PLUSH Portfolio

Casting Study 3
PRECEDENT PROJECT: ICE FORMWORK
MATERIAL: WATER, AIR, SAND, PLAYDOUGH
SIZE: 9 IN. X 12 IN.
APPLICATION: AESTHETIC WALL
We started with ice form work
and realized after we made three
castings that our method was a
fail. The temperature needed to
keep the ice frozen was too low
to allow for the concrete form
work to solidify. Instead, the water
within the concrete mixture froze
while being in the below freezing
temperatures.
We decided to change direction
with our case study and try out
multiple materials. We changed to
using balloons, air, water, sand and
play dough. We used the balloons
with the air, water and sand and the
play dough on its own. All of these
materials were then used in four
separate 9 inch by 12 inch pans to
test all of them equally. We started
with filling the balloons with air and
making each balloon a different
size. For the second pan but third
iteration we filled the balloons with
water. We continued with the idea
filling the balloons so that they are
different sizes. We then used the
play dough to hand mold it in the
bottom of the pan. We places saran
wrap over the play dough to keep
the play dough and the concrete
separate. Lastly, we used the
balloons again and filled them with
sand. This method was different
from the air and water because the
sand could not expand the balloon
therefore all of the balloons were
relatively the same side.
be able to take the things learned
from these experiments and
combine them with another case
study. Even though the last four
iterations were successful, we
want to continue with the balloons
filled with water or the balloons
filled with sand. The water balloons
were able to sink into the mold
and the sand balloons were able
to dissemble very easily and we
could reuse the sand.
We learned that ice framework
required a lot more technology
to make the experiment work like
a temperature controlled room.
We were unable to make the ice
framework work while trying to
stay low tech.
When switching to new materials
besides ice, we found that these
methods worked a lot better than
the ice frame work. Air, water, play
dough and sand all worked as
frame work for casting concrete.
We found that water and sand
worked the best for what we were
trying to achieve and hope to move
forward with those materials.
Overall, all of our final iterations
were more successful than using
ice as a form work for the concrete
mixture. Moving forward, we will
DSN S 546 Spring 2021 | 163