Adela Risha Saputra 617260
Semester 1/2013
Group 6
Red Cabbage Brassica Oleracea
Brassica oleracea, also known as red cabbage as its local name, has a complicated spiral pattern, as it is seen from the cross-sectioned view. The spiral goes from the center of cabbage and curve at both clockwise and anticlockwise direction respectively. Next, the spirals multiple with the same direction pattern, with each spiral chiral each other in a bigger scale. The multiple spirals formed from the center of the cabbage are also known as Fibonacci Spiral, which is a mathematical definition of the spiral pattern itself. This particular pattern is found almost everywhere in the nature; it is found in various arrangement of leaves on stems (which is known as phyllotaxis), or the seed head of sunflowers. From the physics point of view, this particular structure in nature is observed to have the least amount of energy to configure. From the biological point of view, the growth of flower seeds is always aligned at a fixed angle, and it’s always goes in a spiral fashion. This is to achieve the largest space available for growth.
Analytical Drawings
The first analytical drawing was made by tracing the apparent space consecutively placed in the pattern. Then, I connected each dots to create a pattern which looked just like the Fibonacci sequence. 1
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The second analytical drawing was similar to the first one in terms of concept, although in here, it was obvious that the lines were smooth and round, showing the movement of the cabbage’s growth. My final analytical drawing unintendedly turned out to be similar like a geometrical rose. Putting Kandinsky’s theory to use, I simplifiy the lines creating the spiral and attempted to point out the dots of the bigger space by placing triangles in the spaces’ position.
(1) Brassica oleracea (Red cabbage - cross section) (2) Balance (3) Movement (4) Simplified
Fibonacci Spiral RECIPE
RECIPE 1. Pick a center point (O). 2. Divide into n parts, with equal value of angle. 3. Make AC an axis* 4. Draw a half-circle with radius r from O to AC. 5. Draw a bigger half-circle with radius 2r from E to AC. 6. Repeat 4 - 5 for each angle. *the axis has to be from the upper left corner of the diagram to the bottom right corner.
01. Scaling
Inspired by the Fibonacci spirals formed in red cabbage, I tried to incorporate the idea of scaling the spiral, which is evident in the cabbage, to my emerging forms. The idea is the outer side of the spiral goes bigger than its center, where it originally initiates.
Furthermore, the points of intersection between the lines forming the spiral in the cabbage guided the paper to bend in order to form a spiral.
02 Extrude
RECIPE 01. Make three triangular shaped prism. Be sure to scale both end sides of spiral, with the smallest on its center; 02. Fold it to make an angled turn and thus resulting a spiral-like shape. 03. Repeat step 1-2 at a larger scale from its center.
For this particular model, the process of making it is just a simple cut, fold, and glue.
FINAL MODEL
Basically, it only required triangles as its base geometric form. Most of the triangles are isosceles, and several triangles used to make bent corners are equilaterals. Moreover, I used the points of intersection in which the lines meet to form an angle as a guide to make my triangles joined, thus creating a spiral.
Rhino Models The first model I was trying to make with Rhino was the spiral form (1-2), which is the digital form of my first try of paper model (refer to page 3). These spirals are made with fibonacci squares; resulting in a perfectly align spirals. The basic idea stayed the same: as it reaches out, it goes bigger in scale.
Furthermore, the surface of the spirals is beveled (not round) as I made the sides triangular. The second model was refering to my final paper model, and it looks exactly the same with it; only with few changes on the triangles. 1
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01.
Reichstag Dome Berlin
Designed by architect Norman Foster, it serves as a parliament house for German government. The building is made out of glass which represents transperancy and democracy of German government. The most interesting part about the dome is the spiraling pathway and stairs around the dome, which built the foundation of the dome shape itself, and provides aesthetique of the building.
INSPIRED BUILDINGS
Similar to my emerging form models, these spiralinspired buildings are the perfect examples of how I pictured my models. The spirals start from the center and as it goes around, it becomes larger in scale, until it forms a typhoon-like structure. Moreover, the geometric shape of the spiral in Reichstag dome are angled (not round), which is why folding is the technique to form that structure.
01.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York
Designed by the renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, it is one of the most spectacular museum building in the world. The design itself was inspired by the proportion of a Japanese miracle shell (Thatcheria mirabilis). It incorporates the shell’s symmetry (which is spiral going upwards; typhoonlike) to the exterior and interior of the building itself.
01. Spiral
The idea is simply to swirl the plasticine over the upper part of the arm to suspend the structure. In this first model, the concept was to scale the piece from small until large, and taking the paper model as an example, shape the piece into a triangular surface.
02. Suspended The idea for this model is how one part of the spiral can suspend the weight of the other spirals. This idea is then applied to the plasticine, where a top right corner of the slice was tear halfway, and rolled to create a skin. Make two of those and sandwiched them together oppositedly. As seen in the pictures, the interface of this model is being held or hanged on the wrist (thus the hole on the corner).
03. Folds
The idea behind this model is the process of folding. I was inspired by the process in making my final paper model, in which I folded the paper to create triangles and joined them together to make an angle. This idea process was applied here, by taking the same principle, and moreover, taking the suspended idea incorporated here also. First, I did the same tearing like the suspended model, and multiply them by three. Second, I folded the other corner of the slice (top left) to create the mushroom effect. Do the same with all the pieces. Third, I joined the pieces together oppositedly to make an angle between each folding. Last, because it has to interact with our arm, I attached another additional part to be worn by the lower part of the arm.
FINAL MODEL
This final model was created through a collaboration between the first until the third idea (spiral, suspended, and folds). It has a slight different process than the others, but the concept is still the same.
First, make a spiral just like the first model, but incorporate more swirls than the first model. Multiply this by three. Second, join two spirals together by meshing the end of each spirals together. As you can see, this will form a hang (or suspended) structure for the spirals. Third, join the last spiral at the end of the hanged spiral. This last spiral will function as a wearable exterior to the lower arm, where it spirals the lower arm to the wrist. Last, create the scales for the suspended spiral, which takes the form of half circle being folded up to give more dimension.
FILTERED LIGHTING One of my favorite lighting effect is the filtered effect, because not only it gives out a balance between the shadow and light, it is also the perfect way to be able to manipulate a skin’s structure to create the desired effect. The filtered effect has infinite possibility, which is why it is interesting to explore this method. Moreover, this type of effect suit ted the most for the lantern’s arm interface.
Module one has given me lots of experiences in terms of the designing process. It had engaged me to think outside the box more often than before, and it certainly had stretched my perspective over the creative process. At first, I had to found a natural pattern that intrigued me and made a design recipe out of it. This stage was extremely vague to me and fairly abstract because I could not vision what I could make out from the natural pattern that I selected. Eventually, I picked the cross sectional view of a red cabbage as my natural pattern. I did not realize that the pattern formed was actually a Fibonacci spiral, and therefore I tried creating my own recipe for the Fibonacci spiral in which I think is a fair attempt, even though it probably failed at certain stage of the recipe. I discovered the Fibonacci spiral when I was attempting to draw my analytical drawing. It was really interesting discovering many perspective from which the pattern could be translated into many simple drawings. I tried incorporating Kandinsky’s technique of analytical drawing, which has the process of simplification, analysis, and transformation (Poling 1987). I found this method of analytical drawing easier and more interesting rather than Ball’s method of analysing pattern. In Ball’s method, he took us to look at the scientific process behind the formation of the pattern, from the physics, mathematics, or even biological perspectives (Ball, 2012). I found Ball’s method to be harder because even though all natural things around us can be explained by science, it’s hard to translate that science process into a drawing, while Kandinsky’s try is more open, where I can explore various geometrical shapes and position of my found pattern. In this case, I heavily applied geometrical shapes into my analytical drawing, following through Kandinsky’s method. The next step was to emerge the form in paper. This was quite a challenge for me because initially I had no vision at all as what my found pattern could create. However, this was where I developed my critical thinking skills in order to create a 3D model based on a 2D drawing. This process was entirely new for me so therefore I tried researching for many inspiration, mostly buildings and structures. Next was the Rhino session, which I found quite difficult due to my inexperience in that program, but eventually with the help of my tutors and peers, I managed to understand most of the tools there and produced basic render drawings. Last was the process of making the 3D plasticine form of the lantern and how it can interface with our body parts. I think this is one of the most difficult process of the module, because not only that I have to try to link between all the other processes to create one shape, but I also have to think about the actual surface and practicallity of the lantern. What was challenging for me is to come up with the idea at first and explaining to my tutors and peers why I managed to create that shape. At the end of this module, I learned many valuable experiences that are entirely new for me. In a way, this module is an introduction to a long creative process that I have to learn to enjoy and endure for the rest of my life if I continue to persue a career in architecture. I found that even though it strained me at times, but getting the desired result was worth the stress.
REFLECTIVE READING