300 words intrdouction

Subdivided Columns - A New Order (2010)

Michael Hansmeyer’s “Subdivided Columns” utilise subdivision processes to produce columns with unique and intricate ornamental surfaces. What makes these columns significant though is that 

Hansmeyer  is not simply designing a column through traditional means but instead employing digital technology to produce a generative process which can then be used numerous times with different parameters to reshape and reform endless sets of columns In a sense he is creating a means to design. To be able to fully realise his work Hansmeyer has to consider digital fabrication methods to bring his work to fruition. To materialise his columns Hansmeyer utilised laser cutting technology, By sectioning his columns into face planes, calculations are then made so that the laser cutter cuts out the intricate shapes while leaving sections for the faces to be stacked on top of each other forming the column shape. Through close analysis of Hansmeyer’s  “Columns” theoretical theories can be linked to form the basic understanding of this project. From a purely visual standpoint “hyper surface” and ornamental properties can be extracted from the work. If a hyper surface is defined as relying heavily on digital technology to apply a 3D built surface to a 2D plane it can be observed that Hansmeyer's columns get a stark amount of visual depth and topological significance from this application of the digital to construct his structures. Focusing on the structure itself, design processes such as morphogenesis and emergence become apparent. As the structure evolves through its use of digital design processes such as its algorithmic based process and generation of form through digital fabrication this begins to mimic the core ideas behind morphogenic theories where a structure is brought to fruition through its progressive designs processes (i,e from sketch, to (digital) models, to final structure). And  if Emergence can be defined as a collection of independent  individual components working in unison to reach a final form (i,e termites creating a termite mound) parallels can be made between emergence and Hansmeyer’s implementation of stacking individual laser cut faces to build up the complex form of the columns.