Difficult Synthesis Booklet

Page 1




4 HEXAFORM

10 11 13 15

I II III IV

22 BENDING 28 RIVULET

PLY


Natural Form Studies

Parameters

Synthesized Architectural Project

Site Analysis

Structural Performance

Situations at The Envelope Bending Surface

Materials

Material Manipulation

Program Requirements

Sheet Material

Casted Material

Material Composition Hand Processes

Fabrication

Woven Material

Material Prototyping Digital Processes

During the course of the studio, we investigated “how computational design and fabrication methods can significantly transform the design process to advance architectural design that questions traditional assumptions of space, program and notions of inhabitation.” “Through the exploration of design as a synthetic exercise and will utilize prototyping to establish a form finding feedback loop to interrogate the performative capacity of architecture and its relationship to the body, geometric and material systems were developed through algorithmic processes that seek to instrumentalize material behavior and exploit digital fabrication processes. The prototype serves as an active model in the understanding of form, material, structure and environment as complex and interrelated.”


HEXAFORM DIFFICULT SYNTHESIS EUGENE WONG & ALEX FISCHER


Hexaform began with the study of natural forms and the systems that they emerge from. From our initial explorations, we decided the shell of a tortoise contained many interesting properties that could inform a castable surface. The size and number of plates, extrusion height, and number of concentric rings are all variables that affect the shell’s performance. As the plates get higher on the shell, their ridges grow in height, creating a spiking effect. In addition, the hexagon shaped plates get deformed as they move down towards the edge of the shell. The concentric rings on each plate are much like rings of a tree. The rings grow out from the center each year, allowing a reading of the tortoise’s age from sight alone. Hexaform attempts to recreate this structure, with corresponding variables, with apertures to regulate light.


ITERATION1 SURFACE 1 Perspective

Elevation

attractor planes

Plan View


ITERATION2


ITERATION3


BOOLEAN

SURFACE


ITERATION4



PREFINAL

ITERATION

Tortoise Shell - Sections

1/8”

1/2”

1/8”

1/2”

1” = 1


PRINT 1”

3D


Paneling System

CAST

2



Additional Parameters: Disturbance Force in the form of attractor point Hexagonal variations Increased Material Depth

FORM

HEXA



PROCESS


CASTED

SURFACES


BENDING PLY

DIFFICULT SYNTHESIS EUGENE WONG & ALEX FISCHER


This project explores the ways and means by which plywood bends. Simple tests were devised to explore how the depth and width of a kerf affects the flexibility and strength of plywood. The first test was a gradient of depths and widths, expanding from the center of the sheet, with the deepest and widest cuts occurring at the center. The second test was the opposite, with the deepest and widest cuts at the ends. From these two tests, it was determined that shallow-wide kerfs offered little flexibility but great stability. The deep-wide kerfs tore easily. Deep-thin kerfs caused the wood to snap at those points, and shallow-thin kerfs restricted bending too much. The sweet spot seemed to be kerf with a 1/16th inch “skin” with a width of around half-an-inch. A third test was devised to determine whether the depth of the cut could dampen the effect of creating the kerfs against the grain of the bottom layer of plywood. As the kerfs go more-and-more against the grain, the depth is increased. This test was successful in that the plywood was able to twist in a consistent way not possible with straight kerfs or even-depth kerfs. These tests were leading to determine if kerfs could be made so that the plywood bent in a predetermined, predictable way. To this end, the zip-shape method of bending wood, innovated by Schindler Salmeron was explored. His method allows the creator to mill a flat sheet of plywood into two sides, and when the sides are pressed together, will form a given curve. The method essentially works by spacing the teeth such that the only way the two sides will ever fit back together is if they are in the predetermined curve shape. A script was written in grasshopper and revised throughout the course of the project. The zip-shape method’s real value is in its ability to bend plywood without the need for mold around which to bend the wood, as is used in steam bending. This allows custom bent wood pieces to vary, without any additional material or labor. In addition, the final result is a curved piece of plywood that is stronger than could be created using steam bending.


width to distance ratio with straight lines

width to distance ratio

1/8th inch

Bending Surface through interlocking grooves

2 inches

contour toolpath operation

z depth of lines varies with the grain of the material

1/16 inch

Vertical lines (going across grain) starts from 1/16th inch skin (material left over) 1/32 inch

Horizontal lines (going with grain) starts from 1/32th inch skin (material left over)


1

2

3


interweaving bent ply

groove milling process 1

groove milling process 2


weave 3d print

weave 3d print 2

bent ply

final prototype


RIVULET STUDIO: DIFFICULT SYNTHESIS EUGENE WONG & ALEX FISCHER


The boathouse is located along an active running and biking path across the Allegheny river from the vibrant Strip District in Pittsburgh. The active path influenced a flowing design, carved between the two dirt streams of running paths. An existing outlook to a great view of the river is adjacent to the boathouse, reinforcing the notion to take a break from biking. The site is sixteen feet above the river’s water level, on a hundred-year flood plane. The ramp to the water dips underneath one of the existing running paths, forming a tunnel with a view of the only water’s surface. The unconditioned boat house serves as a rental shop for kayaks. The boat house’s real beauty is in the roof. Bent wood beams flow overhead the users, directing them to the water. The need for distracting cross bracing is mitigated by secondary beams which bounce back and forth between beams. Fiberglass channels run down the length of each pair of beams, guiding rain water down the ramp and away from the dirt paths. The kayaks are stored vertically, leaning against the thick southern wall which acts as a thermal mass to help cool the boathouse. As kayaks are rented and removed, a slit of southern light is revealed.


SITE plans Bo

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1. 1. BOAT STORAGE 2. TRAINING AREA

2.

3. OUTLOOK 3. a

4. DECK

4.


SITEdiagrams EXISTING PARKING LOT

02. EXISTING PEDESTRIAN & BIKE PATH

01. EXISTING SITE CONDITION

BEAM 3

BEAM 3 SIDE A BEAM 2

BEAM 2 SIDE A BEAM 1

BEAM 1 SIDE A

BEAM 3 SIDE B

BEAM 2 SIDE B

BEAM 1 SIDE B

1 WOOD BEAM MILLING PROCESS

2 WOOD BEAMS LAMINATING PROCESS


CONTINUOUS ACCESSIBILITY

VIEWS TO RIVER

04. BUILDING ON SITE

PONENT

03. PROPOSED SITE LOCATION

3 FIBERGLASSING PROCESS

4 FINAL ASSEMBLY PROCESS

COM


ENVIRONMENTAL performance autumn wind frequency

spring wind frequency

summer wind frequency

Mesh allows heat to escape

water drainage

CHANNELING RAINWATER

Concrete wall for thermal mass


FIBERGLASS PANEL

6

CROSS BRACING BEAMS

5

WOOD BEAMS

4

KNITWIRE CLEAR MESH SCREEN

3

TUBULAR STEEL COLUMN

2

REINFORCED CONCRETE WALL

1


prototypes


vaccum form mold

fiberglass test 1

final model


sectional perspective across outlook

sectional perspective across ramp


INTERIORmodel



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