Terra I

Terra I is an installation designed by Mirco Becker for Bordel! a hairdresser salon in Berlin. Like a landscape the object forms a new ground. It resembles qualities found in low-polygon artwork, where a whole is made up of parts which cover a wide range of sizes and shapes. Still these differences cluster in certain areas and disperse in others as they emphasize the objects and details to depict.

Low-poly artwork by Matthias Beermann, SAC APD 2014

Terra I is comprised of 3.5 mm polygonal birch panels covering a wide range of shapes and sizes, connected by intricate 3D printed nodes. The humps, peaks, crevasse, and folds come in different intensities, pointing at certain directions such as the entrance, the lounge, the counter. The installation aims to add to the experience of the space where customers spend time while going through the stages of a new styling.

Terra I at Salon Bordel!

The form is digitally designed and all 90 polygons are constraint to be planar. The 130 connecting nodes are computer generated based on a design template. They meet the geometric requirements such as the angles between plates and width of the shadow gaps for each connection. In addition to these technical necessities they are individually detailed giving each node its unique ornamental fingerprint. All fabrication data for laser cutting of the plywood plates as well as 3D printing the nodes, is generated automatically off the design model.

Birch Plywood Panels and SLS Node Connectors

Each node is laser sintered (SLS) in polyamide and spray painted. The surfaces of the birch plywood plates are hand finished after laser cutting. All parts are assembled manually by putting each node in its specified location. The entire installation of around 11 m2 weights less than 30 kg.

Nodes

Assembly Detail

Quantitative Aesthetics – Shape Range Diagram