recognized for computational architecture projects — such as ‘digital grotesque I’ and ‘digital grotesque II’ –zurich-based architect and programmer michael hansmeyer premieres his latest project ‘muqarana mutation’ at the mori art museum, tokyo. as the center piece of the future and the arts exhibition, the 6 meter wide sculptural installation explores how ‘humanity will live tomorrow and what role art will play in the future.’

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image by kyunsub shin

 

 

muqarna mutation takes inspiration from the muqarna archetypes of historic islamic architecture. using the aid of computation and robotic fabrication, hansmeyer and his partnering engineering team, ROSO COOP created a successful intricate geometric algorithm to apply on a total of 15,000 extruded aluminum tubes and 300,000 tiles to achieve their final model. ‘the project explores how – in the context of the fourth industrial revolution – computation and robotic fabrication can bring the splendor of such a rule-based geometric art into the future.’ comments hansmeyer.

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image by kyunsub shin

 

 

‘standing beneath muqarna mutation, visitors are struck by a mix of bewilderment and curiosity: a disorientating sensory overload partially obfuscates the underlying compositional logic.’ states hansmeyer. ‘patterns are readily discernible as one changes perspectives, only to disappear again amidst the endless reflections.’

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image by kyunsub shin

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image by kyunsub shin

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image by kyunsub shin

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image courtesy of the mori art museum

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image courtesy of the mori art museum

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image courtesy of the mori art museum

michael hansmeyer 'automates' islamic architecture with muqarna mutation
image courtesy of the mori art museum

 

 

 

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project info:

 

project: muqarna mutation

architect: michael hansmeyer

museum: mori art museum, tokyo, japan

fabrication lead: yu-ting sheng (feng chia university), shih-yuan wang (national chiao tung university), meng hao (roboticplus)

structural support: chen-tung chen (YUMU), kuan-fan chen (FAS studio)

fabriation assistants: fei-fan sung, che-wei lin, wei-tse hung, yu-hsuan pang, chung-chieh cheng, yi-heng lu, nai-wei lai, chieh-i liu, chang-chin lee, shih-kai fan, yu-syuan wei, ching-yun tseng, ying-yu chen, yu-wei cheng, qin-fei liu, yen heng cheng

partners and sponsors: ROSO COOP – feng chia university, graduate institute of architecture – national chiao tung university roboticplus, nan pao resins chemical, YUMU manufacture and research, A.S. studio