rocker-lange blog

“I am very proud that we finally finished the installation of our upgrade for the Robotic Fabrication Lab at HKU. It took a while but the result has been rewarding.

“Here the official text:
The Robotic Fabrication Lab at the Faculty of Architecture of The University of Hong Kong has undergone a transformative expansion, showcasing cutting-edge advancements in the latest robotic fabrication technology.

“The Lab now proudly houses two large-scale robots mounted on tracks, representing a significant leap forward for the Faculty’s research activities in robotic fabrication. These state-of-the-art robots are equipped with diverse end-effectors that can be changed seamlessly and instantaneously, demonstrating remarkable application versatility.

“The introduction of these advanced robotic systems marks a pivotal moment for the Faculty’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation within the architectural field. Incorporating robots on tracks with quick-change mechanisms amplifies the scale of fabrication and enhances accessibility for our researchers and students.

“The Lab’s emphasis on adaptability is particularly significant, as the robots’ ability to swiftly switch between different functions – concrete printing, clay printing, pick & place solutions, welding, and many more – enables a broad spectrum of fabrication techniques for our various research activities. This versatility opens up new possibilities for architectural experimentation and pushes the boundaries of what can be achieved in terms of design complexity and material construction.

“The upgrade of the Lab has been initiated and planned by Christian J. Lange, Leader of the Robotic Fabrication Lab, together with team members Jacky Chu and Mono Tung.

“From more than 5,400 entries from 90 countries to Dezeen Awards this year, the tidal stool project is one of 15 sustainability projects that are in the running to win an award later this year in the sustainability categories.” Thanks to the team @ Robotic Fabrication Lab | Faculty of Architecture | The University of Hong Kong and at our collaborators at the Centre for Chinese Architecture and Urbanism, HKU.
So, if you have time, please vote for us!!!!!

For more information on the project, please use the following link:
https://www.dezeen.com/awards/2022/shortlists/tidal-stool/

To vote, please use the following link:
https://www.dezeen.com/awards/vote

Vote closes 10th October. Thank you!

I am thrilled to report that two projects that came out of the Robotic Fabrication Lab at HKU in the past two years have been long-listed in this year’s dezeen awards. The “Reformative Coral Habitat” project made it to the sustainable design list, while the Tidal stool has been selected for both the sustainable design category and the furniture design list. Congrats to the teams.

For more information on the projects, please use the following links:
www.dezeen.com/awards/2022/longlists/tidal-stool
www.dezeen.com/awards/2022/longlists/reformative-coral-habitats-reef-tiles

The Tidal Stool | A shoreline intervention through a robotic 3D terracotta printing method

I am happy to report the recent installation of a set of tidal stools on the shoreline of Kuk Po village, Sha Tau Kok, Hong Kong. The stool is part of a larger project on the revitalization of of the village and is a critical commentary on the common practice of how we deal with shorelines in Hong Kong.

Rather than separating through an artificial intervention, the project brings together two different ecologies, the anthropocentric and the natural environment. Both are the beneficiaries of its functional design approach. With its intricate spaces and crevices, the stool provides for many creatures hide-outs from predators and enhances the ecology of the shoreline. During high tide, the stool is partially submerged in the water. During the low tide, it invites the villagers and its visitors to take a break and enjoy the beach.

Overall, the team produced 30 unique stools with different heights for different users and varying degrees of surface complexity. The goal in producing the multiplicity of solutions was to understand which geometry would, in the end, perform best for the natural environment. All stools were produced using a standard industrial robot. The stools were made using a unique mix of terracotta clay, which is very suitable for natural habitats due to its Ph-level. So, in case the stools deteriorate over time, they get back to nature without any harm.

Funding body: Kuk Po Vision | Country Conservation Office

Project Credits:
Robotic Fabrication Lab | Faculty of Architecture | The University of Hong Kong

Christian J. Lange (Team Leader)
Weijen Wang (Team Leader)

Team:
Chen Zhaowei
Yin Fangyi
Chan Ching Yin

Finally this collaborative project between the Robotic Fabrication Lab and SWIMS at HKU moved out of the lab. The team in the Robotic Fabrication Lab was responsible for the design and the fabrication of the tiles, working hard to ensure an even quality of the tiles. Here you see loosely assembled 72 of the final 100 tiles which were delivered yesterday. Let’s hope they will perform well on Hong Kong’s seabed.