JFK 2008 – winner of the experimental category

archiweb: The jury had only a few minutes to assess each project, saw only one sheet, and could only evaluate its final form. We would still be interested in the journey and development of the project throughout the semester. Can you reflect and summarize the path of how the assignment was clarified, the form was refined, and the consultations flourished?

Jindřich Ráftl: The assignment was Kinetic Architecture. Initially, it was an experiment by Zdena Zedníčková, and not many people showed interest in this topic. However, a few brave souls found their way, and we boldly took on the task. The consultations were collective, and we discussed possibilities and conceptual approaches a lot. Thanks to the great freedom of the assignment, original projects were created. My initial visions were very simple. I started with boxes that were built on “mechanical legs,” and upon extending their volumes, they formed “clusters of flowers.” From this first "sketch," I took away the logic of function and the movement of flowers towards the light. This was followed by further improvements and adjustments, but ultimately, I abandoned this concept. I was urged by consultant Zdena to solve the assignment more abstractly. So, I proceeded in a Free-form style. I teamed up with a friend who teaches at the Faculty of Science in České Budějovice and researched the larval stages of butterflies and changes after pupation. From this experience, the idea of transformation of structure was adopted, and the main question was what this would all be made of. Through insects and overall research in biology, the idea of cytoplasmic membranes emerged. I studied these thanks to the libraries of the Academy of Sciences. I came across nanobots after consulting with architect Miloš Florián from the FA CTU. The main question was the shape and the possibility of connections in the macro world. Tetrahedrons, due to their geometry, have an excellent potential to form practically infinite mass, and after a few experiments in 3D programs, I decided on the above-mentioned shape. From it, the supporting structure and the entire logic of the project also derive. The model was produced using the Rapid Prototyping device available at the Liberec Faculty, which greatly facilitated the work.

archiweb: The accompanying report for most projects is created on the last night before submission, which corresponds to the stylistic level. The insignificance of the written word goes hand in hand with the public secret that “architects do not read, they only look.” Would you nevertheless be able to describe your winning project in a few brief sentences?

Jindřich Ráftl: The project is based on the understanding of the micro world, and from this empirical basis, a design at the required scale emerged. From the proposed membrane, according to the code and user requirements, a dynamic building can be created. Everything in the micro world is constantly moving and colliding with each other. On the other hand, everything has its order, and many of these phenomena can be described mathematically. The building was generated based on a computer script, by means of which this structure can be defined almost in any way within the input data.