social carpet by virginia sanfratello from usa

The social carpet is a seating structure, a conversation pit, a functional sculpture, a reading room and a lounge. It is intended to be space for gathering that facilitates intercommunication and networking. It is a combination of a carpet floor and a series of furniture components including: chair, chaise, table and sofa that are fully integrated into the “carpet” as a sinlge large scale construct. Because the social carpet is a combination of floor and furniture it questions the traditional relationship between architecure as structure and space definer and furniture as object
The social carpet, at the scale shown here, is 20 feet by 20 feet square and composed of approximately 650 layers of 3/8” , 40 oz, 100% recycled synthetic fibers from such sources as carpet, yarn, and fiber and is environmentally responsible. The carpet padding is economical, extremely dense, and stable. Synthetic fiber padding is high strength and will retain its density and resist breakdown from moisture and wear, it can be vacuum cleaned or sprayed down with a water hose. It resists mildew and can be treated to resist bacteria, it is non toxic and non allergenic. Additionally, it will provide added thermal and acoustical insulation to the space in which it is located.
The social carpet was modeled using 3D software, the model was then cut by using the “contour” tool into the 650 pieces that make up the final construct. The pieces are essentially patterns, very similar to a clothing pattern, that will be sent to a pattern drafting software program that analyzes the order, determines the pattern pieces, size, and alterations needed, then creates a text file to drive off-the-shelf CAD software that collects, grades, and alters the patterns, then sends them to automatic marker making and cutfile generation. The cutfile is then sent to a computer numerically controlled machine which cuts the patterns out at full scale. The pattern cutting software in this case determined that the final construct could be made of only 14 profiles, the dimesions of which are seen in the drawing to the right. The form and size of the social carpet can be modified, morphed or transformed to suit the needs of an individual and the CAD patterning software will automatically generate the appropriate pattern pieces for the cutfile.
This method of fabrication suggests that large scale architectural constructs can be mass produced, mass customized and tailored to suit the end user using existing software, hardware and materials that here to fore has only been used in other construction industries. Not only does the cross pollination of different design industries breed new products that could potentially enhance our lives but it opens the door to sharing fabrication techniques that eliminate waste and breed new uses for old materials and offers new methods of construction.