2024-05-02T14:48:02-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150141608/brazilian-architect-m-rcio-sequeira-s-latest-mola-structural-kit-makes-understanding-the-structural-behavior-of-buildings-fun Katherine Guimapang 2019-06-17T11:19:00-04:00 >2024-03-15T01:45:58-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/1c/1c9a127f5a596474a7b7d322d7f39ca4.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Before launching the Mola Structural Kit 1 in 2014, Brazilian architect M&aacute;rcio Sequeira spent ten years developing the Molar design model before it hit the market. He initially came up with the <a href="https://molamodel.com/pages/info" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mola Structural Model</a>&nbsp;while he was a postgraduate student in architecture school. Since then, Mola has not only become Brazil's most successful crowdfunded campaign, it has found its way into classrooms and major universities across like <a href="https://archinect.com/mitarchitecture" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MIT</a>, <a href="https://archinect.com/schools/cover/14027592/cole-polytechnique-f-d-rale-de-lausanne-epfl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">&Eacute;cole Polytechnique F&eacute;d&eacute;rale de Lausanne (EPFL)</a>, and Technical University Madrid (UPM). In 2016, Sequeira and his team launched a second campaign, <a href="https://archinect.com/news/article/149980650/the-toy-like-mola-structural-kit-allows-architects-to-experiment-with-structural-engineering" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mola 2</a>. The goal was to help fund the production of additional products and expand the line.&nbsp;</p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/f9/f99d2dd5b2dad4fefbc52e30fdfa054d.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/f9/f99d2dd5b2dad4fefbc52e30fdfa054d.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Mola Structural Kit 1 launched in 2014 and Kit 2 launched in 2016. Image &copy; Mola Structural Model</figcaption></figure><p>Now the company releases its latest model, the&nbsp;<a href="https://molamodel.com/products/mola-structural-kit-3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mola Structural Kit 3</a>. According to the Mola team, the kits are used as"a learning tool with a modular construction system that allows those interested in architecture to easil...</p> https://archinect.com/news/article/149980650/the-toy-like-mola-structural-kit-allows-architects-to-experiment-with-structural-engineering Julia Ingalls 2016-11-29T14:02:00-05:00 >2018-01-30T06:16:04-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/q0/q0ja4hzy67i0o79k.jpeg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>How can architects determine if their designs are structurally sound? Aside from consulting with a professional structural engineering firm, the Mola Structural Kit offers a playful way to test out the strength and durability of various designs. The company has unveiled the second edition of the kit, which has been designed to be compatible with the first. Here's a video that explains it all:&nbsp;</p>