Concept: Ohne Titel
Architect: EASTON + COMBS,
Buffo Building Fashion, NYC
VISION: EASTON + COMBS teamed up with fashion designer Ohnei Titel to create a wall system with a unique combination of texture and colors. The vision was to achieve the aesthetic of a textured wall resembling oversize fabric using patterns of specific color and complex geometric definition. A total of 300 unique pieces were stitched together to create a self-supporting structure.
PROCESS: FLATCUT_ team worked with the design team for feasibility analysis and economic manufacturing techniques that realized the projectʼs conceptual vision. The software agnostic approach of FLATCUT_ process allowed for highly efficient collaboration. The team was able to seamlessly integrate their analysis into the parametric model used by EASTON+COMBS. The FLATCUT_ engineering team created custom programming scripts for efficient manipulation of the projectʼs 3D model geometry, allowing the team to understand immediately the cost changes in relationship to the changes in the wall geometry.
The project required a light material that could be strong enough to self-support the entire wall system without any mechanical attachments. FLATCUT_ analyzed the structural requirement and selected a particular aluminum alloy that would achieve the performance requirements and design intent in a cost-effective way. FLATCUT_ decided on powder coating as the surfacing technology. The team matched the color requirements of the fashion designer and got their approval early in the design process.
FLATCUT_ took the geometry of the designer and translated it into precise and accurate metal cutting patterns that could be CNC fabricated. The patterns were repeatable enough to make the installation simple. At the same time, each component had its own DNA – a unique perforation and cut angles for assembly. FLATCUT_ used in-depth modeling, bending and metal punching methodologies that helped in keeping the assembly of the wall system very simple. The 300 unique pieces were interlocked
and held together through friction with no additional need of mechanical attachment. This was critical not to increase the project cost, and also to achieve the desired aesthetic. All the pieces were prefabricated, etched and labeled in the shop. This made the installation fairly simple; it didnʼt require highly skilled labor for this rather complex wall system.
After the initial feasibility analysis and communication with the design team, FLATCUT_ was able to create all the pieces in a couple of weeks. The entire project was designed, fabricated and installed in 4 weeks.
RESULT: The project was completed using custom cut 1/16-inch powder-coated aluminum panels.
