Self-morphing frustrated composite materials offer a new approach to mouldless fabrication of surfaces of complex geometries in architectural design. This paper presents a detailed case study on the integration of self-morphing frustrated composite materials into architectural design. While composite materials have found extensive application in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and architecture due to their favourable strength-to-weight ratio, their conventional fabrication processes rely on custom moulds, leading to sustainability concerns. Self-morphing is a new approach that leverages the intrinsic properties of the material and its internal architecture to autonomously generate 3D shapes through geometrical frustration, potentially eliminating the need for moulds. The research showcases an application of frustrated composites at an architectural scale, as an indoor partition, ‘The Swirl’, exhibited at the London Design Biennale 2023. Through this case study, the paper examines the entire pipeline for frustrated composites and focuses on key issues: rationalisation, panelisation, patterning, and fabrication. The paper introduces and addresses the fundamental challenges of frustrated materials in architectural practice, providing insights for further innovation in the field. 

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When: August 2024

Where: IASS annual conference, Zurich Switzerland

With: Gal Kapon