Bloom

by Doris Sung and Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter with Matthew Melnyk

This latest installation will transform the Materials & Applications courtyard through a collaboration between Los Angeles architects Doris Sung, Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter and structural engineer Matthew Melnyk. A 20 foot tall shiny metal 'flower' who's skin will open and close with the heat of the sun and provide a unique and exciting experience for the thousands of visitors to this unique art laboratory.

'Bloom' will spring into being at M&A's exhibition space in Silver Lake in October. The project has been in development for over a year. Construction begins soon. The installation will become a towering shade structure supported by a self-organizing cellular panel system of laser cut custom fabricated sheet metal.

The M&A exhibit courtyard has been a test-bed for innovative ideas from emerging architects and artists since 2002. This compact urban site emphasizes public participation and interaction with the most challenging and compelling concepts in architecture, design and the arts. 'Bloom' furthers the evolution of projects in the M&A courtyard by utilizing a material that has kinetic potential without the need of a power source or any mechanical parts. It may also be the largest project built to date. The demanding installation process is being fully documented and shared with the public each step of the way.

The design of the project, based on research by Sung and Wahlroos-Ritter, explores the possibilities of a thermally responsive metal surface which reacts to both the change in temperature and direct solar radiation. When the temperature of the metal is cool, the surface will appear as a solid object, once the afternoon heat penetrates the metal, the panels of custom woven bimetal will adjust and fan out to allow air flow and increase shade potential. The thermo-bimetal alloys used in the project expand the notion of surface and structure in architecture.

Using experimental parametric techniques to develop the design, the team investigated the possible forms that the materials would allow whilst maintaining their conversation with broader issues of light, heat and urban space. The installation's innovative monocoque structure of hypar panels will be held aloft by an equally impressive foundation made of 1/2" thick experimental, slumped glass panels, which will provide the necessary structural stability and weight for overall optimization. Set to open in less than two months, the installationwill follow the tradition that Materials & Applications is well known for by including public events and kicking off with a massive party for the opening.