the silk pavilion by MIT media lab

developed by the mediated matter research group at the MIT media lab, ‘the silk pavilion’ explores the relationship between digital and biological fabrication on product and architectural scales. the primary structure was created of 26 polygonal panels made of silk threads laid down by a CNC machine. influenced by the silkworm’s ability to generate a three-dimensional cocoon out of a single multi-property silk thread, the overall geometry of the intervention was created using an algorithm that assigns a single continuous thread across patches providing various degrees of density. a swarm of 6,500 silkworms were positioned at the bottom rim of the scaffold, spinning flat non-woven silk patches as they locally reinforced the gaps across CNC-deposited silk fibers. 

‘silk pavilion’
video courtesy mediated matter group

the silk pavilion explores the relationship between digital and biological fabrication on product and architectural scales

the primary structure was created of 26 polygonal panels made of silk threads laid down by a CNC machine

the overall geometry of the pavilion influenced by the silkworm’s ability to generate a three-dimensional cocoon out of a single multi-property silk thread

overall density variation was informed by the silkworm itself deployed as a biological printer in the creation of a secondary structure

a swarm of 6,500 silkworms spin across CNC-deposited silk fibers

the silkworms positioned at the bottom rim of the scaffold

silk work spin-model

silk work spin-model

silk worm spin-range calculation

sun path diagram mapping solar trajectories

project info:

research and design: mediated matter research group at the MIT media lab
team: markus kayser, jared laucks, carlos david gonzalez uribe, jorge duro-royo and neri oxman (director).
collaborators: prof. fiorenzo omenetto (TUFTS university) and dr. james weaver (WYSS institute, harvard university)

via creativeapplications