Zaha Hadid Architects has introduced KnitCandela, a concrete shell that is very thin and is constructed on an extremely lightweight knitted formwork that can be compressed into a suitcase by the architect. That’s what we call a revolutionary move. It brings together ZHA’s design research group ZCODE for its design vision, ETH Zurich’s Block Research Group (BRG) for the formwork, and Architecture Extrapolated for its on-site execution. The purpose of this project is to bring together expertise in the fields of computational design, engineering, and fabrication. The building, which was built in Mexico as part of ZHA’s inaugural Latin American exhibition, is a monument to Félix Candela, who is well recognized as an architect and engineer. Despite the fact that the flowing design is reminiscent of his renowned restaurant in Xochimilco, it also makes homage to the traditional clothing worn by the people of Jalisco. By experimenting with computational design methodologies and unique formwork technology, it uses KnitCrete to “reimagine his concrete shells and double curved shapes.” KnitCrete is used to accomplish this. This “cable-net and fabric formwork system” was developed by BRG specifically for the purpose of casting doubly curved geometries in concrete. KnitCrete is a “cable-net and fabric formwork system” that enables the creation of anticlastic geometries, hence removing the need for complicated molds. In order to manufacture a stiff mold, it is supported by “extra falsework components such as a tensioned cable-net or bending-active splines.” This is accomplished by customizing a “3D-knitted, technical cloth as a lightweight, a stay-in-place shuttering covered with a unique cement paste.” When compared to weaving, knitting “minimizes the need for cutting patterns to create spatial surfaces, facilitates the directional variation of material properties, and simplifies the integration of channels and openings.” Knitting can be used for a variety of purposes, including insulation, reinforcements, electrical components, and technical systems. As a result, the system is hybrid and simplifies the manufacturing process in many different ways, including the reduction of labor, the saving of materials, the reduction of costs, the transportation of materials, the reduction of extra supports, and the simplification of site logistics. Textile shuttering, on the other hand, is made up of four long strips that range in length from 15 to 26 meters. Each of these strips is seamless, double-layered, and has a dual purpose, and it is created as a single piece. The aesthetic surface of the inside displays a colorful pattern and makes a reference to the “supporting cable net falsework systems.” On the other hand, the exterior is able to include features that allow for “inserting, directing, and regulating the location of additional formwork pieces.” The cavities that are formed by the pockets in between, which are inflated using conventional modeling balloons, serve the purpose of forming a waffle shell that is structurally efficient. Because their densities vary, it is possible to exert control over the form and apertures of the balloon, which enables a single standard balloon size to produce flexible cavities. Because the inside of KnitCandela is made of a soft, colorful cloth, it stands in stark contrast to the outside, which is made of concrete. The simultaneous visibility of these two elements highlights the spatial experience, as well as the radial symmetry and curvatures of its sinuous shape. Despite the fact that the project is a showcase of the growing possibilities that digital design and fabrication provide, as well as the synthesis of modern processes with traditional craftsmanship, it has astonishingly changed the artistry of freeform concrete in the years to come! Take a look at the pictures on the website indiaartndesign.com. Freeform concrete, construction, experimental architecture, architecture, design, innovation, material exploration, digital design, fabrication, and are some of the related articles.
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