The discipline of Draughting/Drafting usually has exercises requiring the presentation of 3 elevations of an object; aerial or plan view, front view and side or end view. A standard house brick would be 3 rectangles drawn in relation to its dimensions.

I understand that somewhere through the 1930’s a German architect proposed a drawing for a solid object which many deemed impossible, but I have a lovely brass model that invalidates those claims.

The challenge was: Given one drawing that represents all three elevations - Create the object!

Examples: A square is a cube. A circle represents a sphere but a circle crossed with a ' + ' sign might be a beach ball with circles around its 'x,y,z' circumferences; like an orange cut into 8.

NOW, this object in question is represented by a circle crossed by an 'X' or multiplication sign.

MY CHALLENGE is twofold:
1. What does this object look like? Describe as many of its properties as possible.
2. How might you create it as a demonstration in, say, 2 or 3 minutes? I suggest a firm but pliable medium like children's 'playdough' and a tool like a very simple kitchen utensil would reasonably create an approximation of this solid.

 Under other rules, previous interpretations would be great!

Nice to read about the creativeness in attempting to translate a highly abstract concept into the concrete.  A cooking aid (skewer) appeared, but later so did a kitchen utensil!

Potato?  Hope it was properly utilised later.

For Attention: 

Drafting Rules are fully met; ie, there is nothing hidden – all lines represent the surface of the object as viewed in those planes.

Aside:  Would love to have background on the person (ie; Who? When?)  who originally proposed this problem; would round this off historically.

Posted by brianjn on 2004-10-26 07:09:41