off the chain

advisor                  Juan Jose Castellion
collaborators        Roy Chou, Haydon Betz, Maria Nguyen

This project investigates the sculptural and structural potential of catenary logic when liberated from traditional, planar constraints. While conventional hanging models typically rely on a uniform horizontal datum, this study utilizes a 3D-printed modular base, 6mm acrylic rods, and generic chain to introduce a randomized, three-dimensional boundary condition. By rejecting the "bounding box" archetype, the base allows five rods of multiple heights (1’, 1.5’, 2’) to rise to various points, establishing five distinct anchor points. This strategy forces the form-finding process to respond to irregularities in the X, Y, and Z axes simultaneously, simulating the complexities of outlier topographical sites or extreme environmental terrains.