PERFORMA_08_Graduate Seminar, UK College of Design.

Materials are CNC-machined into the most hysterical shapes just because contemporary manufacturing makes it possible, with little regard for the inherent morphological and performative capacities of the employed materials and material systems.    -Michael Hensel and Achim Menges, MORPHO-ECOLOGIES

This work seeks to create multi-performative material systems utilizing optimization, aggregation and efficiency.  Simple units and semi-finished materials were physically tested in order to extract potential performative characteristics and limits.  These limits were negotiated through rigorous digital and physical techniques in order to produce strategies of fabrication.   

The formal systems have inherent structural capacities as well as an ability to adapt to changing conditions.  Meaning, although the system is adaptable, they must be self-structural and fabricated using off-the-shelf material that can weather.  Because of the system pliability, variation can occur within a seemingly homogenous system.

MIKE McKAY, Spencer Dohrman, Martin Franks, Chris Harris, Eric Lahm,James Rich, with: Madelynn Ringo, Jon McAllister, Trevor Kidd, Donovan Justice, Geoffrey Sorrell,

Margaret Barrett, Brad Ostendorf, Terry Driggs, Laura Mattingly, and Jonathan Erwin, Matt Nett, Dan Everhart, Gina Kuharevicz.

PRESS:

http://www.suckerpunchdaily.com/?s=mckay

http://raddblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/05/performa-ukcod-univ-of-kentucky-graduate-studio/

http://spaceinvading.com/index/page/4

http://design-afterhours.blogspot.com/2009/10/performa-ukcod-lexington-usa.html

http://www.archinect.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=5