Prior to researching the site for the semester, a rubber wheel was found on site and examined for its possibilities of material, detail and joinery. Various techniques of hand and machine were used to create a new composition from what was a seemingly useless object.

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The wheel was found to have 267 notches around the circumference. This number is only divisible by 89 and 3 thus 89 wooden dowels were placed in every third notch attached by rubber bands woven into flanking notches. The wooden dowels fit snugly into a 1 1/2" diameter metal pipe. The foundation is cast concrete with hollow brass tubes embedded within the concrete to allow for the metal mount to slot onto.

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In order to synthesize the system; it was decided to introduce an acrylic wheel from which subtractive laser cut pieces allowed for metal cable to loop back up to the wooden dowels and the rubber wheel from which the exploration began. The acrylic wheel is sandwiched between a 3D printed armature which was printed to thread onto the preexisting metal pipe.

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The accompanying images are representations of the object in both physical and abstract manifestations; displaying assembly, material, thought and potential.

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The site in which the wheel was found as well as the knowledge gained from this exploration became the preliminary foundation for the following project, Hillside Brewery.

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Design Studio

Fall 2016

Instructor Terry Boling