Modular Girih Strapwork Kit Elements for Architectural Installations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional girih tiles are large and require significant surface area and materials to create Islamic geometric patterns, limiting design flexibility and efficiency in architectural installations.
Innovation Solution
A kit of rectilinear elongate polygonal elements with unique shapes, including concave polygons, that can form girih strapwork patterns without conventional tiles, allowing for reduced material usage and integration of architectural, biological, and electronic components for creative installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional girih tiles are used to create Islamic geometric patterns, then the patterns can be formed with traditional designs, but the surface area and number of materials required are significant and limit design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional large girih tiles into smaller modular elements. These segmented elements can be arranged to form the complete girih strapwork pattern, reducing the surface area of individual components while maintaining the overall pattern integrity and enabling greater design flexibility through reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical stacking of multiple layers of girih elements to create three-dimensional installations. This dimensional transition from two-dimensional flat patterns to three-dimensional stacked structures reduces the footprint surface area while maintaining pattern visibility and adding spatial complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional girih tiles are used, then traditional patterns are achieved, but the number of unique parts and materials needed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs modular girih elements that can serve multiple functions: they form structural components, display decorative patterns, and can be stacked to create vertical installations. These universal elements replace multiple specialized traditional tiles, reducing the total number of unique parts needed while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional girih tiles are used for architectural installations, then conventional designs are implemented, but design versatility and integration of additional components are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines traditional girih pattern elements with modern materials and components, creating composite structures that integrate architectural, biological, and electronic elements. This composite approach maintains the aesthetic qualities of traditional girih while reducing material quantity through strategic material selection and layering.
Data Source
AI summary
A kit that includes multiple rectilinear elongate polygonal elements having five unique shapes, four of which are concave polygonal elements. In some examples, when arranged with respect to one another, the elements of the kit form a girih strapwork pattern. In one aspect, respective elements in a kit may include bezels or boarders along longer sides to enhance an over/under weaving effect of the girih strapwork pattern. In other aspects, one or more elements may be formed as a tray, and some of the trays may include various components or materials disposed in the tray (e.g., architectural surface materials, biological systems, various electronic components) to provide for a variety of creative designs and structural/sculptural installations for built environments. In some implementations, one or more such trays may have beveled rims so as to appear light and thin when viewed.