iSerendipity

Choosing to study the motion of opening and closing in biological systems, I found the pine cone a fascinating structure. In cold, wet conditions it forms a tight, closed geometry, yet in dry heat it opens and expands its scales – the movement between these two extremes are slow and subtle.

In constructing my kinetic structure, I encountered difficulty in making the mechanism work to fully extend and contract the scales due to the shape of the pivoting arms. The created motion resembles a soft breathing movement instead.