ANT FARM
IAAC COMPETITION PROPOSAL
*PLACED AND WON SCHOLARSHIP AT INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED ARCHITECTURE OF CATALONIA (IAAC)
The objective of this proposal aims to establish a new norm of on-site construction through the utilization of robots and unorthodox motions of design.
If robots were given the liberty to sculpt what would they build? If given the opportunity to habitate such space without human interference, what would their world look like?
Through this worldbuilding exercise I imagined a series of tectonic moves where robots would be allowed to construct their home if given such opportunity. In these cases the project is viewed through a time skip of 10 years and 100 years in order to account for further technological advancement.
Year 2021 - Allows for robotic arms, drones and present day technologies to begin
construction of the robots home.
Year 2031 - After further research and implementation of microscopic robotics within the field of additive and subtractive manufacturing, these entities would be
introduced into what would become their new habitat. Encoded within its data are simple rules it must follow, consume resources, reutilize and expand its territory.
Year 2121 - 100 Years after the intial groundbreaking, human trace has become
sporadic, due to the robots innate nature to keep following its program, they continue to consume and build. Los Angeles, California and the western hemisphere of the United States has become a thriving ground for this territory.
FIG. 1 (Sculptural Manipulation)
Robots deforming wire structural mesh through common push pull movements
FIG. 2 (Draping)
As form gets refined drones begin skinning the envelope by carrying large concrete canvas fabric and draping over the structural mesh assembled previously.
FIG. 3 (Folds Within)
Interior finishing is done by creating folds within the canvas
FIG. 4 (Self Healing Section)
Robotic automation of such envelope would allow constant maintenance on the buildings shell with constant layering and lamination of material.
FIG. 5 (Additive Agreggation)
Micrsocopic entites have been introduced and have begun expansion
FIG. 6 (Microscopic Zoom)
Arachnid nanobots continue the swarm printing of intial structure on a mollecular level. They consume resources and remetabolize them onto
structure.
FIG. 7 (Folds Within)
Having initiated the initial structure in Los, Angeles, California, the structure has now grown and expanded through the west coast of the U.S.