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D E S I G N
B . 0 S E L F R E F L E C T I O N H E A R T C H A K R A / A N A H A T A C O L L A G E
B . 1 M O D E L F O R V A R I A T I O N M Y C E L I U M N E T W O R K B . 2 C A S E
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C A S E
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A P P E N D I X
O B J E C T I V E S
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The heart chakra, also known as Anahata, is the wellspring of love, warmth, compassion, and joy. It is located at the center of your chest, just above your heart level.
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A N A H A T A H E A R T
C H A K R A
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2
ASSOCIATED WITH : Compassion, Love, Empathy, Forgiveness, Kindness ELEMENT : Air COLOUR : Green, Pink (if excessive) PETALS OF THE LOTUS : 12 PHYSICAL ASSOCIATION : Heart, lungs, circulatory system, arms, hands PLANETS : Venus
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1
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1
The 12 petals surround the star forms a lotus, represents the 12 qualities a heart should possess: joy, peace, kindness, patience, love, harmony, clarity, compassion, purity, understanding, forgiveness, bliss21.
2
The intersecting triangles symbolises air and its all-encompassing quality. It forms a star that symbolises the harmonious joining of opposite principles(eg. male and female, spirit and matter).22
What drew me to the heart chakra was it’s colour, green. The colour green is said to to mean peace, harmony and healing. It it also related back to greed, money and jealousy. Funny that the colour green and the heart chakra relates so closely with one another. Reflecting on my personal STRENGTHS relating to the heart chakra, what resonates deeply within me is my love and compassion for othes. Personally, it is easy for me to trust people and express compassion to loved ones or friends; one could call me gullable if you look at it that way. However, some of my WEAKNESSES would include a lack of empathy for others and the unwillingness to forgive and forget disputes with others.
21
”The Qualities And Symbols Of The Anahat Chakra” <https://www.chakras.net/energy-centers/anahat/qualities-and-symbols>. 22 ”Discover The Meaning Behind The Heart Chakra Symbol” <http://www.chakras.info/heart-chakra-symbol/>
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C O L L A G E
After doing a bit of research on the heart chakra and coming up with a list of strengths and weaknesses, a collage was made to represent my bloackages and strengths in visual representation. In the “sea” of people, aquaintances crowds can be seen at the bottom of the ocean. Representing that they are at the bottom of my personal hierachy. In that case, I have not much empathy for those who aren’t close to me or those who have betrayed my trust. The lemon and lily pad creates a “life boat” situation in this picture. Where people who are on it are considered loved ones, thus do not suffer the seclusion that one may experience while at sea. This represents the empathy and compassion I have for loved ones and close friends.
“The mycelium [is] the Earth’s natural Internet, a consciousness with which we might be able to communicate ... from footsteps to falling tree branches, [we] could relay enormous amounts of data regarding the movements of all organisms through the landscape.”23
23.
Paul Stamets, Mycelium Running (Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed Press, 2005).
M Y C E L I U M W O R L D
W O O D
N E T W O R K
W E B
The world wood web, officially known as the mycelium network, is a vast underground network, ultimately made out of fungi, which connects plants all over the world. This fungus allows plants, specifically trees, to communicate and connect with one another. It allows them to exchange information and resources, allowing one to share and absorb nutrients from other plants24. Dying trees are able to release their remaining nutrients through the network to various other plants, benefiting the community and other neighbouring trees in the area. Younger tree saplings can be supported by strong
neighbouring trees to help them grow stronger. Additionally, mycelium allows plants to send warnings about incoming diseases and other threats, enabling them to strengthen their â&#x20AC;&#x153;barriersâ&#x20AC;?. This natural phenomenon is estimated to be 450 million years old, making it one of the most ancient form of network communication. Despite its brilliance, the network has its dark side as well. Whilst plants are able to share nutrients and help one another, others that cant produce their own energy(through photosynthesis) steal from others using the mycelium network.
1
Trees release seed pods that are often picked up and carried by birds, effectively expanding the network. Mycelium networks have the ability to expand for kilometers.
2
Hub trees drop branches in order for seedlings to grow as they require more room and sunlight
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Fallen branches, leaves and twigs create a natural mulch. This enables the soil to retain moisture and promotes fungal and bacterial growth (mycelium). It is within this organic mulch that mycelium naturally evolves.
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Trees communicate in the case of baterial diseases or insect threats. This means that the threat can be prevented from spreading as other trees are able prepare natural defense mechaisms. Diseased tree sends alerts. Other trees within the mycelium network are able to defend themselves.
Dying tree sacrifices itself by sending nutriants to other trees rather than using them to prolong its own life. Hub tree sends extra nutrients to its own seedlings as well as other trees.
HUB TREE
1
DYING TREE DISEASED TREE
4 2 YOUTH TREE
SEEDLING
3 24.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Myceliumâ&#x20AC;?, En.Wikipedia.Org, 2018 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycelium> [Accessed 20 April 2018].
T R A N S L A T I O N O F
T H E
N E T W O R K
In our lack of empathy and compassion for others, the mycelium network in trees is strong and known for it. Whlist trees priorities their own seedlings over other trees in their network, the fact that they share nutrients and information with others that are not of their own species
is a representation of an empathatic and close knit network. In translating this network system into our project, we look at the mycelium network to combat our lack of empathy. With this idea
DIAGRAM
SYSTEM B
These points distribution of tr network and the points relate to h within the netwo the point the larg the more connec has across the net
These lines show t across the netw density various network in accord heirachial power within the networ density show wh are present.
of self-sacrificing for others, we decided to translate this into our pavillion project at Dight Falls. As a starting point, we took data points from a forest in Canada, the Douglas Fir Forest, and
E H AV I O U R
used these points in Grasshopper to translate the data we collected from the network into a physical form in Grasshopper. From here, we experiemented using various commands found in Grasshopper that mimiced a biomimetic language.
GRASSHOPPER
TOOLS TO EXPLORE
show the rees across the e various sized heirachial power ork. The larger ger the tree and ctions the tree twork.
These points could be used in grasshopper to create various forms and surfaces, exploring the distribution of trees across the network, as well as their relationships to one another.
METABALL
the connections work. The line across the dance with the r of the trees rk. Areas of high here hub trees
These lines could be used in grasshopper to create various shapes, surfaces and forms. The lines create various spaces which could be translated to create inhabitable spaces for the final design. The lines could also be used to create pathways.
DELAUNEY
VORONOI NEAREST POINTS
VORONOI EXTRUDE
B U I L D
GH POINTS
HUB TREES
MID TREES
S
We mapped the points in grasshopper according to the points given in the Douglas Fir Forest diagram as a starting point in our experimentation. We defined the points in the 4 groups from the scientific diagram; hub trees, mid trees, small trees, and saplings.
Using the closest points tool, we simulated various network lines betw From these diagrams it can be seen that the hub trees are the most wid they decrease in size. From this analysis we can derived data that can
SMALL TREES
SAPLINGS
ween the 4 different groups of trees within a mycelium network. dely distributed and the other trees become more condensed as be used to modify future forms across the 4 tree groups.
ENTIRE NETWORK
This is our grasshopper simulated network.
E X P E R I M E N T I T E R A T I O N S
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S I T E D I G H T
C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
F A L L S
In order to tie our project back to the site, we visited Dight Falls, at Merri Creek, a 15km waterway that extends from Melbourne’s inner city Parklands to Craigieburn East.
that dips towards the river. We picked this area because of it’s thick vegetation and the potential mycelium network connections that could be happening right beneath our feet.
Upon arriving at Merri Creek, Dight Falls, we observed the many activities that occurred within the area. Many people were walking, jogging, canoeing, picnicking and expliring the various walkways and trails within the area.
From here, we mapped out the points of the various trees on site. Divided into different groups—hub trees, mid trees, small trees, saplings, and even diseased/dying trees. With its rich diversity, we thought this could potentially lead us in an intresting direction.
Thick vegetation was observed towards the east of Dight Falls; a small secluded area
Biomimicry.
cdcdcdcs
M O R N I N G C A S E A S A 2
S T U D Y
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L I N E
R A N D A \ L A S C H E V I L L E , S P A I N ; I T S T A N B U L , T U R K E Y ; U S T R I A ; K A R L S R U H E , G E R M A N Y 0 0 8 - 2 0 1 3
Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/arandalasch/5882758562
V I E N N A ,
The morning line is a collaborative architectural sculptural project designed by arrchitects, aranda/lansch, and artist, Matthew Richie. Made by ultilising parametic software, Grasshopper. This project was explores the interdisciplinary interplays between art, architecture, mathematics, cosmology, music, and science.25 The form of the morning line is created by multiplying clusters of shapes on each vertices and scaling within the vertices. Through the multiplication and deconstruction of the various vertexes and vertices, we discovered that the
“- Work - The Morning Line”, Aranda\Lasch, 2018 <http://arandalasch.com/works/the-morning-line/> [Accessed 20 April 2018].
25.
form of the morning line was very limiting in it’s exploration. As a group, we chose this project as a starting guide because of its complexity, flexibility, and varying form. However, after working on it for a few days, we realised that the script only works properly on a prism. Due to it’s limiting potential, we decided as a group that it wasn’t very beneficial to out project.
M O R N I N G I T E R A T I O N S
N O. OF SEGME N TS
va r i a ble = n o. of pol ygon side s (n)
L I N E
F R AG ME N TS AT V E R TI C E S var iable = numbe r ( f )
n=3
n = 0.333
n = 0.81
n=4
n = 0.761
n = 0.465
n=5
n = 0.553
BREP COMM A N DS variable = comma nd
weaver bird
wireframe
pipe
C LU STE R M I R R O R I N G
C LU STE R PATTE R N I N G
M O R N I N G I T E R A T I O N S
L I N E
PATTERNI N G
F R AG M E N TS AT V E R TI C E S var iable = numbe r ( n)
n=0
n=0
n = 0.553
n = 0.553
n = 0.465
n = 0.465
CLUSTER FRAGME N TAT I ON
F VALU E I TE R ATI O N S va r iable = numbe r ( f )
f = 0.553
f = 0.618
f = 0.761
S U CC E SS F U L I TE R ATI O N S
G R I D S H E L L M A T S Y S D E S I G N S M A R T G E O M E T R Y 2 0 1 2
2 0 1 2 , T R O Y,
N E W
Y O R K
The Gridshell is a 4-day workshop project done by Matsys Design at Smartgeometry. Utilising parametic tools such as Grasshopper, they were able to come up with a geodesic curve structure26.
where we mapped out the points of the various tree groups. As we continued to work on the script, we realised that though as similar as it may seem, it was not relevant enough to the mycelium network and its depth.
As a group, we chose this project as out case study because of its similarity to the mycelium network. The anchor of points and curves in this script is similar to our own experiment,
Before attempting the reverse engineering of the gridshell pavillion, it is important to analyse the basic curves that make up the curve.
“SG2012 Gridshell « MATSYS”, Matsysdesign.Com, 2018 <http://matsysdesign.com/2012/04/13/sg2012-gridshell/> [Accessed 20 April 2018].
26.
G R I D S H E L L I T E R A T I O N S
DIVIDE
EXPLODE TREE
3 PT A
CURVE
NUMBER SLIDER: 35
DIVIDE
EXPLODE TREE
NUMBER S
NUMBER S
1.
CURVES Generate simple curves. Arrange them via control points. Reference them in GH
2. DIVIDE CURVES
Organises points into three separate lists. Also able to control number of points. Able to divide again and again
3. EXPLODE TREE 4. Exolodes data in order to access and control it. Use match outputs to explode each curve.
ARC Generate arcs between neighbouring curves.
ARC
REBUILD
LOFT GEODESIC CURVE GEODESIC
SHIFT
SLIDER: 5
LIST
SHIFT
SLIDER: -5
5.
LIST
REBUILD Rebuild to generate on single untrimmed surface.
6.
LOFT Loft curves to create a single surface for geodesic curves.
7.
SHIFT LIST 8.
GEODESIC
Allows for more complex control and graphic results. Are also to control the offset value. Wrap ON for diagonal direction
G e o d e s i c surface control and curved absorbtion.
G R I D S H E L L I T E R A T I O N S
S I T E D I G H T
C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
F A L L S
In order to tie our project back to the site, we visited Dight Falls, at Merri Creek, a 15km waterway that extends from Melbourne’s inner city Parklands to Craigieburn East.
that dips towards the river. We picked this area because of it’s thick vegetation and the potential mycelium network connections that could be happening right beneath our feet.
Upon arriving at Merri Creek, Dight Falls, we observed the many activities that occurred within the area. Many people were walking, jogging, canoeing, picnicking and expliring the various walkways and trails within the area.
From here, we mapped out the points of the various trees on site. Divided into different groups—hub trees, mid trees, small trees, saplings, and even diseased/dying trees. With its rich diversity, we thought this could potentially lead us in an intresting direction.
Thick vegetation was observed towards the east of Dight Falls; a small secluded area
A P P L I C A T I O N D E V E L O P M E N T
T O
S I T E
D ATA
Using the points we mapped at Dight Falls, we imput this data into Grasshopper to generate 5 sets of points: hub trees, mid trees, small trees, saplings, dying trees.
TREES ON SIT
Using the closest tool, we netw closest hub tree connection, tryi visible.
TE
worked each point to itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ing to make the invisible
S I M U L AT E D N E T W O R K
This process allowed us to generate areas of density and complexity, allowing us to define different spaces and forms that could be used in our pavillion.
E X P E R I M E N T S I T E R A T I O N S
2 . 0
E X P E R I M E N T S I T E R A T I O N S
3 . 0
SUCCESSFUL ITERATIONS The form we chose communicates what we think mycelium looks like.
P S E U D O I T E R A T I O N S
C O D E
3 . 0
CONSTRUCT POINT
ADDITION
LINE SDL NEGATIVE
SN:90 CONSTRUCT POINT
SPHERE
START: 0.6
LINE SDL
SN: 80 CONSTRUCT DOMAIN
RAND
SN: 6
END: 0.4
RAND SN: 35
POINT
LINE SHORTEST WALK
POPULATE 3D
DISCONTINUIT
PROXIMITY 3D
START: 3 END: 1
CONSTRU DOMAIN
NEGATIVE SUBTRACTION
SN: 90
DEFORM
DOM
ADDITION
B BOX
EVALUATE SURFACE
POINT
CONSTRUCT POINT
DOM
KNOT VECTOR
TY
UCT
NURBS CURVE
LIST LENGTH
PIPE VARIABLE REMAP
CONSTRUCT POINT
3 D
P R I N T I N G
P R O T O T Y P E
Closed polysurfaces
During the 3D printing process, we realised that an excessive amount of support structure that will be generated during the process would ultimately change our form.
So in doing so, we decided to intergrate our support structure in our final form, thinking that this would be an interesting way to explore digital restraints and use them to our advantage in the furture.
Excessive amount of support structure in our prototype
To ensure that our form would be printed smoothly, we had to ensure that all surfaces were closed and capped. This process took a tedious amount of time given the fact that our form had a lot of open ends. To solve this issue,
commands such as boolean unions, show edges, and caps were used in the process.
T H E
R E N D E R
H U B
T H E
R E N D E R
H U B
The Hub is situated on the tip of Dight Falls, place where people can come to meditate, contemplate and have yoga sessions. The spaces created through the densities of tree clusters are divided into more intimate spaces where people can exchange empathetic conversations. The form communicates the natural appearance of the mycelium network, making the invisible, visible.
T H E S I T E
H U B
P L A N
T H E P L A N
H U B
SECTION LINE SCALE 1:50
T H E
H U B
S E I TC ET I POLNA N
SCALE 1:50 0
1
2
3
4
5
T H E
H U B
S E E L E C V T A I O T N I O N
SCALE 1:50 0
1
2
3
4
5
DESIGN REFLECTION Throughout the past few weeks, we responded to the brief by creating a place of contemplation by providing a peaceful space where users can come to use and meditate and relax. Responding to our blockages regarding our heart chakras, we also responded by creating a programo facilitate empathetic conversations with one another, combatting our lack of empathy and compassion for acquaintances. As a start, we diagrammed the process of mycelium and from then, translated it in Grasshopper by giving the script points and networks to connect to. Through the weeks, we came up with our final proposal, The Hub, achieving our concept goals. However, much work is needed to tie the pavillion back to the site. A deeper and better program shoudl also be implemented to encourage empathetic exchanged.
MOVING ON Moving on, we have decided to come up with a better and deeper program for our site in order to facilitate empathetic exchange amongst users. As we humans are more prone to open up after being through experiences together, we would want to explore this idea of creating a traumatic or shocking experience where users can go through the pavillion, then come together at the end to contemplate and exchange empathetic conversation. A maze-like structure or obstacle courses are ideas we could play with in the coming weeks. Regarding 3D printing, we plan to intergrate our support structure into our proposal, exploring the digital restrains and using them to our advantage.