Bending Like Branches
BENDING LIKE BRANCHES
"The reality is [Bendy Ply] is so light, it moves when the wind pushes on it," Patkua says. "They don't flutter, but it has the ability to move like a tree branch in response to the wind."
The 'animate' form was intentional, he says, "We found that when we clustered them together, the quality was really amplified by virtue of the community that they created. Some people have called them penguins, some people buffalo, but they do elicit that kind of animism."
What wasn't intentional was the impact the project had on the firm. "Based on the shelters project, we initiated a series of research projects. We now have half a dozen skating shelter projects. Some of them have been executed and are in the public realm and others are in the vault waiting to see the light of day. It has definitely informed our line of projects."
The shelters project led to a phone call from a well-known Japanese fashion label, Comme des Garçons, which was building a new showroom in Ginza, Tokyo. The Japanese company wanted non-combustible versions of the skating shelters. Patkua Architects complied with versions made of stainless steel.
"We then began investigating how to take these ideas and make them more building-sized rather than these smaller constructions that are almost furniture-like things," Patkua says. "And we've developed a couple of systems that we have worked out, and we are looking for the big break to actually build one. One of our fun activities is trying to find an opportunity to do that."
Frequently asked questions
How does Bendy Ply respond to wind?+
Bendy Ply is so light that it moves when the wind pushes on it, swaying like a tree branch rather than fluttering.
Why were the skating shelters clustered together?+
Patkua Architects found that clustering the shelters amplified their animate quality, creating a community effect that led observers to compare them to penguins or buffalo.
How did the skating shelters project influence Patkua Architects' future work?+
The project initiated a series of research projects and led to roughly half a dozen skating shelter projects, some built in the public realm and others still in development.
What did Comme des Garçons commission from Patkua Architects?+
The Japanese fashion label commissioned non-combustible versions of the skating shelters for a new showroom in Ginza, Tokyo. Patkua Architects complied by producing versions made of stainless steel.
Is Patkua Architects scaling the shelter concept to larger structures?+
Yes, the firm has been investigating how to adapt the ideas into building-sized constructions and has developed a couple of systems, and is now seeking an opportunity to build one.