Elytra Filament Pavilion: biomimetic robot-built canopy at V&A
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has unveiled the Elytra Filament Pavilion, a transparent canopy inspired by beetle shells, as part of its Engineering Season. Designed by a multidisciplinary team from the University of Stuttgart—architect Achim Menges, researcher Moritz Dörstelmann, structural engineer Jan Knippers, and climate engineer Thomas Auer—the 200-square-meter structure consists of 40 hexagonal modules made of intricately woven carbon and glass fibers. Weighing just 9 kg per square meter, the pavilion is adaptive: sensors embedded in the composite fibers collect real-time environmental and visitor data, which a Kuka robot uses to fabricate additional components on-site. The robot will be active again on September 22, 2016, coinciding with the London Design Festival. The pavilion is on view in the John Madejski Garden until November 6, 2016.
Key facts
- Elytra Filament Pavilion is at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
- It is part of the Engineering Season at the V&A.
- The pavilion is inspired by beetle shells (elytra).
- Designed by Achim Menges, Moritz Dörstelmann, Jan Knippers, and Thomas Auer from the University of Stuttgart.
- The structure covers 200 square meters with 40 hexagonal modules.
- Materials are carbon and glass fibers, weighing 9 kg per square meter.
- A Kuka robot fabricates additional components based on sensor data.
- The robot will be active on September 22, 2016, during London Design Festival.
- The pavilion is in the John Madejski Garden and runs until November 6, 2016.
Entities
Artists
- Achim Menges
- Moritz Dörstelmann
- Jan Knippers
- Thomas Auer
Institutions
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- University of Stuttgart
- Kuka
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- John Madejski Garden