We are the first to admit that when it comes to explaining ‘space truss geometry’, a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe even more. So perhaps it’s best you take a look at the pictures and videos for this story first and then come back to me.
Watch a video of Dror demonstrating how Quadror works
Watch a video of Dror building a wall using the Quadror
Are you back? Good.
Over the last few years, the American designer Dror Benshetrit and his studio has established itself as real Wallpaper* favourite with work that combines technical and engineering ingenuity with a proper conviction that looks matter.
And that certainly holds true with his QuaDror system
Four years ago Benshetrit came up with an apparently very simple piece of engineering; two interlocking members – pieces of wood cut in a particular way – that could fall apart but stay together in a unique and very supportive way. Benshetrit soon realised that he had something potentially revolutionary on his hands – real structural strength achieved very simply. He spent the next four years thoroughly testing his design and now has a patented system that can be applied to everything from trestle tables to temporary housing, sound barriers to seductive lighting.
He has just launched the system at Design Indaba in Cape Town with an emphasis on the potential for cheap and easy-build kit homes for developing countries or to be used in disaster relief. But Benshetrit is now looking for design and architecture partners to put QuaDror to use in all sorts of remarkable ways.
Quadror by Studio Dror
The first ever prototype frame for the QuaDror being made in the MetaLab in Texas
The first ever prototype frame for the QuaDror being made in the MetaLab in Texas
The unique space truss geometry - QuaDror - is made from the assembly of four identical L-shaped pieces, either thin resulting in a trestle structure, or thick resulting in a solid panel.
The unique space truss geometry - QuaDror - is made from the assembly of four identical L-shaped pieces, either thin resulting in a trestle structure, or thick resulting in a solid panel.
The collapsible system allows for rapid assembly and a transition from closed and flat to open and self-standing
The collapsible system allows for rapid assembly and a transition from closed and flat to open and self-standing
QuaDror is a new space truss geometry that unfolds manifold design initiatives and can adapt to various conditions and configurations
QuaDror is a new space truss geometry that unfolds manifold design initiatives and can adapt to various conditions and configurations
The unique structure can adapt to a variety of conditions and configurations and be used in a number of different ways, including in architecture
The unique structure can adapt to a variety of conditions and configurations and be used in a number of different ways, including in architecture
Another example of a potential Quadror building
Another example of a potential Quadror building
A Quadror wall
A Quadror wall
The Quadror system being used for a bridge
The Quadror system being used for a bridge
as a barrier
as a barrier
as a villa
as a villa
as a trestle table
as a trestle table
as a pop-up structure
as a pop-up structure
as an easy-assemble dwelling
as an easy-assemble dwelling
as a pavillion
as a pavillion
Further experimentations with the Quadror system in the studio include this Quadror made out of books
Further experimentations with the Quadror system in the studio include this Quadror made out of books
and Quadror built out of wood into a sculpture
and Quadror built out of wood into a sculpture
A watercolour of the QuaDror system used in the Guggenheim
A watercolour of the QuaDror system used in the Guggenheim