HOFFMAN SUITE

Designer: Dr. Volker Latussek

This puzzle measures: 168 mm x 168 mm x 84 mm

Material: Acacia/Maple

Dr. Volker Latussek wrote about it:
“I really wanted to realize the HOFFMAN SUITE according to Dean G. Hoffman’s 1978 problem using golden cuboids. However, the sum of the side lengths of the golden ratio 1.000 x 1.618 x 2.618 yields 4.236 which is greater than the 4.000 specified by Hoffman. Wanting to preserve the harmony of the golden ratio, I considered their square root: 1.000 x 1.272 x 1.618. At 3.890, their sum is less than 4.000 and they fulfil the Pythagorean theorem (as 1.000 x 1.000 + 1.272 x 1.272 = 1.618 x 1.618), which is indispensable for rotations in restricted boxes. The basic building block for the HOFFMAN SUITE is found and considering its inherent harmony, I’ve named the four packing problems after the four movements of Edvard Grieg’s 1888 Peer Gynt Suite.

HOFFMAN SUITE: I. MORNING MOOD
Unrestricted cubic box with 6 identical parts, each consisting of three basic blocks. It never ceases to amaze me how this simple construction principle plays tricks on our viewing and playing habits.

HOFFMAN SUITE: II. THE DEATH OF ASE
Unrestricted cubic box with 8 different parts, each consisting of three basic blocks. This design came from my investigation of how many corner columns of three basic blocks are required for a unique filling. I had initially reckoned on 6, but haven’t been able to find them so far, and a filling with 7 corner columns has also eluded me. This packing problem is aptly named and should probably be avoided.

HOFFMAN SUITE: III. ANITRA’S DANCE
Restricted cubic box with 5 equal parts, each consisting of three basic blocks. Here too you’ll find your mind and your eyes playing tricks on you. Oh, and there may be some interlocking rotations.

HOFFMAN SUITE: IV. IN THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING
Restricted cubic box with 27 basic blocks. Despite the seemingly infinite number of pieces(!), the solution can be derived. The impatient can use the 21 published solutions of the HOFFMAN PUZZLE as a guide (one of which is the initial filling) – so don’t just pour out the blocks because you can learn a lot and the folks at Pelikan have filled the 27 basic blocks into the box with a lot of love.”