[OUTDATED] Frank Mei Selected Works | 9.20 by Frank Mei

Portfolio ARCHITECTURE X ROBOTICS

D O C U M E N T N A M E

S E L E C T E D

F R A N K

M E

I 5

C O N T A C T

R A N G E

2 0

W O R K S

2 | PLAN/SECTION

FRANK MEI Hello,

Basic Information

My name is Frank and I am currently a third year undergraduate student at the University of Western Australia. Architecture is a practice which I understand as a study of the built environment both natural and fabricated; Architecture also encompasses the creation of the new, inspired by the old fueling the betterment of the built and organized environment at a human scale. This portfolio is a collection of selected works from my first 3 years in architecture school as well as personal projects relating to design. I hope it demonstrates my passion for Architecture as well as my proficiency in its representation. Additionally, I am consistently active in community outreach through volunteer programs and engage in leadership activities and currently serve as a small group leader among my peers. I enjoy learning both as a student as well as a leader from a broad range of topics. https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-mei-834a571b7/

Software

Interests

Grasshopper3D

Urbanisation

Adobe Photoshop

Preservation

Rhinoceros 6

Landscape

Adobe Indesign

Parametricism

Adobe Illustrator V-Ray Physical Model Making Adobe Lightroom

2018 - 2020

Sustainability Fabrication Historical Speculative

Name: Age: Ethnicity: Nationality: Languages:

Frank Mei 20 Chinese Australian English, Chinese

Contact Email: Contact number:

Frankmei8@gmail.com +61 438 659 079

Experience Internship:

SRPlabs 1/6/20 - 7/8/20

Education 2018 - Present:

University of Western Australia Bachelor of arts, Architecture undergraduate

References Senior Lecturer Tertiary Executive Pastor Academic Coordinator Lecturer

Santiago Perez Arthur Lai Peter Robinson Lara Camilla Pinho

Achievements & Publications Publication: Certificate II:

Ctrl + P, 2020 Visual Art & Graphic Design, 2017

Volunteer Work Church Organization: Role: Dates: Church Organization Role: Dates:

PCCT Band 2010 - 2017 Faith Community Church Tertiary education youth leader 2019 - Present

Index. 01

Ctrl + P

Research

Modular Expansion

Active Matter

Technical

Construction

Technical

Miscellaneous

Design

Personal

CTRL + P General Information Project Typology: Date: Skillset:

Synopsis

Independent research 1/6/20 - 7/10/20 Illustrator Rhino Grasshopper Indesign Lightroom

This project reports upon the findings of an independent research study conducted by senior lecturer Santiago Perez with myself and Fagun Mishra as assistant researchers.

material properties must be considered and understood, to develop a form. The projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal was to create a modular, tessellating system, amenable to further development.

The practicum itself consists of 6 phases. 1. Testing and experiments with materials to be used commenced with the selection of clay to water ratio, more importantly the type of clays that were available to us and their characteristics once mixed together. The goal was to develop a base ratio, which then could have its characteristics subsequently improved by the properties of additives used in future mixes.

5. After an exhaustive research and programming phase, the connection between digital and physical was finally made through fabrication. Through various testing methods, the programming scripts were optimized to ultimately achieve perfect calibration with the material, and the physical world.

2. The primary goal of this practicum was to construct a custom extruder capable of pushing out material, to be then directed by the robot. This robot is to be appropriated for later use by Santiago Perez for future classes. 3. A significant aspect of this project, was the digital realm. It is through the aid of Rhino and Grasshopper3D, that the extruder, the robot and the final geometries were programmed and controlled. The challenge being to successfully calibrate the material and tools, from the physical world to the digital. 4. The final stage of the project and by far the most interesting was the development of physical geometries. This is where

6. This project was conducted in a very short time period with many unexpected and challenging events to address. Hence evaluation and summary plays a vital role in the success of this research practicum. The purpose of this practicum is to examine the use of robots to digitally design and fabricate architectural shapes and elements. The robot used was the UR5e model, which features a new built-in, tool-centric force/ torque sensor for use in applications such as sanding, buffing, polishing and deburring where force-feedback is required for uniform results to be obtained, and repurposed to teach future students willing to undertake any architecture and fabrication related design projects utilizing robotics.

5 | WORKFLOW

PLAN/SECTION | 5

01.

Material

02.

Physical

03.

Digital

The justification of materiality

The process of physical fabrication

Integration of digital aid in fabrication

04.

Geometry

05.

Fabricate

06.

Evaluate

The Development of Geometry

The finalized installation geometry

Positive and negative experiences

6 | M AT E R I A L

C L AY T Y P O L O G Y | 6

Fire Clay

Ball Clay

Particle size

0.3-0.5mm

Particle size

0-0.2mm

Consistency

Fine

Consistency

Very fine

Fire clay is a refractory clay used in the manufacturing of ceramics most notably fire bricks. As fire clays tend to have a larger particle size due to its inconsistency and a range of materials that are mixed into the clay, this material tends to have a high melting point. In addition to this, it has a key property of adhesion, a characteristic that ball clay does not possess.

M Ball clay Fire clay Water

[ 0 1 ]

100g 0g 35ml

Ball clay Fire clay Water

[ 0 2 ]

Ball clay is the primary clay body used in our extrusion due to its properties which include: High unfired strength, plasticity and excellent workability. However, one downside to this is the fact that the clay body requires a lot of moisture to become malleable. This is due to its very fine particle size and, as a result of this, the body experiences significant shrinkage during the drying phase.

0g 100g 35ml

Ball clay Fire clay Water

[ 0 3 ]

70g 30g 35ml

Ball clay Fire clay Water

[ 0 4 ]

30g 70g 35ml

Hardness

Density

Tensile

Shrinkage

Cracks

7 | M AT E R I A L

ADDITIVES | 7

Hemp Proposed trait Effectiveness

Coffee Structural strength 8/10

Plumbers hemp is most commonly used as a means to prevent leaks. However, when cut into shorter lengths and mixed into clay it greatly increases tensile strength and self adhesion.

Quantity Clay Mixed Water

100g 98.8g 35ml

Proposed trait

Plaster Proposed trait

Quick dry

Effectiveness

100g 70g 35ml

Proposed trait

Adhesive strength

Effectiveness

6/10

Coffee has multiple properties most notably dry coffee grounds tend to suck up moisture which helps to decrease drying time. On another note, when coffee grounds are fired they are burnt off and create a porous texture.

Quantity Clay Mixed Water

Grog Effectiveness

5/10

Whilst plaster added a similar property to coffee, it does not burn off during firing as it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reduce the porosity of the material. More importantly, plaster cannot be fired.

Quantity Clay Mixed Water

100g 90g 35ml

Firing Strength 8/10

Grog is pre-fired clay that has been broken into smaller particles, to then add firing strength to the clay.

Quantity Clay Mixed Water

100g 70g 35ml

Hardness

Density

Tensile

Shrinkage

Cracks

8 | M AT E R I A L

MASTER MIX | 8

FINAL MIX Although we originally intended to fire this final mix, we found out late into the practicum that although this mix suited our purpose best, it cannot be fired. Thus, the incorporation of grog is now void.

Fire Clay

20%

Ball Clay

44.7%

Hemp

0.3%

Coffee

12%

Plaster

15%

Grog

Water

Ball clay Fire clay Coffee Hemp Plaster Grog Water

[ 0 1 ]

1 parts dry to 0.55 water

44.8g 19.2g 6g 0.6g 9g 6g 45ml

Ball clay Fire clay Coffee Hemp Plaster Grog Water

[ 0 2 ]

43.75g 18.75g 12g 0.5g 15g 10g 40ml

Ball clay Fire clay Coffee Hemp Plaster Grog Water

[ 0 3 ]

43.4g 18.6g 12g 1g 15g 10g 38ml

Ball clay Fire clay Coffee Hemp Plaster Grog Water

[ 0 4 ]

45.01g 19.29g 12g 0.3g 15g 8g 53ml

Hardness

Density

Tensile

Shrinkage

Cracks

9 | PHYSICAL

EXTRUDER | 9

Research Find extruders and reverse engineer them

Before clay could be properly extruded with the UR5e, we first had to design a tool which could be attached to the flange and controlled to print geometries. To begin with, we first researched into prior studies of similar projects. While there were different commercial extruders that we had identified, such as Wasp3d, Lutum extruder and the emerging objects clay extruder, a limited budget and access to readily available materials limited

our options. As a result, two projects attracted our attention. Firstly, the clay extruder at the IAAC was interesting due to the fact that it did everything we wanted to do but at a larger scale. They used a Kuka robot instead of a UR and had the extrusion tube mounted on the robot arm. In addition to this they also printed clay which was very dry which showed how versatile their extruder was. However, due to limitations of the UR5e load

Replicate Use knowledge of extruder to design our own

bearing capabilities we had to design at a smaller scale and the restricted budget meant that the use of this extruder was not possible. The other alternative we studied was the extruder by Bryan Cera. This was the extruder which we ultimately reverse engineered due to the ease of replication as well as readily available and in-depth instructions were kindly posted online by Bryan Cera.

REVISED EXTRUDER | 10 Number

Purpose

Threaded rods: Clamps the steel plates together with nuts

Steel plates: Serve to reinforce the tube base mount and relieve some stress on other joints

Extrusion Steel pipe: Holds extrusion material, for the purposes of this practicum: Clay

Lead screw: Feeds into driver and pushes plunger forward

Lead screw support: Holds the lead screw in a straight direction to allow smooth travel

Coupler: Transfers torque from gearbox brass nut which directs the leads crew

Extrusion nozzle: The tip from which material escapes

Nozzle clamp: Attachment for holding down the extrusion nozzle

Brass male plug: Attachment from hose to extrusion nozzle

Lead screw guide: Stops the lead screw from spinning inside the lead screw support

Brass male plug: Attachment from hose to extrusion pipe

Hose clamp: Secures the connection of hose to male brass plug

Flange Mount: Holds the extrusion nozzle to the robot flange

Hose clamp: Secures the connection of hose to male brass plug

Bearing: Prevents resistance between tube base mount and brass nut.

Extrusion pipe end mount: Funnels material from extrusion tube into hose

Brass nut: Connects the plunger to the lead screw

Brass nut: Connected to coupler inside the tube base mount, to then direct the lead screw

Flange adapter: A quick release plate, between the robot flange and Flange mount

Plunger: Travels inside the extrusion pipe to push material to the front of the tube

Stepper motor: The motor which connects to the gearbox and drives the whole mechanism

Lead screw support holder: Holds the aluminum square tube in place to avoid spin

Tube base mount: This attachment connects the extrusion pipe to the gearbox

Gearbox: A 30:1 reduction from the stepper motor

1 1 | D I G I TA L

D I G I TA L C A L I B R AT I O N | 1 1

WORKFLOW

01. Reading robot position Live feed of the robotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s live position using Scorpion plug-in

04. Slice geometry

Input geometry into slicing script.

02. Recalculate robot with TCP 05. Export instructions Add a virtual robot TCP via grasshopper

03. Create geometry

Separately create a geometry which can be read by the software

M A C H I N A

Interpreting robot position Offline simulation Sufficient robot library Open source Export robot instructions Interrupt robot program Custom TCP configuration Multiple robot connections

F U R O B O T

Instructions are to follow a line which is generated by the robots plug-in,

06. Fabricate

Instructions are sent to the robot which are read and the geometry is fabricated.

S C O R P I O N

R O B O T S

1 2 | D I G I TA L

SCRIPTING | 12

LIVE CONNECTION TO UR5E RECORDS POINTS VIA SCORPION PLUGIN.

SENDS AND RECEIVES PROGRAM FROM THE ROBOT I N S T R U C T I O N S D I C TAT E D B Y P R I O R S C R I P T S

S L I C E S G E O M E T R I E S A N D C R E AT E S T O O L PAT H S SIMILAR TO ANY 3D PRINTER SLICER.

13 | PLAN/SECTION

PLAN/SECTION | 13

14 | GEOMETRY

DEVELOPING GEOMETRY | 14

Cantilevering structures

Stable

Unstable

Gravity force

Center of gravity

Stable

1 5 | FA B R I C AT E

E X PA N S I O N | 1 5

ule

E 24

n me

d Mo

1 6 | FA B R I C AT I O N I N F O R M AT I O N

FA B R I C AT E | 1 6 Bowl Tests Before printing our final geometries there were a few more tests which had to be conducted, namely to calibrate the slicing parameters and printing speeds of the geometries. Three tests were conducted to test the limits of our material. These bowl tests were conducted fairly early on to test and verify: 1. Extrusion Heights 2. Clay shrinkage 3. Extrusion Widths

Test - 01

Test - 03

Test - 02

While the tests were successful in printing, the results varied greatly. As seen in the three photographs, by far the most successful one was the final test which maintained its structural integrity. This was done by maintaining one constant variable while tweaking another. In the case of the first test, the speed of the plunger was kept the same while the speed of the robot was adjusted. In the second test, the layer offsets were adjusted to figure out a desirable layer print offset while the third test was made using a composite of the two prior techniques.

Extrusion parameters While the digital calibration of the robot can change the speed and rate of extrusion, in a practical and real-world application observed from other clay printers, they tend to press the material down to form a consistent foundational layer. This led us to the calibration and real-world offset of our material. We found these settings worked the best for our case.

Surface offset = 3mm

Layer offset = 3mm

For the extrusion width, this will change depending on the speed of the robot and rate which material is extruded. However, our measurements resulted in a layer width of 6-7mm and height of 3mm at the robot speed of 20%. However, if the robot speed were to be increased or decreased this width would incrementally change.

Drying and shrinkage When a clay body loses water content it tends to shrink. This is why for most clay work, it is suggested to minimize the amount of water which is added into the clay body to try and minimize shrinkage during the drying phase. With a ratio of 100:55 (dry:wet) at this mix the clay shrunk by approximately 5%. This should be kept in mind when it comes to the fabrication of the final geometry.

SHRINKAGE

1 7 | P R I N T I N G S P E C I F I C AT I O N S

P = 2mm

PLAN/SECTION | 17

R1 = 27.5mm

Each revolution, the leads crew travels 2mm

Variables There are various variables which must be taken into account when calibrating and preparing the robot for fabrication. Furthermore, the math underpinning the program’s operations meant that these variables could be changed and the robot calibrated to extrude material in a different geometry.

R1 = Radius of extrusion pipe

P = Lead screw pitch

Volume of material extruded / revolution: π (R1)2 (P) = π (27.5)2 (2)

Volume of cylinder

Volume of material extruded

4751.66 mm3 / revolution

Volume of material required

18 000mm3

1 000mm extrusion line: m

1000m 3mm 6mm

Revolutions needed to complete the extrusion: Volume needed Volume / rev

18 000 4 751.66

3.82 revolutions

5.348 seconds

≈

19% speed

Time to complete the extrusion:

X = 1.4mm/sec

Revolutions required × X 3.82 × 1.4

Required robot speed:

Y = 1 000mm/sec Extrusion length Y × (time)

× 100

1000 1000 × (5.348)

× 100

1 8 | FA B R I C AT E

MODULE | 18

Digital discrepancy At the moment, the script is not sophisticated enough to calculate the width of extrusion while factoring in the speed of the plunger and the robot. There are just too many changing variables. Therefore, before printing our final geometry there was a process of validating our geometry in the physical realm even if it had already been done in the digital.

Digital Realm

Without adjustment

Post adjustment

As the robot will always print on the surface extruding to either side of the digital model, it should be kept in mind that either side will have a thickness to it. By knowing this, a process of printing, revising and validating was done to adjust the physical geometry to fit the desired model.

19 | CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION | 19

Conclusion Beyond what we have already printed and accomplished. CTRL+P is part of an on going study into material, robotics and automated fabrication in architecture. Although CTRL+P deals with robotic clay printing in architecture it is part of an expansive innovative study of additive fabrication at the University of Western Australia. Our geometry showcases the ability to print structurally sound clay geometries which can be assembled on site without the need to fire. While this research is very rudimentary when compared to the well-developed curriculum of other institutions which explore the robotic fabrication of materials, we hope that this practicum lays the foundation for further development and exploration in robotic fabrication at The University of Western Australia. Thanks to the continuous support and opportunities provided by faculty, we were able to establish a solid foundation for robotic fabrication at The University of Western Australia. This practicum can be broken into three phases: 1. Research into material used in 3D printing and broadening our understanding through research on projects similar to ours.. Beyond what was mentioned, there were many other projects which influenced the approach used in our project and the decisions that we made. 2. The digital element involved a lot of scripting via grasshopper as mentioned in Chapter 3 as well as testing and exploring the robotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limits and capabilities. 3. Fabrication was the final step to validating this practicum as it required a final geometry to prove that we had fully completed the experiment with an adequate level of research undertaken in support of the project.

MODULAR EXPANSION General Information Project Typology: Date: Skillset:

Synopsis Praia nova in Mozambique is a slum in dire need of immediate and quick solutions, the district suffers from annual flooding seasons and less frequent but equally devastating cyclones. There are several problems which must be solved to create a more sustainable community in the long run, these are: High density of existing housing mean that sanitation and health of the residents are at risk. Housing must not take a long time to construct. Rising sea levels and frequent flooding mean that the housing must adapt to new conditions. Flooding and frequent waterborne sicknesses spread fast and therefore must be dealt with swiftly. Waste disposal must be incorporated as a solution to the community. This proposal proposes housing modules that can be easily repeatable for the thousands of residents that occupy the area. Can these modules be repeated to accommodate larger families? Because of cyclones, housing will not last. How can residents quickly rebuild? Or build modules resistant to natural disasters which occur on site? The proposed solution deals with all of these major issues by creating a community which in the short term will be able to sustain itself as an ecosystem while in the long term adapts to rising sea levels by building floating raft housing to navigate the rising sea level.

Design Studio 1/3/20 - 28/6/20 Photoshop Rhino Grasshopper Illustrator Indesign

There are two typologies of design proposals here, one short term and one long term. Both solutions are based in the same bamboo module. Short term, residents will be able to enjoy quick and attainable housing. Meanwhile in the long term, not much has to be adjusted, simply by removing the footings of the smaller bamboo modules their single homes should be able to float on water while larger structures which are incapable of floating are simply used as a foundation to build upwards to create a taller structure safe from rising sea levels. Cyclones are not a common appearance however they are a reality for those living in the area like cyclone Idai which struck early 2019, it creates a devastating but sobering reality. The residents must rebuild, the housing module proposed will allow for quick construction offsite (safe from rising sea levels) and moved into place after, with the rising sea levels it is important to consider the materiality of the module, local metallic sheets such as zinc and tin both corrode and therefore structures have to be built of larger lightweight material which is resistant to sea water. While being largely made of bamboo, the structural lifespan will not need to exceed its theoretical lifespan of 14 years (treated bamboo lasts approximately 14 years). This is because these modules are built to be erected quickly but also replaceable as soon as possible.

21 | SITE CONTEXT

FORMFINDING | 21

Structural Pattern typology

Load Distribution

Internal Stresses

Triangle

Right-Angled Triangle

Square

= Force direction

= Breaking point

External Stresses

2 2 | M O D U L A R E X PA N S I O N

MICRO COMMUNITIES | 22

By using one module, communities can be constructed, erected quickly and efficiently. As shown in the previous page, the triangle is t he strongest shape by far which resists both internal and external pressures. People of Praia Nova do not have the luxury of erecting spacious apartments. Rather the structural integrity of a triangular form is exploited to create structurally sound housing solutions for the people of Praia Nova.

Overpopulation in fact is not a problem in this particular slum, rather concentrations of people are spread out in a way which negatively impacts the lifestyle of the population. A study of the amount of housing it is found that currently there is an estimated 6808 maximum and 5136 minimum of people within the site area. The population problem is addressed through introducing organization at the smaller and larger scale of micro communities within the range of 10-30 people per micro community

1:100

23 | SEA LEVEL RISE

SEA LEVEL RISE | 23

Present

Adaptive housing The adaptation to higher sea levels is the primary objective of this proposal. Sea Levels are projected to rise an estimated 36 centimeters by 2050. The lightweight bamboo structure was designed to adapt to changing site conditions. The most notable one is the sea level rise. As sea level rises, The lightweight bamboo structure will be able to rise with it. The modular elements of the micro-communities can be removed and cast aside to make more a even more lightweight structure. Bamboo weighs approximately 300kg per cubic meter making it one of the most lightweight wood types and perfect for adaptation because of its abundant supply in the local bamboo forests.

2050: Sea level rise: 36cm

2100: Sea level rise: 84cm

2100+

24 | PLAN/SECTION

3.00

150.00

PLAN/SECTION |1:50

7.50

150.00

7.50

150.00

3.00 10.00

10.00

150.00 10.00

10.00

150.00 10.00

10.00

150.00 10.00

10.00

50.00

36.00

150.00

250.00

150.00

50.00

300.00

The structural frame is composed from one 7.5cm pole inserted through a 10cm pole with 4 perpendicular 5cm poles through a simple joint.

Corner joint of wall nailed. perpendicularly to each other.

This joint is composed two from 5cm poles cut at 30 degree angles and joint through thin wooden poles. This creates the secondary structural frame.

Perpendicular bamboo lashing for the primary structural frame. meanwhile the rest of the joints are tied together with rough simple rope joints.

This involves 3 rope joints tied together. with either a 7.5cm or a 10cm pole. This joint is a variation of the 150.00 drilled lashing joint. 3.00

The wooden sliding door is put in place by sliding the door between 2 rails between bamboo joints. 7.50

150.00

Hammock is hung to the wall through a simple nut and bolt through the hole of the wall. 150.00

7.50

Each alcove can be customised according to the wishes of the residents in the house. Instead of a hammock a150.00 family of 3 could 3.00 choose more living area, a table or storage.

2 5 | C O M M U N I T Y E X PA N S I O N

Organic growth As mentioned before, housing is built around the communal aspect of each microcommunity. However there are spaces which connect above and beyond that of the microcommunities. These spaces are found between each of the communities and found between modules. These. While each community has its own facilities such as kitchen and bathroom, ocupants are encouraged to engage with those of other communities in communal spaces beyond the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tessellating expansion.

PLAN | 1:400

26 | SECTION

SECTION | 1:260

Kit of Parts CLT Panels

Bench Width

150cm

Hammock

Bamboo Pole

Length: - 150cm

Width

Length: - 330cm

Depth:

Length:

Quantity:

Height: - 100cm

x12

Curtain

50cm

Other Joint connections

150cm

Diameter:

10cm

200cm

Length:

Joint connection: - Nut and bolt Bamboo Pole

Diameter: - 1.5cm

Diameter:

10cm

Length: - 230cm

Knots

Length:

Quantity:

x120

Quantity:

various

Footings

Shelf timber wood panel Footing Height:

50cmx30cm -

36cm

Depth

Bamboo diameter - 10cm

Height

75cm 110cm

3cm

Diameter:

7.5cm

Length:

Quantity:

Diameter:

0.3cm

Depth:

5cm

Quantity:

x180

Can be exchanged for other nut, bolt and joints Diameter:

5cm

Length:

Quantity:

x10

Bamboo Pole

Bamboo Pole Length

Quantity: Bamboo Pole

Diameter: - 150cm

Nail Connections

Diameter: Length: Quantity:

5cm 2.5m

Bridging communities As mentioned in the previous page, these microcommunities expand and grow as the slum needs. One such communal space is shown above which can be adapted to multiple different uses as sown in a later diagram below

27 | EXPLODED ISOMETRIC

EXPLODED ISOMETRIC | 27

10. 9.

11.

The proposed material is made of CLT panels. However, residents of Praia Nova may not be able to afford expensive processed lumber and therefore there are a few different proposed materials which can be used as alternatives. 1. CLT panels 2. Any Sheets of fabric/tarp can be used and adapted for a wall 3. Zinc/Metal sheets 4. A combination of weaving rope through columns of sticks 5. Weaving any existing shrubbery through columns of sticks.

3. 8.

1. The wooden sliding door

is put in place by sliding the door between 2 rails between bamboo joints.

6. 6.

Perpendicular bamboo lashing for the primary structural frame. meanwhile the rest of the joints are tied together with rough simple rope joints.

11. Storage shelf for each

individual hammock allows for people who are even not in the same family to sleep in the same house

2. This involves 3 rope joints

tied together. with either a 7.5cm or a 10cm pole. This joint is a variation of the drilled lashing joint.

7. Footing Joint to bottom of

house. The joint is a basic bamboo joint with 2 perpendicular poles and a concrete footing cast in concrete.

3. Hammock is hung to the wall through a simple nut and bolt through the hole of the wall.

8. This joint is composed two

from 5cm poles cut at 30 degree angles and joint through thin wooden poles. This creates the secondary structural frame.

4. Corner joint of wall nailed.

9. Bench allows for indoor area

10. Curtain provides privacy

perpendicularly to each other.

to be used as a semi-public space similar to a park bench, residents can sit, read and interact with other locals

The structural frame is composed from one 7.5cm pole inserted through a 10cm pole with 4 perpendicular 5cm poles through a simple joint.

for individual houses apart from doors. Curtains can be made out of any material sourced from

28 | PLAN/SECTION

PLAN/SECTION | 28

Original Module

Lookouts

Storage shelves

Sleeping quarters

Schools

Dining room

Multi-purposed spaces As mentioned before, the lack of organisation is a core problem plaguing all slums. At a larger scale, this proposal seeks to emulate a city and the multi-nuclei system which allows for far more efficient movement between areas of interests. These nuclei provide special community gathering â&#x20AC;&#x153;hubsâ&#x20AC;? bridging each micro community and can be adapted to every situation, from extra hammocks for housing, storage units, schools, hospitals to and overlook to look across the entire slum out onto the ocean. In addition to this, roads are constructed based on existing major roads which help improve circulation of vehicles allowing for the growth of the city without

impacting congestion. Due to the yearly flooding cycle which plagues the low-lying beach area, the slum must offer solutions to both high rising water levels as well as be prepared to recognise and adapt to oncoming situations. As a result there are multiple elegant solutions devised to tackle the problems presented by higher than normal levels of water. The communal area between each micro community is designed to bridge the distance between separate communities to void the need of pathways once the base of the building

has been submerged by the flood. However, because of the nature of materiality and bamboo, the nature of slums being torn down and re-purposed is emphasised through the usage of very simple materials, these structures can be easily recycled for other less essential structures once the integrity of the bamboo has been weakened over time.

storms, financially this is unrealistic and far too costly for residents to use this method; therefore an alternative option must be suggested. The study of bamboo and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nature found that it is far more effective in compression and tension than it is in shearing. As a result this readily available resource is used abundantly to create a triangular l frame which emphasises the properties of bamboo to reinforce the Rough climates and frequent storms are structure and provide much needed shelter to not a rare occurrence in the slum. Therefore the residents of Praia nova. structures are often destroyed faster than they can be rebuilt. While using heavier weather resistant materials are a viable strategy to countering the destructive nature of these

29 | PLAN/SECTION

PLAN/SECTION | 29

Construction This diagram above illustrates the construction process through isometric diagram. Coupled with the material list, this structure can easily be understood and constructed by even those with little to no prior construction knowledge.

ACTIVE MATTER General Information Project Typology: Date: Skillset:

Synopsis Active matter is a technical unit which incorporates design into the understanding of materiality through investigation. This unit is structured to build upon the work developed by students from the previous cohort. While Ctrl + P expanded on our knowledge of robotics, Active matter was the introduction the world of robotic fabrication in architecture. This project studies the nature of fabric, more importantly Lycra, a four way stretch fabric which stretches uniformly in all 3 dimensions in addition to this the hardening properties of K36 resin were investigated for its impact when applied to Lycra. Through a series of tests and modifications, done in a group setting to promote collaborative learning, we were asked to accomplish a few things. 1. Investigate the properties of Lycra and K36 resin and its hardening properties. 2. Develop modules which can be fabricated using the robot in the digital realm.

Technical Unit - Material Exploration 1/3/20 - 28/6/20 Photoshop Rhino Illustrator Indesign Grasshopper

3. Calibrating the digital to the physical and fabricate using the robots (this was not done due to COVID restrictions Mindfully designing joints using surrounding site contexts to install and exhibit the installation. This was done with simple twist and lock joints to lock the hardened fabric modules to each other. 5. Once these modules have been constructed the installation was to be put on exhibition down in the gallery of the Architecture building. Although Covid prevented this from occurring, through 3D modelling and rendering we were able to fabricated an installation which can be constructed at a later date. By using available materials we were able to digitally fabricate and simulate the locking mechanism of each joint from research to design to fabrication. The final geometry produced was a lightweight hollow structure composed of two parts. The ceiling installation and the floor installation.

3 1 | M AT E R I A L

M AT E R I A L | 3 1

Why Lycra?

Lycra was chosen for its exceptional elasticity. It’s very durable and resistant to tear, it is very light weight compared to it’s alternate counterparts. It’s easily available and relatively low cost.

Blend of 88% nylon and 12% spandex, properties which we tested include push, twist, pull and multiple twists. The 4 way stretch allows for high 2 dimensional stretching and can potentially increase surface area by 50% while adding anchor points in a 3 dimensional space allow for more complex transformations.

3 2 | E X P E R I M E N TAT I O N

E X P E R I M E N TAT I O N | 3 2

ROBOTIC SIMULATION

STITCHING TEST

HARDENING EXPERIMENT

CURING PROCESS

Initial robot simulation was simply a matter of getting to know the robot and utilize the analogue controls to control all 6 axis and move the robot in a 3d plane from point A to point B. Later on, the familiarization shifted to a digital form of robotic simulation with incorporation of Machina drive, RoboDK and Furobot.

Experimentation with stitching was done using different fabrics and different sewing patterns in the machine. Originally we leaned away from using Lycra as our fabric of choice due to the difficulty to sew into the fabric as well as the difficulty in stretching that the stitch itself. The stitch which we finally experimented on and decided to move forward with was called the 3 step zig zag.

This test allowed us to test the limitations of the Lycra’s absorbency as well as test controlled variables such as absorbency during the stretching of the fabric. A total of 3 different hardeners were tested. Cement, plaster of pairs and finally the k36 resin. Only plaster and the k36 resin proved to have potential as hardeners. We settled on the resin due to it’s clear consistency as well it’s thin coating.

By learning from all 3 of these experiments, this prototype was able to be produce. The prototype did not use any robotics and was strictly analogue in order to quickly test the tensile strength of the Lycra when put under stress. The outcome was a shell which resembled a membrane structure with control points placed along the edges and the centre where the eyelets were held. Through this test we learned how much resin should be applied and the limits of stretching the Lycra which would be later applied to our final modules.

33 | SCRIPTING

SCRIPTING | 33

SINGLE MODULE SCRIPT

Circles populate centroid of each surface

The original script for a single module was designed at the beginning but we quickly realized that this module was not repeatable due to a few problems such as the duplicate surfaces and the inefficient use of the list item command.

Create lines moving centroid end-plates to new random points

GRASSHOPPER SCRIPT

Loft Circles together to create mesh

DUPLICATE SURFACES

Offset surfaces by Radius of end plates

Generate box array

Duplicate surfaces proved to be in the array. When the box arrays theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re generated with individual and therefore mirror surfaces deconstructing the array.

a key problem are generated, boxes arrayed appear when

Populate random points on Offset surfaces

Separate duplicate surfaces From single surfaces

Relax mesh with kangaroo plug in

3 4 | M E S H R E L A X AT I O N

Robot in T-Pose

M E S H R E L A X AT I O N | 3 4

Grab End Plate

Move to new position, apply resin

Return to T-Pose after curing

35 | SCRIPTING II

SCRIPTING II | 35

Secondary Brep Input

Array Secondary Modules

Primary Brep Input

Final Installation Array Primary Module

Kangaroo solver Joints for end plates

Move Secondary array to primary array

3 6 | FA B R I C AT I O N

10mm

377mm

30mm

140mm

157.57mm

94.25mm

5mm

94.25mm

5mm 377mm

15mm

70mm

79mm

47.12mm

FA B R I C AT I O N | 3 6

Ceiling Attachment joint Joint type: Toggle bolt, hook screw bolt diameter: 0.5cm Bolt depth: 14cm Threads: 1mm Block dimensions: 13x1x4cm

Small array module Joint Type: Twist and lock Diameter 6cm Depth: 2cm Material: Polycarbonate 3d printed joint

Large array module floor attachment Type: Twist and lock Dimensions 20x20cm Depth: 2cm Material: Polycarbonate 3d printed joint, MDF board

Small array Ceiling Joint Type: Twist and lock (suspended by fishing wire) Diameter: 6cm Depth: 3cm Screw size: 1cm Threads: 1.5mm Material: Polycarbonate 3d printed joint

Constructions General Information Project Typology: Date: Softwares:

Synopsis Praia nova in mozambique is a slum in dire need of immediate and quick solutions, the district suffers from annual flooding seasons and less frequent but equally devastating cyclones. There are several problems which must be solved to create a more sustainable community in the long run, these are: High density of existing housing mean that sanitation and health of the residents are at risk. Housing must not take a long time to construct. Rising sea levels and frequent flooding mean that the housing must adapt to new conditions. Flooding and frequent waterborne sicknesses spread fast and therefore must be dealt with swiftly. Waste disposal must be incorporated as a solution to the community. This proposal proposes housing modules that can be easily repeatable for the thousands of residents that occupy the area. Can these modules be repeated to accommodate larger families? Because of cyclones, housing will not last. How can residents quickly rebuild? Or build modules resistant to natural disasters which occur on site? The proposed solution deals with all of these major issues by creating a community which in the short term will be able to sustain itself as an ecosystem while in the long term adapts to rising sea levels by building floating raft housing to navigate the rising sea level. to recognischanging weather conditions undergas shown later in a diagram. Firstly the footings are elevated 36 cm above ground and will protect against current sea levels from now to 2050. However beyond that the nature of the lightweight bamboo superstructure is permitted to float and freely move about due the shifting waters. In order to prevent the structure from drifting too far, the buildings can be tied to the footings. Rough climates and frequent storms are not a rare occurrence in the slum. Therefore structures are often destroyed faster than they can be rebuilt. While using heavier weather resistant materials are a viable strategy to countering the destructive nature of these storms, financially this is unrealistic and far too costly for residents to use this method; therefore an alternative option must be suggested. The study of bamboo and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Technical Unit - Structure detail 1/8/20 - 28/10/20 Photoshop Rhino Vray

39 | PLAN/SECTION

PLAN/SECTION | 39

40 | PLAN/SECTION

PLAN/SECTION | 40

41 | PLAN/SECTION

PLAN/SECTION | 41

42 | PHOTO EDITING

BEFORE

PHOTO EDITING | 42

AFTER

T h a n k

Y o u .

M: +614 386 59 079 E: Frankmei8@gmail.com