RUBI LAB

Referencing traditional windbreak shelters in agricultural landscapes, the HoloWall is a repository of cultural traces for the emblematic and utilitarian windbreak walls that protect livestock and buildings. The branching wall sits loosely between trees on the Arts Quad to provide shelter from prevailing wind from the west across the valley. The design explores the coupling of augmented reality (AR) technologies with non-uniformly sized lumber to develop a digitally informed and customized hollow-core cross-laminated timber (HCCLT) wall assembly. Upcycling salvaged barn and dimensional lumber from our local landscape, the installation's material language of lamination peels away in calibrated gradients to create lattice-like moments generating porosity for views and structural performance. Likewise, the lamination thickens on the east side to incorporate seating for user interactions. In a socially distanced landscape, the work seeks to provide a space where dialogue can be shared by individuals seated across the wall where light and sound are filtered through the perforated layers.

Partially funded by: THE Cornell Council for the Arts Faculty Grant