A huge canopy of fibrous funnels made by robots will transform the V&A's garden next week.
The large-scale installation, called Elytra Filament Pavilion, is inspired by a lightweight construction principle found in nature — the fibrous structures of the forewing shells of flying beetles known as elytra — but built by machines.
We've got some photos of the structure being put together:
Built to mark the start of the Kensington institution's new Engineering Season, the pavilion will grow over the season in response to data on structural behaviour and how people interact with it. Where people go among the pavilion will be monitored by real-time sensors in its fibres.
At select moments, visitors will have the opportunity to witness the pavilion's construction live throughout the season as new cells are fabricated in-situ by a Kuka robot.
The installation was created by experimental architect Achim Menges with Moritz Dörstelmann, structural engineer Jan Knippers and climate engineer Thomas Auer.
The pavilion will be open from 18 May-6 November at the V&A garden. Entry is free. Engineering the World: Ove Arup and the Philosophy of Total Design runs from 18 June-6 November. Tickets are £7.
