Students of the Spitzer school of Architecture at City College New York, undertook the design and fabrication of a pavilion to examine these questions within the framework of a built project. The design unfolded surrounding the realization of complex negative Gaussian curvature of hyperbolic surface geometry, specifically the hyperbola of revolution. In the design for a bench and seating structure the negative Gaussian curvature of the revolved surface provided additional canopy above this seating as it bent outwards from the inner hemisphere of the seating ring. Three tangential elliptical hyperbolas were nested together, one for the canopy, one for the seating surface and one for a raised display surface, allowing for a smooth oscillation into an asymmetric form. The radial egg-crate structure was chosen to serve as both a series of display cubbies for books and projects, but simultaneously to reinforce the modular assembly process.

 The Pavilion, features a system which allows for quick assembly and dis-assembly due to its clever use of woodworking joinery principles and mechanical fasteners. The 20 vertical ribs are broken into 10 structural bays, that are pre-assembled and can be carried to the site in question and then re-deployed. The seating and display surfaces feature a locking joint system, with a bezier curve overlap that allows for quick deployment. The project was celebrated by the students and faculty of the school and is currently on display on the third floor of the Spitzer School of Architecture's Atrium.

/  Project Team  

Jonathan A. Scelsa, Eliza Tan, Lenny Chen

/ Volunteers

Roman Hatnyanskyy, , Hector Santacruz, Dorota Kowalska, Ksneiya Linov, Nick Napoli, and Shola Owolewa

/ Project Info

/ Project Type - Folly Design Build 
/ Location - City College + Fresh Kills Park
/ Client - New York Parks and Recreation
/ Project Date - 2014