Density Fields by Oyler-Wu Collaborative

published Aug 15, 2007
Density Fields by Oyler-Wu Collaborative
Opening October 12, 2007 an "extreme cantilever" built from aluminum and silicon tubing will hover over the courtyard of Materials & Applications (M&A) in Silver Lake, Los Angeles.

This structure is an outdoor installation created by Sci-Arc professors Dwayne Oyler and Jenny Wu, called Density Fields.

Defying classification as either sculpture or architecture, the piece will flex with a gesture that extends imaginary lines of force beyond the small courtyard, seeming to pierce buildings and features in the neighborhood.

The primary structural question Oyler-Wu Collaborative asked is, "What makes the idea of using lines different in terms of their structural properties?"

The idea addresses tensile properties, thereby limiting the structural possibilities, but also allows for a more specific way of designing that exploits tensile strength.

This line of inquiry led them to a structural principle that utilizes a dense field of lines.

The installation consists of two basic materials: (1) an aluminum frame extending up from the ground and out into the space, and (2) a series of fine, tensioned cables pulling the cantilever in the opposite direction -- forcing it to hover above the ground.