Computational Clay

Human, material, technology The Computational Clay research project revolves around three core components: the material system, human interaction, and digital support. The material system explores urban waste as a resource by combining discarded wood chips with high bonding resin. This mixture is poured into a sealed bag, forming a panel. Air is removed until the panel becomes pliable. Guided by a projection mapping system and a predefined 3D model, two individuals shape the panel to match the desired geometry. Upon completion, all air is extracted, and the panel is left to cure. Following the formation of each section, a scanning process reads the constructed geometry and optimizes the subsequent stage, ensuring the correction of any potential errors in the production process, most similat to a navigation system that puts you back on route even after taking the wrong turn. The project was developed at U-Tokyo's Obuchi Lab and follows the directive of finding harmony between human creativity and technological advancements, creating a system where both facets complement each other.