NOPA
Size
3m x 3m x 3m
Location
Santralistanbul, Bilgi University, Istanbul
Date
August 2017
Collaboration
NOPA - Non Orthogonal Planar Assemblies - International Summer School was organized by Istanbul Bilgi University and was supported by ETH Zurich and NCCR Digital Fabrication from Switzerland. Program coordinators from Istanbul Bilgi University were Prof. Dr. Şebnem Yalınay Çinici and Dr. Evren Aysev Deneç. The tutors from Istanbul Bilgi University were Cemal Koray Bingöl, Gamze Gündüz and Leyla İlman including the collaborators, Oğul Öztunç and Hülya Oral. The tutors and lecturers from ETH Zurich and NCCR Digital Fabrication were Selen Ercan, David Jenny, Orkun Kasap and Luka Piskorec including the guest crits and lecturers Hannes Mayer from ETH Zurich and Dr. Ralph Bärtschi from ROB Technologies AG. The students of the International Summer School were Aylin Güler, Foad Sarsangi, Nilay Öztürk, Meryem N. Yabanigül, Mevan Bacgeroğlu, Emre Taş, Berk Ekmen, Bilge Kardelen Bekiroğlu, Derya Çiftnamlı, Parhes Deni Çakıridis, Deniz Hüray Tuğcu, Ecem Kırtaş, Saadet Yüncü, Semen Tanrıverdi, İlayda Turan, Hüsnü Yücel and İsmail Kocataş.
The summer school NOPA was a unique opportunity for all participants to experience the complete digital chain. Firstly initial design variations were developed using computational tools. Second, building strategies and the final design were refined through physical testing and in regards to the fabrication constraints. Third, the final construction was executed using digital fabrication tools, namely a versatile robotic arm. These tools allowed for the design and fabrication of a non-standard but continuous structure, in a fabrication cell that is smaller than the structure itself, using standard building elements. The result is a pavilion that refers to the logic of the digital rather than to today’s conventional design and construction processes, although all elements used, such as conventional timber slats and screws, can be bought off-the-shelf.
The new robotic fabrication facilities of Bilgi University offered a seamless integration of computational design paradigms with cutting-edge production methods. As such, participants were able to explore new design interfaces, constructive methods, materials and coordinated robotic fabrication processes.