PEP
—
Perpetual Emergent Path
Palm Tree Infrastructure

Perpetual Emergent Path

In Tempe there are two pedestrian axes: Mill Avenue and Palm Walk. Mill Avenue is successful and Palm Walk is not. Palm Walk exists as an icon of luxury styling that once attracted students, but is still the most functional path on campus. Is there a way to make the palm trees useful to the students? Capitalize on the inherited repetition, regularity and tallness of the palms to support a new language of change. A path always reconfiguring itself to temporary demand—a Perpetual Emergent Path (PEP)

PEP adjusts to: Time of use, seasonal data, daily use information, weather predictions, social patterning, GPS uploading, movement tracking, event planning, spontaneous happenings, formal design, online input, pedestrian densities, cell phone usage, noise sensors, shade calculation, types of pedestrian travel, energy use, open space percentages etc

The structure is powered by buried hydraulic pressure systems giving vertical movement to the layer/palm interface. The form of every layer is controlled by the palm tree structure in relation to connected cable tensions. Forces are allowed to pass through every connection at the vertical structure interface to allow tension adjustments. Vertical hydraulic pressure tubes split into two forces —one for each palm structure ring to move independently from each other. Found at every connection between perpendicular running cables, the plugin components offer options for temporary planned programs such as art galleries, booths, back splashes, small projection screens, wanted ads, etc.

Palm Tree Infrastructure

PROGRAM: Shade Canopy Structure

CONTEXT: Tempe, Arizona, USA

SITE: Palm Walk, Arizona State University Campus

YEAR:
2010
AWARDS:
NEWS:
No items found.

Infrastructure

Landscape

Institutional

Pair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and ballsPair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and ballsPair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and ballsPair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and balls

1 LOWER MESH: Morphing of the plane occurs via input vertically from palm structures and horizontally from cable supply systems. Plugin connectors available at intersection points for events.
2 RESPONSE BALLS: React to changes in the lower mesh. No grouping of balls will ever be static or repeatable.
3 UPPER SCREEN: Dumb as a protective lid to the loose balls, but smart as an adaptive semipermanent screen. Can be opened to the sky, closed for maximum shade, used as a screen for projection, etc.

Pair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and balls
Pair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and balls

PROJECT IMAGES

Night perspective showing the illumination of the PEP canopy for an art exhibition and performance space off of Palm WalkNight perspective showing the illumination of the PEP canopy for an art exhibition and performance space off of Palm WalkNight perspective showing the illumination of the PEP canopy for an art exhibition and performance space off of Palm WalkNight perspective showing the illumination of the PEP canopy for an art exhibition and performance space off of Palm Walk
Combination of concept icon and perspective of Palm Walk during the day with PEP canopy overhead between the palm treesCombination of concept icon and perspective of Palm Walk during the day with PEP canopy overhead between the palm treesCombination of concept icon and perspective of Palm Walk during the day with PEP canopy overhead between the palm treesCombination of concept icon and perspective of Palm Walk during the day with PEP canopy overhead between the palm trees
Long concept section sketch showing the flexible relationship between the PEP shade canopy with the palm trees and studentsLong concept section sketch showing the flexible relationship between the PEP shade canopy with the palm trees and studentsLong concept section sketch showing the flexible relationship between the PEP shade canopy with the palm trees and studentsLong concept section sketch showing the flexible relationship between the PEP shade canopy with the palm trees and students
Section drawing showing the scale and relationship of the PEP canopy with the palms and university buildings along Palm WalkSection drawing showing the scale and relationship of the PEP canopy with the palms and university buildings along Palm WalkSection drawing showing the scale and relationship of the PEP canopy with the palms and university buildings along Palm WalkSection drawing showing the scale and relationship of the PEP canopy with the palms and university buildings along Palm Walk
Massing model showing the relationship between the university buildings with the various nodes on Palm Walk for PEP to useMassing model showing the relationship between the university buildings with the various nodes on Palm Walk for PEP to useMassing model showing the relationship between the university buildings with the various nodes on Palm Walk for PEP to useMassing model showing the relationship between the university buildings with the various nodes on Palm Walk for PEP to use
Pair of detailed isometric drawings at the scale of the person and the joint of PEP showing how the components interactPair of detailed isometric drawings at the scale of the person and the joint of PEP showing how the components interactPair of detailed isometric drawings at the scale of the person and the joint of PEP showing how the components interactPair of detailed isometric drawings at the scale of the person and the joint of PEP showing how the components interact
Pair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and ballsPair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and ballsPair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and ballsPair of exploded diagrams of the various layers comprising the PEP shade canopy system: the meshes, hydraulics and balls
Combined perspective looking down from the PEP shade canopy and a series of variable use diagrams for canopy changesCombined perspective looking down from the PEP shade canopy and a series of variable use diagrams for canopy changesCombined perspective looking down from the PEP shade canopy and a series of variable use diagrams for canopy changesCombined perspective looking down from the PEP shade canopy and a series of variable use diagrams for canopy changes
Initial concept sketch for the flexible canopy and ball system for the reactive PEP shade ideaInitial concept sketch for the flexible canopy and ball system for the reactive PEP shade ideaInitial concept sketch for the flexible canopy and ball system for the reactive PEP shade ideaInitial concept sketch for the flexible canopy and ball system for the reactive PEP shade idea
Study sketch illustrating the morphing nature of the PEP shade canopy system with hydraulics that shift the shapeStudy sketch illustrating the morphing nature of the PEP shade canopy system with hydraulics that shift the shapeStudy sketch illustrating the morphing nature of the PEP shade canopy system with hydraulics that shift the shapeStudy sketch illustrating the morphing nature of the PEP shade canopy system with hydraulics that shift the shape
Aerial map highlighting the two primary pedestrian paths at Mill Avenue and Palm Walk for integrating PEP shade canopyAerial map highlighting the two primary pedestrian paths at Mill Avenue and Palm Walk for integrating PEP shade canopyAerial map highlighting the two primary pedestrian paths at Mill Avenue and Palm Walk for integrating PEP shade canopyAerial map highlighting the two primary pedestrian paths at Mill Avenue and Palm Walk for integrating PEP shade canopy

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