Blur Building by Diller & Scofidio

Read here about a building that featured a tensegrity-structured frame.

Overview

Blur Building Tension Structure Framework, by Diller and Scofidio

The Blur Building was a media pavilion built for Swiss Expo 2002 at the base of Lake Neuchatel in Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland. From piles in the water, a system of rectilinear struts and diagonal rods cantilevers out over the lake. Ramps and walkways weave through the system, some of them providing a counterweight for the structure. "It was an exhibition pavilion with nothing on display, except for our cultural dependency on vision," said Diller.

Tensegrity, Or Tensile Structure?

A series of vertical struts were suspended by tendons from the platform. Each strut was

Image Gallery

Blur building.

The building was clad in steam, avoiding the need to attached cladding to the tensile web.

The vertical masts are visible in this view from the approach walkway.

The mist was illuminated at night.

Each mast is held by 6 tendons. View from under the structure.

Closeup of the base of a mast. Each of the 6 tension members is affixed with bolts.

Plan, top view.

Plan, side view.

Vertical mast as seen from base.

The building from the air, clad in mist.

Details

• Temporary building name: Blur
• Location: Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland
• Architects: Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio
• Client: Swiss National Expo 2002
• Construction: Steel tensegrity structure, fog-making system
• Cost: $7.5 million
• Funding: Federal and corporate sponsorship
• Structural engineer: Passera & Pedretti
• Mechanical engineer: Toni Reisen
• AV collaborators: Ben Rubin and Scharff Weisberg
• Swiss partner: Stephan Gauer, G.I.M.
• Architectural partners: West-8 (Rotterdam), Morphing Systems (Zurich), Vehovar/Jauslin (Zurich)
• Project leader: Eric Bunge with Karin Ocker and Charles Renfro

Links and References

Diller and Scofidio website: http://www.dsrny.com/#/projects/blur-building%7Chttp://www.dsrny.com/#/projects/blur-building

Arcspace report: http://www.arcspace.com/architects/DillerScofidio/blur_building/%7Carcspace.com/architects/DillerScofidio/blur_building