Lime Plaster

The design of the wall explores the symbiotic potential of voluminous plaster forms nestled within both an outer layer of intersecting bamboo poles and a bamboo reinforcement held within the castings. Nine-foot long poles of iron bamboo arranged in a visual pattern reveal the desired shape of each panel. Molding plaster was then cast onto stretched rubber membrane over the poles while held within a custom-built rectangular formwork. The weight of the plaster leveraged gravity causing the plaster to swell into catenary undulations in spaces between poles. Impressions of nodes and kinks from the bamboo used in the casting process are also transferred onto the plaster. These poles then became the outermost layer of the wall, representing a continuity of the design from the process of making to the final product.

During the fabrication phase, unique processes and parts were developed to facilitate the production of this experimental system. These include small-scale plaster strength tests, reusable formworks, a full-scale wall mockup, and custom aluminum brackets.