The Gradient TowerHanyong Xu

Academic Work | 2019School | Univers i ty of Toronto

Professor | Nicholas Steven HobanLocat ion | Empty Plot on the South of 475 Front St E, Toronto

Area | 6637 m2 Levels | 32 Floors

In this project , I explored wi th the parametr ic designs and the fabricat ion of mul t ip le gradients: the gradient of the s ize of the Voronoi openings of the facade, the gradient of the twis t ing form of the tower, and the gradient rotat ion of the void-s t ructures. I mainly used Grasshopper for the generat ion of these gradients. Fur thermore, I explored wi th mul t ip le fabricat ions methods including laser cut t ing and 3D print ing, as wel l as various mater ials such as corrugated cardboard, plywood, and paper.

The central concept is about control l ing the amount of l ight that reaches the usable space. I s tar ted wi th the horseshoe-shaped f loor plates to create an ambigui ty between what is inside and what is outs ide. I a lso used hol low s tructures to al low more sunl ight to go through the tower. In addi t ion, the gradient of the facade also considers the variat ion of the amount of sunl ight on each level .

Isometr ic looking Nor th East

Isometr ic looking Nor th West

Context P lan

Exploded Axometr ic of

form generat ion / s t ructure generat ion /

facade generat ion

Facade Detai ls

Sect ional Model explorat ion of the

fabricat ion methods

starch-based 3D print ing

laser cut t ing cardboard + folding

Elevat ion Sect ion

Physical Modelsform f inding / s t ructure explorat ion

Physical Modelsf inal model

Structural Detai ls