Robert le Ricolais’s Tensegrity Models – ‘The Art of Structure is Where to Put the Holes’

Robert le RicolaisAutomorphic Compression Member & Automorphic Tube Model – Robert le Ricolais

Robert le Ricolais’s wire-frame tensegrity structures may well stand as sculptural artworks in their own right. His finely crafted forms appear to have a remarkable lightness, insinuating objects of flight, part kite, part airship skeleton. Their balanced forms create a meditative aerodynamic aesthetic, implying propulsion or rotation. Some, throwing their graphic wire-frame shadows into space, defy gravity through their nearly-not-thereness.

Robert le RicolaisDouble Parabolic Trihex Bridge for the Skyrail – Robert le Ricolais

Robert le RicolaisDouble Parabolic Trihex Bridge for the Skyrail – Robert le Ricolais

Robert le RicolaisFunicular Polygon of Revolution Lemniscate – Robert le Ricolais

Robert le RicolaisAleph Bridge – Robert le Ricolais

Robert le RicolaisFunicular Polygon of Revolution Pseudosphere – Robert le Ricolais

Robert le RicolaisOmega Tower for 19 Power Lines – Robert le Ricolais

The models were brought to light in the mid 90’s by one of Ricolais previous students, professor Peter McCleary, for an exhibition of the architects works. They had been grounded and captive in various storerooms for over 20 years. Ricolais [1894-1977], like Buckmister Fuller, was interested in structural morphology defined by tensional integrity of natural structures – the ubiquitous soap bubble and sea shell. Ricolais ‘fantasized of going inside a rope to find a new way to realize his central vision of zero weight and infinite span’ Rather than the accretion of ideas to layer complex forms of analysis, Ricolais preferred to work in the opposite direction, simulating the Buddhist mindset – ‘the art of structure is where to put the holes’.

Robert le RicolaisPolyten Bridge – Robert le Ricolais

Robert le RicolaisRe-tensionned Monkey Saddle – Robert le Ricolais

Robert le RicolaisStarhex Dome – Robert le Ricolais

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Yuri Avvakumov – Agitarch Structures: Reconfiguring Utopia
The Architectural Fantasies of Iakov Chernikhov
Drop City – Colonizing consciousness with abodes of Truncated Icosorhombic Dodecahedra

3 Responses to “Robert le Ricolais’s Tensegrity Models – ‘The Art of Structure is Where to Put the Holes’”

  1. Stephen Zdepski writes:

    Funicular Polygon of Revolution Lemniscate – Robert le Ricolais. We conceived and constructed this model in 1969-70 with another Kahn Master’s Studio student from South America. The goal was to create a beam which would deflect upward when loaded, and it did under testing.

  2. Nick writes:

    Stephen,

    If you have any documentation of this, I’d love to see it. Furthermore, should you have or know of any further reading of Le Ricolais’ work, please let us know!

  3. Stephen Zdepski writes:

    Unfortunately the Structures Lab rarely documented the testing. Other than a few black and white photos and the model itself at Penn, there is little if any other material. Prof. Le Ricolais was an enthusiastic champion of discovery and experimentation. Most of the models were directed at “minimum weight and maximum span,” Ours was an attempt to answer if beams could be loaded downward, and react upward. The model did, although many of the reasons why remain a mystery.

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