Interlocking Membrane System

System Overview

The Interlocking Membrane System (IMS) was developed through experimental research on thin membranes.

Elastically bent polypropylene pieces can be cut into polygonal sheets and assembled with an interlocking connection. Two sheet types were tested: “YYY” (internal component) and “YY” (edge component), which can be assembled manually without the need for additional fasteners or adhesives. The connection of multiple sheets results in a surface that can approximate different curvatures while displaying a multi-layered tectonic and translucency under light. Additionally, a logic for standardizing triangular mesh faces was devised to limit the geometric variation between different pieces.

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Charge Field Pavilion

A prototype pavilion was designed to demonstrate the capabilities of the system as a ceiling addition in an existing space.

It was tailored for a double-height workshop in the QPB Building at Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City. Its geometry aims to enhance the current lighting setup of the space through a single undulating element that frames the 6 existing luminaries.

A workflow was developed to integrate all aspects of the design: surface edge forming, mesh generation and relaxation, mapping of piece locations and the generation of laser cutting DXF files. The pavilion was not built due to the Covid pandemic restrictions.