STUDIO AIR OBSERVATORY AIR - PART C INGRID AAGENAES SEMESTER 1, 2015
CONTENTS
C.1 DESIGN CONCEPT C.2 TECTONIC ELEMENTS & PROTOTYPES C.3 FINAL DETAIL MODEL C.4
LEARNING OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
SITE ANALYSIS
10 POTENIAL LOCATIONS ON SITE
The site analysis was divided into two primary criterias which determined ten potential zones on site: 1. 2.
Human activity in relation to the bicycle path Tree and vegetation density
The concentration of activity on site determined where we proposed to place the observatory installations on site, primarily the installations require a moderate to high amount of activity to achieve a successful rate of interaction with pedestrians, however the installations are also designed to create connectivity between active and inactive zones on site, thus supporting the design in responding to issues such as fragmentation in relation to human activity on site. In order to satisfy both aspects of -human activity and interaction, a moderate tree density bracket was selected. By placing the installations’ in moderate tree density zone, a fusion of both objectives can be achieved: the re-connection of inactive zones without discouragement caused by dense vegetation and tree lines. Tree and vegetation density furthermore influences how the installations can be placed on site as the design shall be hung or attached to/or from an object such as trees or existing structures (walls). Tree density affects where we could place our location zones as the density cannot discourage the approach to the installations – as this shall compromise the success of interaction between users and site.
FOOT TRAFFIC
TREE DENSITY
FABPOD
INGRID From Ingrid's precedent project, the Fabpod algorithm was adaopted to drive Part C. This was the most developed grasshopper script. We shall continue this throughout our new design proposal as this also best represented the aesthetic and structural qualities of the Fabpod algorithm.
ANNA
PART B
Anna's project feedback primarily supported her response to on site issues such as litter pollution - By taking this example we have researched into social onsite issues: Connectivity, fragmentation and human interaction on site appears only within certain spots along Merri Creek, moreover transitional activities such as running and cycling are the most common actions on site.
OLIVIA Context sensitivity, green surfaces (incorporating vegetation) and creating a relationship based on the significance of site and user was positively pointed out from Olivia's precedent project, which we shall continue throughout the new design development for part C.
C.1 DESIGN CONCEPT
The initial design start of Part C began from reflecting upon the key feedback points from the Part B interim presentation: The new project focuses upon context sensitivity in regards to making users aware about the existence and significance of the ecological components that essentially create Merri Creek. By capturing a selection of ecological elements that users can physically observe up close, an interactive relationship between site and user is formed and the ecological system of Merri Creek can be publically valued and appreciated. Currently on site there appears to be a lack of interaction with the natural
system of Merri Creek, and we feel that this social issue shall be addressed with the new observatory design installation. The design installation is designed to encourage engaging interaction as opposed to others observed such as transitional interaction: cycling or running. Recycled plastic bottles shall be used to facilitate how ecological elements shall be placed within the design and furthermore adopting a material re-using system, supporting sustainability in regards to material life. The project shall be proposed as a head-height installation, which allows users to enter the enclosed space and observe contents within the head space.
The project shall be designed so that plastic bottles will sit within each panel. Nine panels shall create the complete model. Within our design the largest panel contains thirteen openings, created to hold thirteen recycled bottles and therefore, hosting thirteen different varieties of Merri Creek’ s ecological system. The project overall shall feature bottles and natural elements. The value of the project shall be that the installation can exist independently or with a collection of other installations. The purpose for this is so that the model can customize its quantity according to a space. The installation can be observed from the external and internal side,
from the external side each bottle shall feature a bio-focal lens within the neck of each bottle, allowing users to observe the ecological elements at a macro scale. However from the internal side, the base of each bottle shall feature as a coffered like ceiling feature – show casing each element from the eye. The observatory targets any user on site, without limitation to language, gender or age. As a spot for observation, each ecological bottle can provide a form of engagement between children, teenagers, adults and the elderly which fundamentally provides a wide audience and likewise suggests how important the installations can be on site.
OVERALL SHAPE: SELECTION As we wanted the design to be a mini museum that could hang from the trees we explored three different ways it could be used related to the overall shape.
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1. A design that for multiple people used as a hanging tent. 2. As a second skin that covers the whole body.
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3. As a headpiece. A mini-museum for one person.
Best related to our design was the headpiece for one person. As we wanted our design to be ap-proaching and self-explanatory number two would be difficult to get into and with number one people not want to get into the design if a stranger is already there. The third is easy to get into something that makes it approaching.
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PROCESS: GRASSHOPPER
The geometric rules used in the FabPod project, established by Daniel Davis, guarantees planar intersections between the hyperboloids(1). All the hyperboloids are then distributed on a sphere pointing towards the spheres center. Several spheres that are intersected is the foundation for the final form of the project. Where the mid sphere is left and the others trimmed away. The shape is panelized using a spherical algorithm(1).
By using the same trimming method as the FabPod when creating the overall shape it ensured us planar surfaces. To start off with, we created 9 points to be the center of 9 intersecting spheres.
Reference: 1. Davis, Daniel. FabPod. June 2013. Found at http://www.danieldavis.com/fabpod/
The middle sp a cutting objec surfaces of the
phere worked as ct leaving all the e other spheres.
The bottom part of the geometry left is then timed away by a bounding box, leaving the geometry with the right size. As the design is a headpiece the height we set for the geometry was just under a meter.
Each of the nine surfaces have to be dealt with separately. To be able to create a vornoi pattern we referred back to the sphere center. Drawing lines on to the surface from the center point.
A vornoi pattern is created using the lines as a “ guide� . This pattern is determining the cone location and density.
Two Layers of cones is created. First from the vornoi pattern and then offset to another layer.
In order to create op cylinders are creat ameter to use as a
pening in the cones, ted with chosen dia trimming object.
The finalized surface: two set of cones with different size openings responding to a bottle.
All nine gether to
surfaces put tothe final design.
GRASSHOPPER:
CUSTOMIZING THE MODEL TO BOTTLE DIMENSIONS
Radius = 36.62mm
Length / Dis tween cone
stance bees = 18.5mm
Radius = 14.5mm
EXPLODED DIAGRAM
BUTTER
BOTTLED ECOSYSTEM
LEAF M
MAPLE
MORNIN
GRASSE
LONG W
MOSS
kk FENNEL 13
12 9
8 5
4 2
10 11 7
6
NETTLE
EARTH
3 1
ALGAE
PLANKT HIERACHY OF THE ECOSYSTEM 1-13
GROWL
13
RFLY
MIX
TREE PODS
NG VINE
ES
WATER REEDS
L
ES
7
5
WORM SYSTEM
TON
LING GRASSIFROG SPORN
2
C.2 TECTONIC ELEMENTS & PROTOTYPES
MATERIAL AND CONNECTIONS MATERIALITY
WHITE POLYPROPELENE (0.6 MM)
BALSA WOOD (3.0 MM)
CONNECTION POINTS
SIMPLE TABS
INTERLOCKING TABS
BUTTERFLY PINS
PROTOTYPE: CONE STRUCTURE
BUTTERFLY PINS
SIMPLE TABS
INTERLOCKING TABS
END RESULT: CONE TEMPLATE FOR MODEL FABRICATION
CONNECTIONS:
DISC CONNECTIONS AND TABS
SIMPLE TABS X 3 PER EDGE BUTTERFLY PIN CONNECTIONS
FABRICATION PROCESS: FABRICATION PROCESS: PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF THE MODEL PRIMARY ELEMENTS OF THE MODEL
Three elements of the model consist of MDF, Polypropelene and recycled plastic. The MDF framework and disk connections create the structural shell of the model - A sturdy, non-brittle material that successfully works in compressive and tensile forced was required to hold the structure and cone system in place. Polypropelene was required due to its flexible nature and light weight - Two material characteristics are required to successfully hold the concave and convex shape of each cone system without failure from material characteristics such as brittleness or elasticity. Polypropelene in this case is the most appropriate material choice for the model after prototype experimentation. Recycled plastic make up the bottle system in which facilitates the concept of material recycling and furthermore holding fragments of the local ecological system at Merri Creek.
MDF DISK CONNECTIONS
MDF DISK CONNECTIONS
MDF FRAMEWORK
MDF FRAMEWORK
WHITE POLYPROPELENE CONES
REYCLEDPLASTIC PLASTICBOTTLES BOTTLES REYCLED
CONNECTION POINTS
MDF DISK CONNECTIONS
PIN & TAB CONNECTIONS
BOTTLE FIXING & CONE CONNECTIONS ON FINAL MODEL
MODEL NO.1 THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS INVOLVED THREE PRIMARY CONNECTION COMPONENTS WHICH COLLECTIVELY, MADE THE COMPLETE MODEL:
FRAMING SYSTEM
CONCAVE / CONVEX CONE SYSTEM
CONE TO FRAME SYSTEM
3D POWDER PRINT
The purpose of the 3D print was to depict the complete model (all nine panels) as a head piece. Scale in relation to a user and the model is further depicted.
C.3 FINAL DETAIL MODEL
ON SITE AT MERRI CREEK
C.4 RESPONSE: FINAL CRIT PANEL
After reflecting on the final presentaton two main forms of criticism to the project were appointed: the vulnarability of the installation to public vandalism and long term materiality. In response to this, the future development of the project would focus upon solutions to these concerns. Firstly, negative social behaviours such as grafiti can be resolved with the addition of a transparent graffiti proof vinyl or lacre (1) to the external and internal skins of the installations. By doing so this shall entirely eliminate the problem without compromising the clean, minimalistic nature of the design. Furthermore additional infrastructure such as lockable fencing could be placed around the installations to discourage acitivity during
night hours for example. Long term materiality of the design required deeper thought as this shall essentially influence the aesthetic impression to the public. Two materials were chosen to repond to this issue: laminated wood and opaque fibreglass. The two materials provide better performance against long term problems such as weathering and furthermore can easily adapt to the geometrical nature of the observatory. Two materials were chosen to repond to this issue: laminated wood and opaque fibreglass. The two materials provide better performance against long term problems such as weathering and furthermore can easily adapt to the geometrical nature of the observatory.
Reference: 1. Spec-Net, Graffiti Proof Vinyl. June 2013. Found at http://www.spec-net.com.au/press/0714/vip_300714.htm
LEARNING OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
This subject have made me look at a design process in a different way, or at least expanded the possibilities when designing. In relation to other studios I have had earlier where the design is shaped by a picture in my head, the design process have now started with a response to an issue or an opportunity and from there the design have developed in order to optimize the design to its function. The main thing I have learned from this subject is using grasshopper and algorithmic design. It has been interesting to see how much my skills have developed in only 12weeks. It’ s a very different way of using a design program but I believe it will be more and more used by architects in the future. The brief was very vague and in the first half of the semester I spent most of my time trying to learn grasshopper. My design proposal for Part B was therefore not well developed. On the other hand I had a solid understanding of parametric modelling and a script that I could use for the Part C.
The one thing that hav that by using algorithm generate a variety of d same scrip. The “ obse be re-design. If for exa put glass tubes in the plastic bottles, this cou changing 4 componen script.
Before I started this su derstand what air had studio. This is one of t for this subject and I n this implies. I believe is a step towards a ne We can use environme wind direction and plug and use the informatio design that responds t way that the design is
ve surprised me is mic design I can now designs using the ervatory� can easily ample we were to openings instead of uld be done by only nts in the grasshopper
ubject I did not unto do with the design the learning objectives now understand what parametric modeling ew era in architecture. ental factors such as g it into a program on given to create a to this information in a optimized.
REFERENCES Davis, Daniel. FabPod. June 2013. Found at http://www.danieldavis. com/fabpod/ Spec-Net, Graffiti Proof Vinyl. June 2013. Found at http://www.spec-net. com.au/press/0714/vip_300714.htm