ATLAS
2009
The Atlas Project explores the possibilities of rationalising complex surface geometries in a manner that resolves a number of the challenges associated with translating sculptural computer generated forms into constructible fundamentals.
The Atlas Chair was derived by projecting flat angled planes through a volume and using the intersecting elements to generate the profiles that create the sections of the chair. This allows complex surface geometry to be rationalised to planar surfaces, allowing sculptural possibilities while being material efficient and creating a system that facilitates construction.
NESTA invited Scott Jarvie to showcase the Atlas Project in their London Headquarters. The exhibition consists of the Atlas Chair and Table plus two sculptural pieces that underpin the thinking behind the project.
Initial concept sketch
Atlas Sculptural Screen
The Atlas Sculptural Screen is a scaled up fragment of the Atlas Chair. It serves to visually unite the individual pieces on display and shares their conceptual lineage.
Atlas Table Detail
Torus Sculpture The Torus Sculpture was created as a piece that would be conceptually relevant to the deterministic ambitions of NESTA. Concepts frequently exist only as arbitrary notions and, by their nature, never exist as tangible artefacts. Data, research and insight allow us to assimilate and construct a mental picture. The torus does not exist as a unified whole but we are able to make the cognitive leap to assemble the elements that describe the geometry. The sculpture is symbolic of our capability to access complex theories. The piece could be reduced to a formulaic expression or a long list of binary instructions with relation to a polar grid.
Mk1 Original concept Model (Scale 1:10) Single spine prototype in modelling card - hand cut
Mk2 Development Model (Scale 1:4) Single spine prototype in 4mm Birch ply - CNC cut
Mk3 Development Model (Scale 1:4) Dual spine prototype in 4mm Birch ply - CNC cut
Atlas Chair in the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow
