For a number of years, German architect Chris Bosse has based his work on the computerised study of certain structures with particular forms. His aim: to bring down the boundaries between architectural and structural design. Ingluenced by the work of Frei Otto, he is fascinated by the elegance, efficiency and complexity of primitive micro-organisms, such as coral, sponge and radiolarians.

Bosse, who has been working with PTW Architects since 2002, first exploited his research to create “bubble highrise” in Berlin, a skyscraprer composed of bubble-shaped modules. Later, together with the team PTW/Arup/Ccdi he applied the same method to the modular structure of the National Swimming Centre in Beijing pending due to be completed for the 2008 Olympics.

In reality, Bosse’s “genetic architecture”, stems from a sophisticated computerised system that simulates the natural development of these organisms through complex algorithmic calculations. The latest result of his research is the Paradise Pavilion, part of the exhibition “Entry 06” running until the 3 December at the Zeche Zollverein in Essen. The study related to form is just one aspect of the overall work. The pavilion (which weighs just 17 kilograms) consists of a soft and flexible skeleton made with special high tech nylon that makes it completely demountable and transportable in a medium sized bag, requiring just an hour to reassemble. E.S.

https://www.chrisbosse.de
https://www.ptw.com.au