Kevin Riordan-Looking Outwards-03

This project is called “La Cage Aux Folles”, and was made by Warren Techentin Architecture (WTARCH) and placed in the courtyard gallery of Materials and Applications in Los Angeles, California. It was made in 2014, and was designed to be like a combination between a Mongolian yurt and a cage. It uses generative algorithms with linear elements and parametric surfaces to figure out where to bend the pipes, which create an extremely stable structure. I looked for what exactly generative algorithms were, but could not find much information. The creator’s artistic sensibilities are present in the final form, as flow was a major consideration when designing the structure, and it is very appealing to look at. I admire how foreign it looks, and how it’s use is for habituation but looks like a sculpture, not like something meant to withstand any force. The fact it is so strong is remarkable, and I think digital fabrication is what allowed something so pretty to also be so structurally sound.