Erosion-Based Morphologies

Erosion-based fabrication processes, which result from the mobilization, transportation and accumulation of material by a flowing medium, are by nature not entirely linear or predictable. In contrast to conventional fabrication methods, these dynamic formation processes develop over time and a certain indeterminacy and unpredictability is even preferred.
Conventional subtractive methods operate on the paradigm of precision, calculability and determinability. Based on the linearity of their computationally controlled setup, their methods and protocols are completely defined and result in a given and predictable final outcome. 
The application of erosion-based processes as a manufacturing methodology is relatively rare as these processes cannot be controlled entirely using conventional design and fabrication methods. The relevance for the application of such non-standard fabrication methods is that geometric patterns and structures can be achieved that cannot be created with any other standard method.
The aim of the seminar is to investigate the potential for using these processes as form-generating methods and to broaden their scope of application as a fabrication methodology in the field of architecture.
We will begin with a series of material experiments to investigate the potentials of these dynamic formation processes as a fabrication technique and/or formwork method and participants will start to develop novel methods for designing with these non-standard processes. The research findings will be brought together for a final larger scale prototype.