PROPOSAL:

Deployable Fabric Structure Informed by the Movement and Organization of

Compliant Winged Systems

Agnes Glaz
What is flight? An activity of leisure or survival. Flight is usually associated with higher altitude spaces and the
method of movement in creatures such as birds as well as in mechanical instruments such as airplanes.
However, flight can also be associated with ground movement. Before civilization, homo sapiens participated in
flight activities on a frequent basis but today fleeing is usually associated exclusively with refugees and
marginalized groups in society.

Definition of the word “Flight”: 1: an act or instance of passing through the air by the use of wings. 2: the ability
to fly. 3: to rise, settle, or fly in a flock. 4: an act or instance of running away

Flight of Underprivileged Flight of Privileged

Agnes Glaz
 ABSTRACT:
SOCIETY OF CONSTANT MOTION

What kind of society would we live in if we were constantly on the move? How would our social environment be
organized and affected if societies in constant motion were not the minority but the majority?

As humans continue to deplete the earth’s natural resources, natural disasters are more common and frequent.
Is it possible that one day stable governments and “countries” and fixed borders or “land” may no longer exist in
the sense that we are familiar with and instead be replaced by smaller factions of “social global organizations”
and “transformable spaces” with undefined borders?

CHOICE – what if it were reversed?

Agnes Glaz
 WINGS

The main function of wings is flight and humans have mostly adapted only this function of the wing into their
designs. Wings, however, are very adaptable devices with hundreds of various functions that have evolved
over time and which form the basis of structural transformation in nature. It is these non-flight functions of the
wings that have spawned structural divergences in evolution.

Butteryfly Wings Insect Wings Bird Wings

Agnes Glaz
 INSECT WINGS

Evolution has affected wing venation patterns in insects. Although the wings are used mostly for flight, the
venation patterns on them have several functions:

- Identification/Classification
- Gender
- Structure
- Blood Circulation

Agnes Glaz
 BUTTERFLY WINGS

Butterflies are known for the vibrant colors on their wings, and follow similar venation patterns to insects.
Butterfly wings have scales that are laid out in overlapping rows that give the wings their color.

- Mate attraction
- Camouflage
- Warning to Predators

Agnes Glaz
BUTTERFLY WINGS

Scientists recently discovered that microscopic scales

on butterfly wings act as solar heat collectors that store
heat and energy and allow the butterfly to survival in
colder climates and higher altitudes. Chinese scientists
are now using butterfly wings to create more efficient
light harvesting cells for solar energy.

Agnes Glaz
BUTTERFLY WINGS

Agnes Glaz
 BAT WINGS

Researchers recently discovered that bats use their wings for 52 different functions. This usage variation
ranges from flying, eating, and crawling, to fighting and management of its primary senses. These non-flight
usages are what have allowed the bat to develop a thick and heavy bone structure that doesn’t allow the bat
to fly long distances but rather to use its wings for more ground-related activities.

Agnes Glaz
 BAT WINGS

Both the hands and feet of a bat are directly connected to its wings creating one continuous webbed
surface. Furthermore, the wings of a bat are made up of hundreds of tiny veined and raised bumps that act
as “auditory” receptors that allow the wings to sense auditory vibrations while in flight. This is useful to both
catch prey and escape from predators.

Agnes Glaz
 BIRD FEATHERS

The wings of most birds are covered in feathers that consist of hundreds of individual stalks consisting of
smaller stalks within yet smaller ones. The feathers act like fabric fibers that stitch open and close with
interlocking layers identical to that of zippers.

Agnes Glaz
 FASHION EXCESS

Although clothing is an essential to human beings, much of what is in fashion today consists of unnecessary
accessories rather than necessary ones. Many of the temporary structures in use today are made from
various fabrics. Although most of them are plastics, is it not possible to have a fabric that can be worn for
cover and used to cover at the same time?

Agnes Glaz
 FASHION STATEMENT

The difference between fashion and clothing is that one is simply worn and the other makes a statement.
We design our homes, cars, office & studio spaces according to our taste and we do the same with our
clothing. If we have a temporary shelter that we display around the world, why then should it also not
exhibit our personal tastes and styles?

Agnes Glaz
 FLIGHT AS FUTURE TRANSPORTATION

Future transportation is almost always portrayed as flight and so it is only natural that in an era where
people are constantly on the move, that movement is enhanced by “flight”. My proposal promotes a hang
glider contraption that makes flight personal and specified. Machine guided devices are removed from the
individual and are always reliant on foreign energy sources.

Agnes Glaz
 FOLDING / DEPLOYMENT TECHNIQUE

Compliant hinges are common folding systems found in both nature and engineering. With the ability to
both move and rotate simultaneously, they allow a complex construction system to become more efficient,
reliable, and precise.

Agnes Glaz
 COMPARISON OF COMPLIANT JOINTS FOUND IN NATURE

Animals, birds, fish, reptiles, and humans have similar joint organizations. This sequence has existed from
prehistoric times and has evolved into millions of different variations over the years.

Agnes Glaz
 PRECEDENT STUDIES

Some examples of projects that have relied on the compliant hinge for both design and structure.

Agnes Glaz
 PRECEDENT STUDIES

139 Shelter by Architecture for Humanity.

This project was designed for famine stricken victims in Ethiopia in
the early 1990s. Due to cost, deployment method, and reliability on
skilled labor, the project was never realized.

Agnes Glaz
 PROPOSAL: VELCOHOM

A deployable fabric structure that has the ability to fold itself into various configurations generating a range of degrees of
privacy and protection. It is worn on the back as an encasing object establishing protection and asserting a fashion
statement. The device can easily convert into a personal hang glider apparatus and used for transportation. The structure is
lightweight, soft frame, and easily assembled & disassembled.

Agnes Glaz
 TRANSPORTATION & FASHION

The type of car you drive, (or bike you ride), is as much a fashion statement as garments. A sports car versus a hybrid can
provide us with clues about its occupant. This design aims to create an ambiance of constant motion and flight. The
lightweight structure and soft surfaces generate an experience that dictates a care-free and flexible lifestyle. One can pick
up and go at any minute or one can immerse oneself to a specific location – but only as long as one chooses.

Glider in Flight Protective Garment

Agnes Glaz
 STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION

The “home” is comprised of three levels of privacy. When fully open, it allows others to know that the space is open and
public and anyone is free to interact with the space. The structure can slightly close when it wants to create a semi-private
atmosphere. This stage usually dictates that its occupant is cautious and on alert and permission must be granted to enter
the space. When fully closed, the home becomes a protective safe haven from the “outside”, whether this outside pertain to
other people, dangerous situations, or the natural environment. It is the most private space when one can participate in
ultimate privacy.

Private Space Semi-Private Space Public Space

Agnes Glaz
 THREE STAGES OF HOME PRIVACY

Public Space

- Fully open & public space

- No permission needed
- Most relaxed state

Private Space

- Protection from danger

- Seclusion from others
- Detachment from environment
- Least relaxed state

Semi-Private Space

- Semi-private space
- Permission required to enter
- Cautious & on alert

Agnes Glaz
 HOUSE TO GLIDER

The apparatus uses compliant hinges to transform from any of the three stages of the home into the glider state. The four
wings move and rotate first onto a flat surface, then rotate to form a stacking organization, and finally curve where
necessary to create an airfoil wind tunnel system.

House Glider

Agnes Glaz
 GLIDER TO GARMENT

As the glider transforms, the outermost edges push in like bird’s wings and shrink in size to create a smaller
compacted device that can be worn around the occupant like clothing or for protection.

Glider

Garment

Agnes Glaz
 SUMMARY OF STAGES

Closed Home Open Home

Garment

Semi-Open Home Glider

Agnes Glaz
 PLANS AND SECTIONS_ CLOSED SYSTEM

Longitudinal Section

Transverse Section

Plan

Agnes Glaz
PLANS AND SECTIONS_ OPEN SYSTEM

Longitudinal Section

Transverse Section

Plan

Agnes Glaz
RENDERINGS OF GLIDER IN FLIGHT

Agnes Glaz
 AIRFOIL WIND TUNNEL DESIGN

Most mechanisms in flight such as birds and airplanes rely on the logic of an airfoil wind tunnel system to stay in the air.
The glider is designed so that it folds into a similar curve.

Agnes Glaz
 RENDERINGS OF GLIDER FLIGHT

Right Elevation

Left Elevation

Perspective

Agnes Glaz
 RENDERING OF HOW GARMENT IS WORN

Front View Rear View

Agnes Glaz
CLOSED SYSTEM UNDER PROTECTION

Agnes Glaz
INTERIOR RENDERING OF CLOSED SYSTEM

Agnes Glaz
INTERIOR RENDERING OF CLOSED SYSTEM

Agnes Glaz
EXTERIOR RENDERING OF OPEN SYSTEM

Agnes Glaz
EXTERIOR RENDERING OF OPEN SYSTEM

Agnes Glaz
INTERIOR RENDERING OF OPEN SYSTEM

Agnes Glaz
INTERIOR RENDERING OF OPEN SYSTEM

Agnes Glaz