The summit of the most recent eighththht batch of SmartLABS’ accomplishments was unveiled on February 3rd 2024, at the ArtBuzz exhibition hall in Okhla, New Delhi. The Showcase exhibition not only marked the successful conclusion of passionate student endeavours but also demonstrated the programme’s unwavering commitment to continually pushing the boundaries of design pedagogies.
Project Name: Showcase 8.0
Studio Name: SmartLABS
At the heart of SmartLABS is the ideology of in-depth, experimental design pedagogies for parametric design and fabrication that empowers the students to navigate the intricate landscape of computational knowledge. The presentation was a testament to their creative prowess, featured a diverse array of 3D printed installations, CNC embeddings, and waffle assemblies, showcasing the explorations carried out by students in the discipline of fabrication. All of the installations were designed by students themselves using parametric software taught within the six month curriculum.
An exchange between ratLAB studio team and SmartLABS students also helped in achieving the final forms of several models displayed at the exhibition. Numerous concepts and themes were explored throughout the course among which biomimicry was an interesting realm to be explored in the field of computational design which, on the contrary, is entirely artificial. The objective was to develop a synergy between biomimicry and parametrics by integrating nature-inspired principles with algorithm-driven design for innovative solutions.
Of the several remarkable models that made the viewers stop in their trail in this showcase, a primary piece was the intricately woven cellular structure depicting a suspended lighting
installation. An intriguing model crafted by joining over 250 folded pieces of paper, the
composition was designed within Grasshopper. The model was realized through collaborative efforts from everyone in the lab.
The concept behind this unique model was to attempt combinations of modified surface
shapes and distinct lofted scaled surfaces within hexagonal units. These surfaces were then
suspended from the ceiling by five hanging supports. The fabrication process includes lasercutting individual units, which are then folded, numbered and assembled to form the
complete morphed structure resulting in a compelling interplay of light and shadow. The
chosen material was matte ivory sheet with a thickness of 250 GSM.
