The Cone & The Cube : Two Lanterns

Two architectural installations, one as the second life of another: Supple Geometry and Congenial Geometry.

Supple Geometry is an investigation into architectural form-making, digital methodologies, and hands-on fabrication that culminated in a public installation of a large-scale, architectural object–a suspended, conical-shaped beacon–at the Church of Santa Cruz River Ferry Pier in the Kadeejeen Community, Thonburi, Thailand.

The beacon comprises nine overlapping & interlocking tiers of resin-cast shingles; each tier with a number of modular shingles unique to its own. Nine full-scale shingle prototypes are digitally fabricated for silicone mold fabrication; the modular shingle units are subsequently cast in translucent resin.

A collaborative design-build project with William O’ Brien Jr, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the MIT School of Architecture + Planning; conducted at the International Program in Design + Architecture (INDA), Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Congenial Geometry is a sequel to Supple Geometry.

The iteration re-casts new resin over recycled resin fragments of Supple Geometryembedding remnants of the giant, delicate cone-shaped beacon comprising 184 interlocking resin cast pieces within 0.40 x 0.40 x 0.40 m³ solar-powered, illuminated rigid cubes. Suspended geometry is now firmly grounded.

Congenial Geometry addresses the fundamental intent of making design approachable and relevant, shifting focus from form-making, geometrical complexity, and multiplicity of parts toward simplicity, singularity, and everyday functionality. The response is in the form of geometrically simple, durable, modular household/neighborhood objects that welcome human interaction, engage the sense of touch, and pop up around town to generate, or participate in, various urban scenes.

The installation is a part of the 100 Selected Projects Exhibition, under the theme Back to Basic, curated by the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage for its ASA Expo.