BamX Saugettes Media Kit

Introduction. Urban heat islands are making our cities increasingly unlivable, directly affecting our comfort and health. BamX Saugettes is an innovative urban greening initiative developed by the Laboratory for Geometric Computing (GCM) at the Ăcole polytechnique fĂ©dĂ©rale de Lausanne (EPFL), in collaboration with the City of Lausanne, to introduce vegetation and biodiversity to Place des Saugettesâa space densely covered with concrete and asphalt located in the immediate vicinity of the train station.
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Conceived as a temporary research demonstrator, the structure creates a vegetated canopy that provides shade during the summer months, serves as a refuge for local biodiversity, and illustrates how greenery can be integrated into urban settings constrained by existing infrastructure. Although recently installed, the structure has already become a popular gathering spot.
Introduction. Les Ăźlots de chaleur rendent nos villes de plus en plus invivables, affectant directement notre confort et notre santĂ©. BamX Saugettes est une initiative innovante de verdissement urbain, dĂ©veloppĂ©e par le Laboratoire de GĂ©omĂ©trie Informatique (GCM) de lâĂcole polytechnique fĂ©dĂ©rale de Lausanne (EPFL), en collaboration avec la Ville de Lausanne, pour introduire vĂ©gĂ©tation et biodiversitĂ© sur la place des Saugettes, un espace densĂ©ment recouvert de bĂ©ton et dâasphalte situĂ© Ă proximitĂ© immĂ©diate de la gare.
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Conçue comme un dĂ©monstrateur de recherche temporaire, la structure crĂ©e une canopĂ©e vĂ©gĂ©talisĂ©e qui offre de lâombre pendant les mois dâĂ©tĂ©, sert de refuge Ă la biodiversitĂ© locale, et montre comment intĂ©grer le vĂ©gĂ©tal dans des contextes urbains contraints par les infrastructures existantes. Bien que rĂ©cemment installĂ©e, la structure est dĂ©jĂ devenue un lieu de rencontre populaire.
BamX Design Principles. The Saugettes structure is the fourth BamX prototype, exploring an innovative, modular, and ultra-light construction technique. BamX structures are made from elastic gridshell modules that can be compacted for easy transport and storage, then quickly deployed and connected on-site using weaving techniques to create a double-layered bending-active structural frame that is both strong and exceptionally lightweight. This system simplifies fabrication and assembly while enabling BamX to adapt to a variety of environments, including the integration of existing elements like building façades.
Principes des structures BamX. La structure des Saugettes est le quatriĂšme prototype BamX, qui explore une technique constructive innovante, modulaire et extrĂȘmement lĂ©gĂšre. Les structures BamX sont conçues Ă partir de modules rĂ©ticulĂ©s dĂ©ployables, faciles Ă compacter pour le transport et le stockage, puis rapidement dĂ©ployĂ©s et connectĂ©s sur site grĂące Ă des techniques de tressage, pour gĂ©nĂ©rer un ensemble structurĂ© et stable. Ce systĂšme facilite la fabrication et lâassemblage, tout en permettant Ă BamX de sâadapter Ă des environnements variĂ©s, y compris lâintĂ©gration dâĂ©lĂ©ments existants comme des façades de bĂątiments.
Material and Form Intelligence. The ability of BamX modules to deploy easily while remaining extremely lightweight is made possible by the use of low-density materials that combine high strength with low bending stiffness, such as bamboo slats or fiberglass rods. These structures are shaped through a controlled formation process based on elastic deformations (i.e. active-bending), requiring advanced geometric modeling and precise numerical simulations. Since traditional modeling tools are not suited to designing this type of elastic and lightweight structure, the BamX team has developed its own digital tools specifically adapted to this structural typology.
Lâintelligence du matĂ©riau et de la forme. La capacitĂ© des modules BamX Ă se dĂ©ployer facilement tout en restant extrĂȘmement lĂ©gĂšres repose sur lâutilisation de matĂ©riaux Ă faible densitĂ©, combinant une grande rĂ©sistance et une faible rigiditĂ© en flexion, tels que les lattes de bambou ou de fibre de verre. Les structures sont donc mises en forme par un processus de flexion contrĂŽlĂ©e, qui nĂ©cessite une modĂ©lisation gĂ©omĂ©trique avancĂ©e ainsi que des simulations numĂ©riques prĂ©cises. Comme les outils de modĂ©lisation traditionnels ne permettent pas de concevoir ce type de structures, lâĂ©quipe BamX a dĂ©veloppé ses propres outils numĂ©riques, spĂ©cifiquement adaptĂ©s Ă cettetypologie de structures Ă©lastiques et lĂ©gĂšres.
Integration of Vegetation. The connected network of elastic gridshell modules forms a double-layered lattice designed to support climbing vegetation. Planted pods, which also serve as seating, support the structure while creating friendly and accessible spaces. This combination of nature and lightweight construction has the potential to transform concrete-covered area into a livable, shaded, and ecologically vibrant space.
IntĂ©gration de la vĂ©gĂ©tation. Lâensemble des modules rĂ©ticulĂ©s connectĂ©s forme un rĂ©seau de lattes conçu pour accueillir la vĂ©gĂ©tation grimpante. Des pods vĂ©gĂ©talisĂ©s, servant Ă©galement dâassises, soutiennent la structure tout en crĂ©ant des espaces conviviaux et accessibles. Cette combinaison de nature et dâingĂ©nierie lĂ©gĂšre transforme un espace bĂ©tonnĂ© en un refuge verdoyant, Ă la fois frais, accueillant et vivant.
BamX Saugettes. The Saugettes structure, made of bamboo slats, takes the form of a dome characterized by a central woven pentagon. It is composed of 30 prefabricated cylindrical modules and 5 modules assembled on-site. Prefabrication was carried out at EPFL using simple fabrication techniques, before the elements were transported to the site in a small van, then deployed and assembled by hand, without the use of high-tech machinery. The final five modules (geometrically more complex due to high curvature and torsion zones) were fabricated directly on-site to preserve the integrity of the natural materials.
BamX Saugettes. La structure de Saugettes, rĂ©alisĂ©e en lattes de bambou, prend la forme dâun dĂŽme caractĂ©risĂ© par un pentagone tressĂ© dans sa partie centrale. Elle est constituĂ©e de 30 modules cylindriques prĂ©fabriquĂ©s et de 5 modules assemblĂ©s sur place. La prĂ©fabrication a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ©e Ă lâEPFL Ă lâaide de techniques de fabrication simples, avant que les Ă©lĂ©ments soient transportĂ©s sur site dans une petite camionnette, puis dĂ©ployĂ©s et assemblĂ©s Ă la main, sans recours Ă des machines complexes. Les cinq derniers modules, plus complexes sur le plan gĂ©omĂ©trique (zones de forte courbure et de torsion), ont Ă©tĂ© fabriquĂ©s directement sur place afin de prĂ©server lâintĂ©gritĂ© des matĂ©riaux naturels.
Why BamX? We know that trees are our best allies in the fight against climate change. But their growth is slow, costly, and often impossible in city centers due to underground infrastructure or lack of space. BamX does not aim to replace trees but offers a complementary alternative that is fast to deploy, lightweight, reversible, and adaptable.
Pourquoi BamX? Nous savons que les arbres sont nos meilleurs alliĂ©s face au rĂ©chauffement climatique. Mais leur croissance est lente, coĂ»teuse, et souvent rendue impossible dans les centres urbains Ă cause des rĂ©seaux souterrains ou du manque dâespace. BamX ne vise pas Ă remplacer les arbres, mais propose une alternative complĂ©mentaire, rapide Ă mettre en Ćuvre, lĂ©gĂšre, rĂ©versible et adaptable.

Media Kit
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