Darwin Bucky, the prefabricated dome-like structure, is a collaborative project of The House of MJ and Ahmedabad-based architectural firm Andblack Design Studio. The initial idea was to build a gallery in a box that was equally impressive as the artwork, turning it into an on-site gallery that could exhibit the artwork in various locations. Being able to fit into a container and transport it all over the world while preserving the artwork contained within.
A ‘Permanently Impermanent’ Structure
The project’s goal was to build a structure that could be disassembled and transported for displaying art, performing concerts, or serving as a theater. The criteria were to fit a 10m span and 6m height structure into a 6m container because the structure was intended to be easily transported around the world. Because temporary structures are the future, Darwin Bucky was created as a prefabricated set of elements that can be dry-assembled on-site. Unlike conventional buildings, the structure does not require large machinery or cranes to be set up, nor does it require a plinth to be built on.
A Spectacular Dome-shaped ‘Tent’
Darwin Bucky adopts a computational model that enables customization along with developments in technology in the areas of design and materiality. A distinctive shell structure made of 1 mm-thick folded metal sheets allowed for a large, column-free space measuring 520 cubic meters. The tectonics permit a 116-square-meter open floor plan and a dynamic silhouette that breaks up the monotony of the interior environment and surrounding environment.
The insulated panels form a dynamic triangular façade with the ideal acoustics for a functional black box theater when they are joined together. As the ridges of the sheets transmit load, serve as electrical conduits, and provide ambient lighting, all services are integrated to create a distinctive structure that is adaptable to any climatic situation. Also includes special joinery for waterproofing.
Bucky is intended to enclose a space with half the material required by traditional buildings. For easy transportation, lightweight, insulated modular panels are constructed and flat-packed. The conical form and triangulated planes on the fascia, in addition to skeletal stability.
Collaboration with the local arts
The project was developed by a diverse group of computational designers and digital fabricators, but the art created by the Pithora painters provided a distinctive viewpoint. Bhils are India’s second-largest tribal group, with fabulous folk art called Pithora paintings. Pithora artist Sher Singh Bhabhor and his wife, Shiva Bai, created Brahmani, a lizard on the dome’s exterior that depicts a story about how the lizard consumes small insects and keeps them from entering the house. The top of the structure features an impressive artwork of a monkey in green that blends flawlessly with the surrounding trees.
A Prefab Parametric Structure
The Darwin Bucky Gallery is a prefab, dome-shaped ‘tent’ that is anchored to the ground. The process of prefabrication eliminated the need for traditional “stick-building” construction and, among many other benefits, reduced waste. A chamber that is insulated, column-free, and air-conditioned is created by welding together metal sheets that have been laser-cut and folded into a 1 mm thickness.
The structure has a built-in sound, lighting, and display system that can be powered by an external source.
It may be built or dismantled in a shipping container in a matter of weeks and stored or transferred. It is intended to be temporarily or permanently installed in public parks, exhibition grounds, or even city centers. The gallery uses parametric design and prefabricated manufacturing and, as a result, has the inherent ability to be scaled up or down without significantly altering the construction process. Its diameter can range from 11 to 18 meters.
Darwin Bucky engaged a computational model that allows for customization, with each factor coded as independent variables. The adaptability of the parametric system allows for the development of multiple iterations by varying the size from 12m to 18m and selecting its form as a single unit or multiple interconnected units.
Bucky clusters could be made by interconnecting multiple units and were made to order in two sizes: 11m diameter (6 m height) and 18m diameter (9.5 mm height). The latest version has a transparent roof, a kinetic light ring, and an extra secondary door. Furthermore, the artists can use this dynamic area to create several display, stage, and audience engagement setups. With each visit, all of the components combine to create a different experience for the audience.
Reducing Unnecessary Footprints
The built environment accounts for 40% of worldwide CO2 emissions. Construction activities generate 27% of total emissions each year, while infrastructure materials account for an additional 13%. Embracing the path of sustainable development, the architects worked on the notion of cohabiting with nature rather than inhabiting it, so that we do not adversely impact future generations by leaving redundant footprints.
Insulated modular panels were employed under the principles of sustainable development, which seek to lessen resource consumption and waste production. The parametric metal tent is designed as a prefabricated kit of lightweight panels that can be quickly flat-packed for effective storage and transportation and dry-assembled on-site. This eliminates the need for a platform plinth and heavy machinery for excavation, construction, and transportation.
The use of insulated modular panels not only reduces resource consumption and waste production but also ensures energy efficiency by providing excellent thermal insulation. Additionally, the lightweight nature of the panels allows for easy customization and adaptability, making it possible to create versatile and sustainable structures for various purposes.
Citations-
Shah, D. (2021) Parametric design and prefabrication meet to create a gallery in a box, STIRworld. Available at: https://www.stirworld.com/see-features-parametric-design-and-prefabrication-meet-to-create-a-gallery-in-a-box (Accessed: 10 September 2023).
Caballero, P. (2022) Darwin Bucky Gallery and Theatre / andblack design studio, ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/990764/darwin-bucky-gallery-and-theatre-andblack-design-studio?ad_medium=gallery (Accessed: 10 September 2023).
