CUBUS ET OCTAEDRUM I – A 3D Study in Platonic Solids

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CUBUS ET OCTAEDRUM I.I, 2023
uv cured inkjet on acrylic mounted to composite aluminum and cut out on cnc router

Detail of CUBUS ET OCTAEDRUM I.I

CUBUS ET OCTAEDRUM I.II, 2023
(orthographic view looking from the top)
uv cured inkjet on acrylic mounted to composite aluminum and cut out on cnc router

CUBUS ET OCTAEDRUM I.III, 2023
(orthographic view looking from the side)
uv cured inkjet on acrylic mounted to composite aluminum and cut out on cnc router

CUBUS ET OCTAEDRUM is a study of platonic solids, in this instance, the cube and the octahedron. We all know what a cube is and for those who might not know, an octahedron is an 8 faced polyhedron. A polyhedron is simply a solid figure with multiple faces typically with more than 6.

I’ve been going back to my roots as an architect, thinking about the basics of geometry. I loved geometry as a child and knew by the time I was in high school that what I wanted to be was an architect. So working in 3D again, I’m revisiting the platonic solids that so fascinated me early in life.

With CUBUS ET OCTAEDRUM, I started with the thought of turning the square pyramids I’ve been creating made from stepped cubes into an Octahedron which is simply two square pyramids back to back. On a side note, a square pyramid like the Great Pyramid of Giza is not a platonic solid but that’s too complicated to get into here without boring you to tears. Then I wanted to up the stakes and add another platonic solid, the cube that resulted in this intervention of the cube expanding out of the octahedron or it could be looked at as the octahedron growing around the cube. I also sculpted the blocks, carving into them to accept the sloping fins instead of sitting on top of the blocks. The fins connected together form triangles. I also split the octahedron up into 8 individual triangular sections further accentuating these sloping triangles. The views here are; a view from the side in perspective, a view looking looking down directly overhead and an orthographic view from the side.

This has been over a 2 months project, really challenging me and being great therapy to escape from pain. There will be more from this series to come changing up the color schemes. Thanks for indulging me in explaining this.

RESOLVER I – 3D Derivative – 2D Print from 3D Model

This is part of my 3D DERIVATIVE series where 2D prints are derived from 3D models. Click here to see the 3D model this piece is derived from.

click on images to enlarge (except mobile devices)

RESOLVER I, 2023
uv cured inkjet on acrylic mounted to composite alum. and cut out on cnc router
54″w x 54″w, edition of 3
DETAIL
note: the areas in white are not part of the print. They are cut out areas.
Screencast of REVOLVER 3D Model
Software: Blender