MADELINE PRICKETT
FINAL THESIS: GIMMICK
I have worked on this project for 1 1/2 years. The vision created at the beginning of this project was that is should be built 'For and By the Students'. In my final thesis I did research on two aspects: the new role and position of the Architect and designing a new technique of using bamboo as a light weight supporting structure.
Role/Position of Architects
In the future we need to redefine the term 'Architect' as it is necessary to create new work-models and learn to become active enterperneurs. For this project, students from different studies were brought together to bring a broader insight in searching for a meaning of what Gimmick should be for the students.
A Schedule of Requirements was created using the Design Thinking Methode with the following question: 'What is the meaning of Gimmick for students?" This resulted in a building where students are given chances and opportunities to develop personal as well as professional interests in becoming self-sufficient and self-enterprising.
Bamboo Construction
For my final thesis, I researched bamboo as an alternative construction material for hardwood accoording to Dutch regulations.
A desirable characteristic of bamboo is that it grows extremely fast. Within 3-4 months it has reached it's full height and within 3-6 years it can be used for construction purposes. The two bamboo types: Moso and Guadua can hold 5-7 times more pressure than hardwood.
The disadvantage of bamboo is that it tends to bend due to it's low elastic modulus. For this reason I've looked at combining both wood and bamboo in the Gimmick construction. The wooden beam holds the compessive forces while the bamboo carries the tension forces. A catenary construction technique (hammock) is used for the beams and columns.
