Emergent: Tape Cave

When you think of how you build with Brick you quickly get an idea of what is possible, and what isn't. The same is true with Wood, or Steel, or any other conventional building material. But what about an Unconventional building material, like Tape? The idea behind this project was to explore the structures that would emerge when building with an unconventional material such as Tape.

Projects Requirements: 

- Must respond to the physical conditions of the site.

- It must be inhabitable by at least 1 person at a time.

- The only usable building material is Tape (any type).

- Structure must be quickly assembled on site.

- Must be shippable. 

Original Sketch:

The sketch shows the idea of suspending people, with a viewer within.

Study Model:

This was the first of many study models. It was used to get a better understanding of the Tape as a building material. It quickly showed me how much influence the site (where ever we choose to build it) will have on the end result.

An interior space shows the potential spaces that can be created with Tape.

Putting light to the study model, changing the way we perceive it.

Study Model (Larger scale):

An 8' frame where a bigger tape study model was wrapped around.

Using Scotch 2.5mm Packaging Tape. This stuff is expensive but really tough, and would be perfect to create the "framework" of the structure.

A more developed framework.

Once framework was in place, the "skin" comes next. This quickly got expensive, and suggested the possibility of using different tapes. (Tough and expensive for the "framework", Weak and inexpensive for the "skin")

Again, doing a light test.

A creeper. lol

A picture of the interior spaces created. Much better.

 Site + Model:

Once there was a site the project completely changed. I used Saran warp to simulate tape at a smaller scale.

A 1/8" = 1'0" model of project.

The Framework.

In order to transport the project to the site, and build it time efficiently, the structure was compartmentalized and built off-site.

A Plan & Section Drawing of the project at 1/4" = 1'0".

 The Tape Cave:

These are the pictures taken at night. The project attracted to much attention at our school, that we where allowed to keep it far beyond the time originally given. The project used

A user in the belly of the beast.

A student checking it out.

A close up of the Framework and Skin.

The mouth of the cave.

This was an amazing experience for me. Designing, developing, building, and documenting this project was a blast. Definitely a great experience.

More posts to come.

Thanks for listening. :)