doris sung: bloom at materials & applications

‘bloom’ by doris sung at materials & applications in los angeles, ca, usa image © brandon shigeta

the latest installation at the materials & applications courtyard, ‘bloom’ by los angeles-based architect doris sung in collaboration with ingalill wahlroos-ritter and matthew melnyk, is a 6-meter tall intervention constructed out of a metal skin that kinetically responds to the heat of the sun. the towering shade structure carves out a tubular volume within the outdoor space and is supported by a system of self-organizing cellular panels of laser-cut sheet metal.

street view at night image © brandon shigeta

based on research conducted by sung and wahlroos-ritter, the project explores the possibilities of thermally responsive metal surfaces which react to both the atmosperic temperature as well as direct solar exposure. when the temperature is cool, the panels are closed to render the structure as a solid object; as it gets warmer, the individual metal components adjust and fan out to facilitate air flow and increase shade potential. the project challenges and expands the current notion of surfaces in the realm of architecture.

in courtyard space image © brandon shigeta

interior surfaces of installation image © brandon shigeta

physical model image courtesy M&A

image courtesy M&A

3D model structural analysis image courtesy M&A

testing the material image courtesy M&A

full-scale model image courtesy M&A

during construction image courtesy M&A

detail of connection image courtesy M&A

first row image courtesy M&A

detail image courtesy M&A