DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2015 M1 JOURNAL - Light That Lantern Edward Kwan-Shuen Yee (699508) Michelle Emma James Seminar 1
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Measured Drawings
1300mm
1300mm
Elevation
Section A
1300mm
1300mm
2450mm
Plan
Scale= 1:2 2
Measurements were taken in 3 different methods: 1) Rule and measure 2) Photocopy and trace 3) Photograph and observation With the metal ruler, accurate dimensions could be measured. All measurements were made in millimeters (mm). However, some of the lantern’s curves could not be accurately measured by a ruler. Hence, photocopying and tracing the outline and curves of the lantern had to be done. Lastly, some of the lantern’s fabric skin wrinkles could only be drawn by photographing and observing the lantern in person.
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Analysis The lantern has a paper fabric skin that is foldable. The skin serves as an aesthetic function to hide the wooden frame. It also shields the inside of the lantern from air flow from the sides. This is so the small flame that is lit inside the lantern will not be extinguished by wind easily.
Scale= 1:5
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When the structure is not subjected to tension, the paper fabric crumples inward with a valley fold. The corners fold into a triangular mountain and valley fold simultaneously. This can be seen in the photo below:
When the structure is subjected to tension, the paper fabric undergoes tension. It is pulled taut by t he wooden frame structure and the surface of the paper becomes smooth.
Force
Scale= 1:5
Expanded wooden frame
A steel frame creates opposing forces at each end when it is bent. This opposing force is what retains the lantern’s expanded shape. It prevents the wooden frame from compressing into its compressed form.
Scale= 1:2 The lantern has a wooden frame structure that is coiled like a rectangular spring. Due to compression and tension, the structure naturally compresses itself into a more compact form. This is how the lantern is made more portable alongside the foldability of the paper fabric skin.
Scale= 1:2
Force Compressed wooden frame
Scale= 1:2 5
Digital Model
Top View Perspective View
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The fabric was made by drawing the cross section curves at each corner of the frame. They were then lofted and given a blue material texture.
The frame was made by drawing polylines and joining them into a curve. The pipe command was then applied.
This detail was made by drawing a curve then applying the pipe command. Boolean Union was used to combine it with the frame. The steel frame was also made by drawing polylines and curve, trimming and joining these lines, and finally applying the pipe command again. 7
Sketch Model
Perspective View
Front View
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The bone structure was made out of timber and metal wire. They were connected together with blue tack. White A4 paper was used as the skin structure for this sketch model. The system reimagine the skin and bone structure of the lantern by having a static part (which is the timber frame structure) and a dynamic structure (which is the metal wire frame). Paper as a skin can be folded or cut very easily. I explored this materiality by criss-crossing the paper skin in the center where the steel frame is. To do this, a slit had to be cut in both skins of paper.
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Sketch Design #1 Shoulder Tent What is your idea? [Maximum 5 key words]
The basic idea is to have columns acting as the bone structure of the tent. A type of fabric will be used as the skin, preferably translucent for spatial visual factor.
The concept is to have two structures, one on each shoulder. A third ‘tent’ structure extrudes over the head but only having fabric on top. This acts as a form of shelter, yet allows freedom of head movement How does this respond to your personal space? In this sketch design, I focussed on how personal the region around our head, neck and shoulders were. This forms a sort of barrier.
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Sketch Design #2 The Vest of Personal Contact What is your idea? [Maximum 5 key words] The concept is to use triangular frames (i.e. bone structure) that has foldable fabric in between the frames. It is arranged in a circle and the circles are arranged in levels to eventually form a vest. The fabric should be elastic in order to allow the frame to expand yet fit around a person like clothes.
How does this respond to your personal space? In this sketch design, I focussed on personal space when our torso comes into contact. The design tries to prevent actual contact on the torso.
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Sketch Design #3 The Cobra What is your idea? [Maximum 5 key words]
This design involved a dynamic structure. The foldable frame above has a rod connected to the wrist. So when the user folds his arms (whereby he brings up his wrists), the structure expands, creating an overall larger frontal visual presence. Fabric and frame structures arranged in a panel format addresses the protection of personal space from the side.
How does this respond to your personal space? In this sketch design, I focussed on personal space from the front, visually and side, physically. It allows me to establish personal space when I want to.
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Appendix
Rail Sweep 1
Rail Sweep 2
Pipe
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