A temporary canopy for Sqirl, a pop-up cafe and bakery in Los Angeles, this draped structure is the product of our research into interdependent tensile systems.

Unlike a series of isolated catenary curves, the strips are hung from only their outer edge. Each one is attached to its neighbors at its inner end, forming a contingent spiral based on the collective lengths and weight of all the strips.

The dimensions of each of the 98 strips were adjusted using a digital physics engine to produce a layered, twisting set of implied surfaces that both shelter a small courtyard and act as a dynamic beacon for the pop-up cafe.

Canopy Assembly

Plan

Project Team: David Freeland, Brennan Buck In collaboration with Christopher Connock