Ziningy1 – Section C- Looking Outwards -03

Silk Pavillion 

MIT Mediated Matter Group’s project Silk Pavilion immediately attracted my attention as I am browsing through their project page. I am surprised by how computer algorithm can generated such organic form. The Silk Pavilion is done by Prof. Fiorenzo Omenetto (TUFTS University) and Dr. James Weaver (WYSS Institute, Harvard University).  Inspired by the silkworm’s ability to generate a 3D cocoon out of a single multi-property silk thread, the pavilion’s overall geometry was created using an algorithm that assigns a single continuous thread across patches, providing various degrees of density. Overall density variation was informed by deploying the silkworm as a biological “printer” in the creation of a secondary structure. Positioned at the bottom rim of the scaffold, 6,500 silkworms spun flat, non-woven silk patches as they locally reinforced the gaps across the silk fibers.

I really enjoyed this project/installation as how they explore the  relationship between digital and biological fabrication. The method of deploying the actual silk worms as biological “printer” is very impressive to me, and this also shows that the blind instinct of silkworms is sometimes revealed as almost machine-like.