Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Design Details No. 5 - Laser-Cut Mashrabiya - the Making of...


A few images, and a short video, of the previous post's laser-cut mashrabiya's design and fabrication process... Initially the intention was to make a set of mashrabiyas out of a single sheet laser cut. Unfortunately, due to various logistical mismatches, we weren't able to get them fabricated in the UK and had to get them made locally in Qatar, which in this instance resulted in us using the Fab-Lab at VCUQ. This entailed that all the panels had to fit within the build-frame of the Labs laser-cutter, which only allows for cuts (or etchings) no larger than 60 by 45 cm in size. This introduced its own set of assembly related issues, as the mashrabiya had to cover a window roughly 125 by 250 cm in size... 

In the end though, it all worked out very well, and the installed mashrabiya seemed to be very well received. Even the, very subtle - almost moire like - 'flickering' (see clip below) of the panels worked out well due to the  adjacent AC outlet... 

For earlier examples of laser-cut mashrabiyas we've made, please click here ,here, here, and here... 




Above and Below: The Velcro (hook & Loop) attachment panels by which all the design's elements are suspended...



Above and Below: Close-ups of some of the mashrabiya panels...



Above and Below: Sketches showing/ proposing how the panels should be attached to the window soffit...



Some close-up details of some of the mashrabiya panels...



A short video showing some initial test exploring the 'flicker effect' of some of the mashrabiya panels...


Some earlier tests of cutting patterns and different paper types (including Arabic newspapers) and paper treatments...

Friday, June 22, 2012

HOME Exhibition - Presented by the Museum of Architecture at the Mosaic Rooms, London...

The Mosaic Rooms on Cromwell Road, London...


We're currently exhibiting some work (a laser-cut mashrabiya) at the London based Museum of Architecture's inaugural exhibition, titled Home, currently on display at the Mosaic Rooms located on London's Cromwell Road.

The work was realized in collaboration with our London based partners, Independent Architects...

This is our second ongoing exhibition dealing with the theme of 'home' this summer... 

You can read more about this exhibition by clicking here...

The exhibition concludes on July 7, 2012... 


Monday, June 11, 2012

Images from the Home Sweet Home Exhibition in Ekenas, Finland...

 Above and Below: The Cu3o Cabinet... 

A few images from the ongoing Home Sweet Home exhibition, taking place in Ekenas (Tammisaari) Finland. The opening, which took place on May 24, was a brilliant event, where all the elements of a successful gallery opening - the displays, the people, the venue, the food, the weather - managed to gel into a beautifully choreographed and synchronized concoction... 

For a short summary of the event, check out the reportage of the exhibition in a recent episode of the Pixel cultural program (in Swedish - only visible in Finland)... 

The exhibition concludes on October 7, 2012... 



 The 'Living Room' space, with designs by Thomas Sandell, Anne Kyyro Quinn, and and Eero Koivisto...

The 'Kitchen' area, with designs by Katarina Andersson,  Eero Koivisto, and Stina Lindholm...

 Above and Below: Laser Toast - Probably the best Laser-cut Peanut-Butter & Jelly Sandwich in the World...



 A set of Bowl and Tray designs from the Interrupted Series... 



A traditional building flanking the courtyard of the Pro Artibus Foundation... 

Balloon shadows on a wall... 

The Pro Artibus Foundation's wall logo...