This was one of the first pieces created on our 5-axis CNC router.  Both sides were machined from a solid block of wood. To most people who see it for the first time, however, it seems as though we softened and warped the wood somehow. The acrylic spheres represent the actual spherical structures in the museum.  This was meant to be an abstract representation of the green roof; more a piece of Model Art™ than simply a model.  It is on display at the Autodesk Design Museum in San Francisco.  In early 2011, it traveled to New York City for display in a “green architecture” exhibit at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt Design Museum.  This particular piece was chosen over other models because it met museum quality requirements, but it is Renzo Piano’s design concept that makes it so elegant and compelling—a great place to visit in Golden Gate Park!

This was one of those technical challenges that seem impossible at first, but you just cannot stop thinking about it until it is solved.  The challenge was not just to make a model, but to build it to “museum quality” standards for the Autodesk Design Museum with the added durability requirement to withstand travel to exhibitions around the world.  Our solution: metal.  The structure itself is all brass, mostly metal-etched, then soldered into 3D shapes.  The “glass” is made of laser-cut acrylic, designed and assembled with tiny fittings at every corner, true to the Renzo Piano design.  The warmth of the metal and wood, coupled with the benefits of perspective from all vantage points, bring the design experience to another level.