Bridges Conference (Virtual), 2020

Kaleidosphere is a prototype that emerged from a larger study of polyhedral models. A set of polyhedra was clustered according to their respective underlying symmetry (tetrahedral, octahedral, and icosahedral) and dissected with the corresponding symmetry planes. The resulting spherically arranged sections were then merged -each with two of its neighbors -into larger groups of four. In each group, a different polyhedral section was kept. The only partially physical geometry is completed with mirror surfaces between the sections. In order to maintain the correct image, the polysurfaces had to be displaced from the overall center. The mirrors were cut with a polyhedron corresponding to the underlying symmetry group.

Research:
Polyhedra grouped by symmetry (tetrahedral, octahedral, icosahedral) are dissected with the matching symmetry planes. The resulting spherical sections merge in groups of four; one polyhedral section is retained per group and mirror surfaces complete the form. The displacement of polysurfaces from the center and the mirror cutting geometry were calculated so that the physical-mirror hybrid yields a single coherent image.