‘flatland: romance of many dimensions’ by casey hughes architects with hiroshi jacobs all images courtesy of casey hughes

california-based casey hughes architects in collaboration with washington-based designer hiroshi jacobs have created ‘flatland: a romance of many dimensions’ an installation found at the south balconies of gund hall at the  harvard graduate school of design. the concept was developed for a competition initiated by the harvard graduate school of design student forum and building services. 

casey hughes architects + hiroshi jacobs: flatland installation south balconies of gund hall, harvard

with 10,000 feet of custom-made red and blue bungee cord and 1,000 hardware connections,  sixty individual lines commence at the entrance on cambridge street and continue down the facade.  the idea is based on the concept of creating volume and form with a one dimensional surface.  the structure combines mathematical efficiency with economical sustainability and durability  resulting in a complex range of spaces that play with visual scale and enclosure. the form morphs  and alters with the changing of one’s vantage point, adding lightness and dynamism to an otherwise solid and fixed facade.  
 
the title comes from edwin a. abbot’s 1884 novel, about a two-dimentional world and a square  who discovers the world of three-dimensionality. 

casey hughes architects + hiroshi jacobs: flatland installation the 1/8 inch diameter red and blue bungee cord is used to create the installation 

casey hughes architects + hiroshi jacobs: flatland installationview from above 

casey hughes architects + hiroshi jacobs: flatland installationview from under the canopy 

casey hughes architects + hiroshi jacobs: flatland installationdetail of hardware 

casey hughes architects + hiroshi jacobs: flatland installation street view 

casey hughes architects + hiroshi jacobs: flatland installationstructural diagram