Breathing earth sphere by ArtEngineering for Olafur Eliasson
| Date | 2022-07-01 |
|---|---|
| Author | ArtEngineering |
| Client | Olafur Eliasson |
| Director | Alexander Spänig |
| Team | Daniel Locatelli |
| Development | Pollux Edelstahlverarbeitung GmbH |
| Place | Docho Island |
| Link | Breathing earth sphere at ArtEnginnering |
Intro
Olafur Eliasson contacted ArtEngineering for computational engineering, digital fabrication, and logistics of the Breathing earth sphere. This wasn't just another job, it was my chance to see their full workflow: from the concept through computational engineering, digital fabrication and logistics.
The Engineering
My focus was the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using SOFiSTiK, which is awesome when dealing with complex, non-standard geometries like this. We started with the base model from Eliasson’s studio and made a really in-depth analysis and documentation: wind, seismic, and even "accidental" forces (because someone will inevitably try to climb a 10-meter dome).
The most interesting technical challenge was the expansion joints. Since the dome's upper structure is entirely stainless steel, it’s essentially a living thing that breathes with the temperature. We had to engineer precise connections that allowed for significant thermal expansion and contraction without compromising the structural or aesthetic integrity.
The Logistics Puzzle
A big challenge, however, happened after the digital model was finished. We had to figure out how to get a massive, 10-meter sphere from a workshop in Germany to a remote site on Docho Island, South Korea. This meant I had to "solve" the dome as a gigantic 3D puzzle: segmenting the entire structure into modular pieces that could fit perfectly into standard shipping containers.
The Result
The work was done in 2022, but the installation wrapped up in 2024, when I was no longer in the team. It was, nevertheless, amazing seeing the project go from a SOFiSTiK mesh on my screen to a finished landmark on a South Korean island.
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