Derived from the initial WindSphere study, Multi-Polar Sphere develops a series of spherical forms that investigate the visual and geometric representation of flow dynamics. Vector-based weather maps that show wind patterns across the globe are translated into geometric structures that represent the mechanics of flow while appearing to visually shift when viewed from different angles.
Spirals are distributed across the surface of spheres through rotational patterns that organize the surface geometry along continuous curves that trace the paths of flow. Both paneling methods, which divide the surface into segments that follow the spiral trajectories, and surface molding techniques, which generate relief patterns that represent atmospheric movement, are employed to generate the forms. The resulting forms test the way that spiral arrangements can create a visual impression of motion through a static form: the articulation of the surface that, when viewed from different positions, can be read as a dynamic flow. Multiple approaches to mapping the same dataset produce different geometric characters, each emphasizing different aspects of the directional flow. The investigation remains ongoing.
Photography: Phillip C. Reiner
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