Reinterpreting the Edge

Reinterpreting the Edge: A Response to Coastal Flood and Erosion, New Orleans Seacoast, LAby: Asta Fivgas, Jung Im, and Paul Stein

Coastal flooding and erosion is only one factor that plays into the larger picture of "global warming". Our group became increasingly interested in it's effect on what we consider the "edge". Edge can refer to sea vs. land as well as urban vs. natural.

Our system deploys itself along the edge as a mediator (both between the city and the surrounding wetlands as well as the marshland and the sea) that capitalizes on natural sediment flow by capturing and redistributing the sediment to strengthen specific areas of the coastline as well as diverting and slowing wave currents. As the sediment is secured new "land" is created and a second phase of the system is deployed. Each phase builds upon the previous creating layers of build-up both natural (silt/sediment) and architectural (nested geometry). The growth pattern is dependent on scripted algorithms that orient the aperture of the cells toward desirable conditions as well as manipulate the cell based on inputs such as topographical depth and environmental context/needs.

Img 01: Precis, Context Mappings, Salinity / Erosion Rates / Wave Flow

Img02: Context Geology, Site Selection



Img03: MRGO
The MRGO is currently under debate and there are plans to completely shut down this shipping channel and re-route cargo ships through the Mississippi. Heavy erosion rates based on poor design have widened the MRGO and contributed to the rapid decline of surrounding wetlands which serve as a barrier between the mainland and the Gulf of Mexico.


Img04: Context Mapping (site erosion without implementation)

Img05: Time Lapse Diagram: predicted wave diversion and sediment flow changes

Img06: Scripting

Img07: Site Implementation: Phase One

Img08: Site Implementation: Phase Two

Img09: Module Development

Img10: Phase Three: Introduction of Walkable Landscapes and Inhabitation/Pedestrian Use

Img11: Spanning Qualities, system vertical growth potential

Team Melt - #96 node branching study

Review 2-18-08

diagram of branching script

diagram of sectional spring script

frame stills of mass and stiffness/damping acting on the spring

qualifications of desirable traits within results of branching script

Spring Based Script 1

Spring based script explained












Spring Based Script Text

Branching Nodes

By: Natasha Harper, Katie Adee, James Baldauf


Manual diagram of node/ground interaction (plan view)

Source Code created in Processing
(requires the physics library)

stills created while running the script

diagram explaining how the script works

studies of "caterpillar" motion in model form

Initial Module Script

Material Experiment Aggregation

By: Natasha Harper, Katie Adee, James Baldauf








Aggregation Model 1:



this model takes a lattice connected with pivot connections and uses circles of varying circumfrences connected at their tangents. This deforms the original lattice and creates areas of more density and rigidity.








Beginning of Aggregation Model 2:



This takes a similar logic to the first model, but the lattice is less defined and can easily grow in the Z direction, and/or branch off in plan.

Component development

by: natasha harper


components 1-3


components 4-5



components 6-7