Pneumatic Door System
Mechanical development and motion design for a custom science-fiction-inspired architectural door.
Designing the movement as part of the object.
LostMachine was brought in by another fabrication studio to develop the mechanical design for a custom pneumatic door system intended for a private technology-company lounge.
The project required more than modeling the appearance of a door. The mechanism, movement and packaging had to be developed together so that the finished assembly could produce the intended science-fiction motion while remaining a buildable physical system.
LostMachine completed the design and mechanical development work in CAD for fabrication by the commissioning shop. Because the final installation was performed by others, this case study focuses on LostMachine's design work rather than representing the completed installation.
Mechanism first, visualization second.
The animation communicates not only what the door should look like when it moves, but how the mechanism was intended to create that movement.
Making the hidden system visible.
Mechanical problems that don't come out of a catalog.
Custom mechanisms are a recurring part of LostMachine's work. Kinetic sculpture, pneumatic systems, motors, unusual drive systems, lighting, controls and purpose-built mechanical assemblies can be developed alongside the artwork or architectural object they support.
This allows artists, designers and other fabrication studios to bring LostMachine a functional challenge rather than a fully resolved mechanism.