Flight Assembled Architecture, 2011-2012
FRAC Centre Orléans

Flight Assembled Architecture is the first architectural installation assembled by flying robots, free from the touch of human hands. The installation is an expression of a rigorous architectural design by Gramazio & Kohler and a visionary robotic system by Raffaello D’Andrea. Flight Assembled Architecture consists of over 1.500 modules which are placed by a multitude of quadrotor helicopters, collaborating according to mathematical algorithms that translate digital design data to the behavior of the flying machines. In this way, the flying vehicles, together, extend themselves as “living” architectural machines and complete the composition from their dynamic formation of movement and building performance. Within the build, an architectural vision of a 600m high “vertical village” for 30’000 inhabitants unfolds as model in 1:100 scale. This newly founded village is located in the rural area of Meuse, taking advantage of an existing TGV connection that brings its inhabitants to Paris in less than one hour. It is from this quest of an “ideal” self-sustaining habitat that the authors pursue a radical new way of thinking and materializing verticality in architecture, Flight Assembled Architecture.

For more information see:
Flight Assembled Architecture

Credits:
Gramazio & Kohler and Raffaello D`Andrea in cooperation with ETH Zurich


In Zusammenarbeit mit:
Professur Dr. Raffaello D'Andrea, Institut fĂĽr Dynamische Systeme und Regelungstechnik, ETH ZĂĽrich

Auftraggeber:
FRAC Centre (Co-Produzent)

Mitarbeiter:
Andrea Kondziela (Projektleitung), Sarah Bridges, Tim Burton, Thomas Cadalbert, Dr. Ralph Bärtschi, Peter Heckeroth, Marion Ott, Tanja Pereira, Dominik Weber, Dr. Jan Willmann

Ausgewählte Experten:
Windkanaltest: Professur fĂĽr Bauphysik Prof. Jan Carmeliet, ETH ZĂĽrich und Empa
Tragwerksplanung: Dr. LĂĽchinger + Meyer Bauingenieure AG
Fassadenplanung: Dr. LĂĽchinger + Meyer Bauingenieure AG
Energiekonzept: Amstein + Walthert AG

Sponsoren:
Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council, Centre Culturel Suisse Paris, Platform, Regroupement des Fonds régionaux d'art contemporain, Vicon Motion Systems, ERCO Leuchten GmbH, JET Schaumstoff - Formteile GmbH