Archinect
OTA

OTA

Austin, TX

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ONDA Wall

The ONDA Wall was designed with two intentions, as a didactic tool for teaching digital design and fabrication, and as an exploration in contemporary architectural theory, specifically how architecture might manifest some ideas held true by the Philosophy of Object Oriented Ontology.

The project is an exploration in the application of OOO as an architectural design pedagogy by subverting hierarchy at every scale. Though there are multiple overlapping geometries and effects that come through in the design, no one condition is primary. One tenet of OOO is that all objects are equal, whether they be oranges, antelope, or handkerchiefs. In the same vein, no effect overwhelms, or fully yields to, another. However, this does not mean that all effects are expressed equally at all times. Another important tenet of OOO, is that objects have properties that are withdrawn. One can never fully know an object, there is always some qualities held in reserve. Similarly, ONDA wall is packed with qualities, effects, form, and pattern, of which only a portion can be seen at any one time. In ONDA wall, form and effect emerge depending on when and from where you view the wall. If you look at the wall at an angle from the left side, you will see only a reflection of the painted MDF color, but you will also see an anamorphically projected, cyan colored square. When viewed from the right side, you will see a gradient of color and only a faint cloud of cyan as it reflects off the HPDE. You capture both effects from straight on, but the pattern formed by the irregular spacing between parts is brought forward. Although there are no moving parts, the wall is incredibly dynamic and encourages interactivity.

 
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Status: Built
Location: Austin, TX, US
Firm Role: Project Lead
Additional Credits: Design and fabrication team:
Abby Abolt, Bruno Canales, Jayme Greene, Marianna Jones, Shelly Kimmel, Danielle Ndubisi, Erik Olivarez, Davis Richardson, Sam Shiminski, Sarah Spielman, Caroline Stacey, Joel Sterling, Raquel Valdez, Cole Wendling