Architectural Marble track

1. ARCHITECTURAL
MARBLE TRACK
The word “architect” originate from the Greek
Arkhi “chief” + tekton “builder, carpenter.”

2. PROBLEM:
Within the strict dimensions of 1’ x 1’ x 2’ you will create an architectural structure that
uses a track to suspend a marble for a minimum of 20 seconds. When the marble reaches
the lowest part of the structure, the timer will end.
MATERIALS:
One marble, cutting mat, and materials to cut, carve, create, build and attach materials.
The materials are open! You may use cardboard, index cards, wire, popsicle sticks, wire,
wood, pipes, plastic, foam core, foam etc.

3. Consider how architects such as Rem Koolhaas and Frank Gehry use innovative design to make, bend and shape the
angles and curves of their buildings. How are these architects both playful and exciting?
Qatar National LibraryCCTV Headquarters Beijing
Walt Disney Hall Los Angeles Luma Arles, France

4. Imagine you’ve been hired as an architect for
a roller coaster with a marble as a client and
you want it to have an interesting journey for
a minimum of 20 seconds!

5. Does your architectural marble track have a
theme?
Does it create its own type of world?

6. This foam core center allowed for multiple paths for the marble to take.

7. This structure was made entirely out
of paper with only a cardboard base!

8. This stunning structure
is painted all black so
all attention is on the
marble.

9. This student worked very patiently making sure each track functioned reliably.

10. This structure swayed and wiggled
like a puppet.

11. This structure made of matches
made lots of fun clickity-
clacking sound as it made its
way down.

12. This unusual structure had difficult access to
the interior which caused problems when the
marble kept getting stuck in the middle. The
student had to repeatedly dismantle the
structure to address the issue.
Consider creating easy access so that you can
make adjustments when necessary.

13. The theme and cosmetic painting of these structure are cute but their architectural
structures lack interest. In fact, the students used very little of the allotted space.

14. Be careful choosing material that is difficult
to manipulate.
The marble ran very fast on this track and
the student struggled to make adjustments
because of material.

15. This student decided to try and use trash to
create a clever and definitely less-familiar
“deconstructed” marble track.
Deconstruction - the breaking down rather
than building up of architectural elements,
and the exposure of spatial and other
contradictions.

16. Form ever follows function. – Louis Sullivan
Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design. – Charles Eames
Less is more. – Mies van der Rohe
When I’m working on a problem, I never think about beauty. But when I’ve finished, if the
solution is not beautiful I know it’s wrong. - Buckminster Fuller
We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. Winston Churchill.