China

It is a novel idea to interpret “fiber structure” with “building construction”. 

“Buildings” are solid and can bear load, while “fibers” are soft, light, thin and elastic, but cannot support heavy weight. Therefore, FCJZ starts from the features of materials to explore the ways to turn fiber materials into a self-supporting structure and to construct a light-weight arch for people to rest. 

Among all types of fibers, we use the very thin and translucent paper-105g/m2 translucent Tyvek material, which is as soft and light as ordinary paper. As a type of polymer material, it is characterized by its toughness, water-proof quality and high tensile strength. The exhibition space is open and bright, and the continuous paper arch provides a long and curved covering space. The paper presents translucent texture under direct sunshine, enables the viewers both in and out of the art work to perceive each other through the translucent space.

Desired structure can be constructed by folding a piece of paper. However, as the arch size is enlarged, the paper sheet cannot bear the weight while folds emerges in the axis of the arch under the action of internal force, which cause stress concentration and thus the whole deformation. Based on the force analysis of the folded structure, we use the paper itself to bear the tension by taking advantage of the characteristics of the material. Meanwhile, thin wooden battens are woven into the creases to bear the whole weight depending on their compression-resistant feature.

The battens are made from paulownia wood, one of the lightest wood in China with the air-dry density of only 0.3 g/cm³, which normally is not used as building material for it is too soft and fraigile. The size of the batten is 5mm*8mm of cross section and one-metre long, it is easily bent and cannot bear the load alone due to its large deflection. But when these battens work with the paper, the folding paper pulls the battens from the wings perpendicular to the axial direction, thereby enhancing the stability of the battens. And stable battens give full play to the axial compression-resistant characteristic, preventing the paper from the axial fold. Paper and wood are strengthened by each other and form the structural system by the folding structure.

Through the structure like a folding fan, the materials become complementary to each other. Two light-weight materials that seem impossible to stand on themselves alone achieve an integrated structure of light-weight arch.