week7

B1 . RESEARCH FIELD Tessellation is commonly being used in the area of pattern creation in terms of architectural use. It is particularly rich in mathematics and is highly related to geometry. A tessellation is created with the arrangement of shape by repeating and fit tightly with no overlaps and leaving any gaps; but with aesthetic understanding, tessellation can turns into an art form with beautiful patterns.

Tessellation is able to reinterpret a smooth surface by simply using sheet materials.

In order words, it seek a balance between the geometry and material performance.

With the use of computational software, it is in particular beneficial when handling complex forms as it produces precision of data in surface definition which brought together the architecture itself with the materials; while leaving more controls for designers to explore how tessellation manipulate in producing such forms.

Volta Dom

Architects: Skylar Tibbit Volta Dom has reference to the historic structural component, the vault, to create the space with an arched ceiling. The project is generated with a planar surface with packed patterns and by inputting data of applied force to create those arches. In this way, the beautiful patterns form with the technique under tessellation has no change in their interlocking arrangement, and are able to apply not only to a flat plane but they are able to transform into a three dimensional space.

The curvy panels are divided into smaller developable strips and installed together.

In this project, we are able to see the technique of tessellation doesn’t only apply in ornamental purpose, but it can offer functions like working as structural element. Volta Dom as a selfsupporting structure has taken the advantage with the capacity of material performance to maintain structural capability. The whole structure need to be completely linked to the structural capability of each panel.

B2. Case Study 1.0

Iwamoto Scott- Voussoir Cloud Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States Year: 2008 The elegant patterns should be the most outstanding feature of Vousoir cloud and this is apparently an outcome from the technique of tessellation.

Different from the Volta Dom, Vossoir cloud doesn’t simply follow the strict rules of tessellation but instead it leaves spaces between each modules while each gaps allows penetration of light which create a dramatic effect. Apart from patterning, the Delaunay tessellation also provide critical information for structural logic which determine the purely compression system.

The form finding of the vaulted geometry can be seen referring to the hanging chain model. The force of gravity is driven to various anchor points to create different effects from the base geometry. The form of Vossoir cloud is an efficient response to optimize the structural force with the lightweight plywood surface which are completely under compression.

B3 . Case Study 2.0 Dragon Skin Pavilion Architects: Emmi Keskisarja, Pekka Tynkkynen, Kristof Crolla (LEAD) and Sebastien Delagrange (LEAD) Project Year2012 Location: Kowloon Park, Hong Kong

The Dragon Skin Pavilion is designed as an experimental artwork by architecture students from Finland. It concept is to inspires people to think the space we live in today being developed into a technology combined space in the future. Through digital design and fabrication technology, the project intends to explore new opportunities for spatial, tactile, and material possibilities.

The project shows how tessellation is implemented, in this case, the regular, repetiting wooden panels interconnected to each other to create its general form. I found the joining system used here interested me the most. In most other projects, additional bolts are often necessary for connecting structure but instead, the Dragon Skin Pavilion is designed with algorithm to get accurate position of each panel which shifted with a certain degree of angle to create its curvature and connected by simply slide past to interlock one another for connection. The structure formed with 163 pieces of plywood components which are digitally fabricated by bending rectangular pieces; doesn’t only take patterning for aesthetic purpose, but the material capacity is also significance in providing structural stability.

B3 . Reverse Engineering

Create curves and loft to create general form

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Cull to shift pattern position and scaled them to get this final result

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Create bounding box for pattern

Create tesselation patterns

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Morph patterns onto surface

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Form Finding through culling points

Form Finding through adjusting constraint curve

Cull faces

Tesselation

I was aiming to find a form with the exploration on culling pattern. This component allows me to get control with the cells by using the boolean toggle by simply setting true or false. I like this hemisphere dome form which form an enclosure space. The form can be built structrally with a stable base.

Similar to what I aim above, by adjusting the constraint curves, I can easily control the size of openings and get a general form for the design.

The curvature of the structure with the increase in height and a wide opening which is more likely to be considered as an open space which is a opposite of the one above.

I begin to think about pattering over here. This is one of the iterations taken from the exploration of patterning by culling faces. I choose this as one of my selection becasue of the nice composition formed with the balance between “positive” and “negative”.

Tesselation is one important element I found in the Dragon Skin Pavilion. Here, I lofted two curves to create a pattern for morphing onto the surface. I found this is interesting because the patterns itself formed the gaps in between each patterns initially without the need of culling faces like what I did above,

B 5. Technique Prototypes:

This prototype is done with paper to explore the tessellation pattern.

Each triangle is cut at the two ends so they can interlock with each other without any extra fixing. It is tested with lightings, bending etc. The result of the model is out of my expectation. By bending the model, it is surprisingly that it is more stable than I thought. However, I found out that the shadowing effect was not that stunning as what it is in the Dragon Skin Pavilion.

B 6. Technique Proposal: Site of Interest: Dights Falls

Dights Fall

Dights Fall located at the downstream of the junction of the Yarra River with Merri Creek can be a possible area for my design. The weir at the dights increase the velocity of water so that rubbish can flow in naturally to the trap and able to keep litter inside without flowing back

Water pollution can trigger great impact to the environment. The wildlife can be greatly affected by the quality of water and there are reports showing that animals living in the Merri Creek are often trapped by rubbish such as water bottles, fishing nets, plastic rings and hair ties etc. Environmentalist has noted that it is almost impossible for entangled animals to free themselves and this can seriously threatened their lives. Animals can potentially get horrific hurt or forfeit the ability of foraging and may even get drown. There is no doubt that water pollution can leaves the habitat in poor condition or have a chance to lead animals to death.

“Litter Trap is a floating device installed at strategic locations along waterways to collect and retain floating litter, vegetation and other debris.

The system operates silently without any mechanical assistance, capturing and retaining debris ready for removal and disposal.�

(Source: Bandalong Litter Trap)

I see this as an opportunity to create something to tackle this problem. Though definitely my design is impossible to fully collect all the litters but it also aims to remind people that the interrelationship between nature, technology and culture. My design intent is to use the concept of the litter trap which is able to trap the floating litter in order to reduce the amount of rubbish at waterway and developed it into a design with both function and aesthetic purposes

Parametric design can perfectly stand for the system connection in order to evoke people awareness and to think about how technology and culture are causing impact to our nature.

For form finding of my design, I will use the Kangaroo plug, which is the technique being used in Voussoir Cloud. The form responds to its function which is to trap the litter in place. The structure itself since doesn’t need take much load as it floats on water so instead light weight material is what should grab more attention on.

On the other hand, adopting the idea of tessellation from the Voussoir Cloud and the Dragon Skin Pavilion, for my design, patterns are arranged and packed in a similar way so that it can leaves spaces for fish to go through and not trapping them.