves with a pat on the back when we recycle or use environmentally friendly products, but how much does that really accomplish when the damage has already been dealt? Wendy shows us that we can create architecture that can change the world and not just apologize for our actions. A geography professor once told me that over the years we have damaged the world so much that in order for balance to be regained we’d have to make serious changes in the way we live. If we could utilize some of the technology that makes Wendy such an amazing structure in other aspects of architecture, making a difference in the environment might not be so far out of our reach.
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