Marc@Studio

I think what is so interestng about grid shell, pneumatic, etc structures is that there is some sense of magic in their design, even for architects. The forms are too complex for us to fully comprehend like we can a truss or column beam system. We sort of have to design all we can and then let nature's magic hold up the building. I'm trying to build a sketchup model of the expodach, which is proving very difficult, because we can sort of get the height of a number of points to construct a curve, but all the space within, all the drapery of the structure, is total mystery to me, so i will admit, i'm totally fudging it, just getting as close to the outer curves as I can.
I like these types of structures for their experiential quality, the space we can create seem both indoor and outdoor, both enclosed and totally open, both confined and vast. It reminds me of a visit to Chicago on a study tour, in which we walked all over the city and eventually reached millenium park, where the amphitheatre by Gehry was. And experienceing the sort of front stage/backstage elements of the bandshell itself were intersting, but surely not as interesting as being under the grassed field covered with intertwining threads of metal. The experience was amazing, you walked from a sidewalk, feeling completely outdoors, hearing the cars and people and the breath of the city, and then stepping under these metal threads gave an aural sensation of being indoors. The echoes changed slightly, so you felt as though you were enclosed, even though the space was definetly open air. I think it would be interesting to see a concert at this venue, because I would enjoy watching people look around suprised as it began to rain. Anyway, I'm interested in this experiential quality of space in whatever it is we end up designing.