Plateau Courtyard, Deakin University

RESEARCH BACKGROUND Voronoi tessellations are a mode of partitioning space into polygons, such that each region is situated closest to a particular point feature. Centroidal Voronoi tessellations (CVT) are a geometric subset in which the generating feature is located at the point of balance of the resulting Voronoi polygon. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION Paul Minifie's (MNA) proposed roof of the Plateau courtyard at Deakin University uses the geometric properties of the CVT to describe an innovative structural system for roof spaces. A slender column is located at each Voronoi node, and a ring beam, supported by tensile members from the column, follows the Voronoi periphery. The geometry enables the beam to balance in equilibrium and to support a tensile fabric structure that stretches to the ground. RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE The Plateau Courtyard was published in 10 x 10_2 100 Architects 10 Critics, by Phaidon Press, 2005.