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Carbon Fiber Structures / NY, Sydney
MODU, University of Technology Sydney
Research & Protoype
2015 - 2016





Flexing Structure Model (2016)



MODU has conducted research of carbon fiber structures that are adaptable to the environment. Air Columns explores the idea of a “flexing structure,” which creates structures that react to—rather than resist—the forces of wind. The advanced structural material of carbon fiber is ten times stronger than steel and five times lighter. While traditional structural systems are designed to be “hard” enough to resist dynamic wind forces, carbon fiber—with its very high strength to weight ratio—offers the possibility of rethinking the definition of structure and its relationship to the environment. Air Columns relies on bundles of rods for strength so that the system flexes without breaking.

Awards: Winner, 2019 Emerging Voices Award
Project Team: Phu Hoang, Rachely Rotem, Kamilla Csegzi, Jonathan Izen, Alex Loh





Doppelganger (2016)
To further the carbon fiber research, a series of experimental workshops have been conducted by MODU and the University of Technology Sydney (with William Feuerman). The Doppelgänger structure (2016) was constructed with two structural rings that transformed from a dividing wall to a roof canopy. In its wall form, Doppelganger divided the space between two individuals: the structure was lifted to form a small canopy, creating a social gathering space.



Collaborator: University of Technology Sydney (with William Feuerman, Director)
Awards:  Winner, 2019 Emerging Voices Award
Winner, Structural Innovation in Architecture
Winner, 2017-18 NEA US-Japan Program




Whiteout (2015)
Whiteout (2015) created a micro-scale public space to host discussions. The pavilion flexed and changed shape to reflect changing conversations. The structural bases on rollers, which also served as moving seats, changed the structure’s appearance at it hosted different kinds of conversations—closer together or further apart. The white fabric surface was embedded with thousands of fiber rods that allowed the surface to compress and expand; in a similar way, the large carbon fiber arches flexed and stretched with the enclosure.


2016 Project Team: MODU: Phu Hoang, Rachely Rotem; UTS: William Feuerman (Director), Dane Voorderhake (Assistant Lecturer) UTS Students: Marty Bowen, Lorri Chan, Lewis Chen, Shahar Cohen, Liam Corr, David De Boos, Rita Fares, Huijie Gu, Isobel Hall, Alice He, Adam Hoh, Aliaa Issa, Erik Jorgensen, Pareena Lertsurawat, Minchao Liu, Rachael O’Toole, Wanqing Zhao, Michael Zhi Teoh, Jeffrey Tighe, Anderson Trieu, Gabrielle Veringa, Lauren Watson
2016 Credits: Michael Richards (Materials Consultant), Daisy Zheng (Photography), Abdul Moeez (Photography)
2015 Project Team: MODU: Phu Hoang, Rachely Rotem; UTS: William Feuerman (Director), Endriana Adisho (Assistant Lecturer) UTS Students: Michelle Beck, Natasha Bonney, Zoey Chen, Tran Tuan Anh Dang, Prudence Duncan, Zoe Horn, Altaf Khan, Connor Mackenzie, Jake Paraskaeva, James Quinn, Shaun Ramodien, Jean-Claude Saliba, Raymond Shalala, Oliver Solente, Michael Stewart, Jeffrey Tighe, Jessica Tse, Michelle Vassiliou, Dane Voorderhake
2015 Credits: Michael Richards (Materials Consultant), Oly Begg (Photography)