Swirl is more than a building: it is a material inquisition. It takes concrete’s ability to form hyperbolic shapes and questions how it could be replicated using wood. Since hyperbolic forms are ruled surfaces and can be described as a single line moving through space, wood can achieve that type of form through a rotational system. By experimenting with a series of wooden study models, I developed different rotation systems defined by different material parameters that created unique geometries. I then experimented with different ways of expanding the system and aggregating it to create hierarchy and composition. The abstract wooden forms transformed into an exhibition building full of natural light and directed views guided by the building’s swirling form.
