Orbital Spire
Crowded skylines like Shanghai and New York are full of towers competing for space and attention. I wanted to imagine a high-rise for the future that felt less like a box and more like a spaceship rising out of the city — and to test myself with a simple, everyday material.
Project background
Using only drinking straws, I set out to build a tower that could stand on its own while holding on to that futuristic identity. The rule was simple: as little glue as possible.
Project description
Orbital Spire is a handheld model built almost entirely from multi-coloured drinking straws. I started with a hexagonal base and used as many straw colours as possible to create a pattern across the frame. Above the base I stacked a series of similar sections, inverting each one so the tower alternates between widening and narrowing as it rises. Each section keeps the same hexagonal shape but gets smaller in diameter going up, which gives the tower a tapering, rocket-like profile. Instead of relying on glue, I connected most joints by fitting the straws into each other. The result is a light, open frame that reads as both a skyscraper and a vessel for the future.
How can a tall hexagonal tower be built from lightweight straws, using as little glue as possible, while staying stable enough to stand on its own?
Research & analysis
- 01Skyline character of dense cities such as Shanghai and New York
- 02Hexagonal geometry and how it distributes weight across a frame
- 03Friction-fit joints made by sliding straws into each other
- 04Balance and stability testing through repeated rebuilding after collapses
- 05Colour sequencing and pattern across a repeating structural frame
Design objectives
- 01Keep a consistent hexagonal form from base to top
- 02Stack inverted sections that get smaller as the tower rises
- 03Minimize glue by relying mostly on fitted straw connections
- 04Use as many colours as possible to create a lively pattern
- 05Express a futuristic, spaceship-like identity for a crowded skyline
Model and context
Orbital Spire fell over a lot more than I thought it would. I'd try to add another section, and the hexagonal frame would start losing its shape. At one point I was using both my hands and my feet to hold it steady while fitting the straws together. Each collapse sent me back to check the base and the connections. I learned to slow down and check what I'd already built, because one loose straw could bring down everything above it.