2026 Graduation Project 'CATENA—Independently Oscillating Moiré' by Marie Hawken — IDREIT®

CATENA: Independently Oscillating Moiré Spatial Fluctuation Woven by Gravity and External Forces

CATENA is a spatial installation that responds to its environment, generating moiré patterns characterized by a natural and organic fluctuation.
In the fields of architecture and spatial design, moiré patterns have long been utilized to create dynamic visual effects. However, conventional applications predominantly rely on mechanically sliding entire rigid surfaces, such as glass or metal panels, or depend entirely on the shifting viewpoint of the observer. Consequently, the resulting movements of these moiré patterns tend to be rigid and homogeneous.
To break away from this uniformity, this project introduces an "independently oscillating" moiré system, where each individual string or wire is free to sway on its own.
The core of this design lies in the "catenary curve"—the natural arc formed by a rope suspended from its ends under the influence of gravity. When the strings, arranged to form these precise curves, are subjected to external forces—such as a gentle breeze from a passerby or a light touch of a fingertip—they sway independently. This individual movement generates an unpredictable, wave-like undulation within the moiré pattern. Once the external force subsides, the restoring force of gravity quietly returns them to their original, perfectly aligned catenary shapes.
It is a perpetual oscillation between environmental "disorder" and gravitational "order." Without the use of motors or artificial power, CATENA continuously generates a swaying moiré that breathes with the space, utilizing only subtle ambient energy and universal laws of physics.
This system has been developed into three distinct spatial devices: PLANA, a planar model that purely demonstrates the core principle; MOBIA, a kinetic mobile where the shift of fulcrums dynamically alters both gravitational balance and form; and LUMIA, a three-dimensional lighting fixture featuring a nested structure that creates a constantly shimmering interplay of light reflection.
Existing on the boundary between strict mathematical calculation and the uncontrollable behavior of nature, CATENA serves as a novel apparatus of perception—one that leaves a pleasant, lingering resonance within the space.