STUDIO AIR JOURNAL PART C
Jade Layton 833912 Tutorial #14: David Wegman 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTs PAGE PART C: DETAILED DESIGN C0. Reviewing Part B 4 - 5 C1.1. Design Concept: Idea One
6 - 19
C1.2. Final Design & Proposal
20 - 47
C2. Tectonic Elements / Detailed Model
48 - 53
C3. Final 3D Printed Model
54 - 59
C4. Learning Objectives & Outcomes
60 - 63
C.0. REVIEWING PART B
Our part B design consisted of a blob form, intersected with its patterned self and located in the shallows of Merri Creek. Within the blob, users would enter into complete darkness with the aim being to remove any visual distractions resulting in a heightened state of thought. Users would be given a pen to draw on the interior walls and at the end of the day all of this art would be anonymously projected onto the cliff face for the community to view. The feedback that we obtained from our part B presentation consisted of expanding the design in size so it is not limited to only one person, changing the visual sensory deprivation element, making the water interact with the design and turning up the intensity in the design. Another suggestion made was to make the second element (patterned blob) not simply intersect with the first, but correspond and relate to one another. In response to this feedback our design for part C will change in a number of different ways. We increased the scale so that our design bridges from one side of the river to the other, made the central blob house a light instead of a person and made the design an thrilling experience for users to venture through individually. Our new design hopes to bring people together and address our blockage of lack of independence in an adventurous way. We turned up the intensity of the parts of the design that we liked and made the water activate the architecture by adding a hydronic lighting system in which the running water from Merri Creek powers the light via a propeller.
C.1.1. DESIGN CONCEPT: IDEA ONE Moving forward from part B, our first design idea aims to engage users by having the two tubes that wrap around the central form become hollow and interactive. The holes throughout give the design a sense of transparency, allowing for light to shine through, while also providing an interesting and challenging experience within. Moving forward to our final design we will create variation between the tubes in order to create different experiences within each one. We will also add enlarged resting areas within each tube that will act as contemplative spaces. In order to engage the water within the design we will also add a system that generates energy from the water to fuel the light. We will also expand and exaggerate the curves to make the design more wild.
DESIGN EXPLODED
Tube 2
Tube 1
Heart / core
Merri Creek
SCALE ANALYSIS STRUCTURE SPAN 15000mm
HEART SPAN
OVERALL HEIGHT & ABOVE WATER HEIGHT
9000mm
TUBE WIDTH 8500mm
470mm
1700mm 4500mm
AVERAGE PERSON HEIGHT & WIDTH
1700mm
TOP VIEW & ELEVATIONS
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
WEST
IDEA ONE MATERIAL RENDERS
C.1.2. FINAL DESIGN & PROPOSAL A JOURNEY AROUND THE HEART
With the heart chakra being all about love and bringing people together and our blockage being lack of independence, our goal was to find a way to satisfy these at the same time. Our final design brings people together by having the amount of people on the structure determine how much the heart will light up. This light will attract people over from all over the site. Although there might be many on the structure at once, the 2 pipes that wrap around the heart are only wide enough to fit one person comfortably, therefore each person will be completing their own individual journey. The center form represents the heart of the site. We have therefore located it at the deepest part of site to represent the heart of the river. With all elements revolving around this focal point, the more people on the structure, the more the heart will light up and glow. The people as well as the water activates the architecture and as a result amplifies the surrounding nature.
SITE PLAN 1:200
N
CORAL GROWTH
LARVAE ATTACH TO FORM
ATTACH RANDO
11
Na
Sodium
CORAL BECOMES DAMAGED & DETERIORATES SO ALGAE LEAVES
CONTINUES TO GROW FROM WATER, ALGAE & SUNLIGHT
GROWTH PATTERN DEPEND ON ALL OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS
OMLY
DS
Through learning about how coral larvae attaches itself to a host and grows patterns depending on surrounding conditions, we used this knowledge to drive our script for the blob and parts of the patterning. We also used the idea of a living organism latching onto a host by having the pipes wrap around the central form.
GROW RANDOMLY & FORMS PATTERN
CLOSE UP GROWTH
LINEAR PROCESS
We started by using minimal surfaces, however it was extremely limiting in terms of development. We then explored minimal surfaces within the green void form and took the bridging idea from this. After that we created a script for a blob and intersected it with its patterned self. We then created two complementary curves that hugged the core in which we pluged out script into, to come up with our final design.
SCALE ANALYSIS
TUBE WIDTH 1700mm AVERAGE PERSON HEIGHT & WIDTH
470mm
1700mm
STRUCTURE SPAN 20000mm HEART SPAN 10500mm
OVERALL HEIGHT & ABOVE WATER HEIGHT
8500mm
4500mm
HYDROELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM
1. Flowing water from Merri Creek turns blades 2. Electicity is generated and stored 3. Internal globe lights up using energy from the river 4. The more people on the structure, the brighter the light
Our design is made up of five main components, being the two different tubes, the heart core, the light and the propeller. The propeller uses the naturally running water from Merri Creek to generate and store energy to fuel the light. The thought process behind this was that the running water brings life, excitement and energy to the site. Therefore we wanted to make the most of this energy by having it bring life to our design. We also submerged half the structure underwater, resulting in a constant flow of water and energy throughout. This submersion also relates well to our strength, being a strong connection to the environment.
EXPLODED PERSPECTIVE
Tube 1
Tube 2
Heart / Core
Light
Hydrollic Propeller
Merri Creek
A
A
PLAN 1:50
N
Due to the heart being the middle chakra, its the link between the lower and upper ones, therefore acting as a bridge. We decided to incorporate this idea within our design, making the structure also act as a bridge, linking one side of the river to the other. On either side of the structure where the form it met by the land, there are larger openings that are subtle but clear for people to enter and exit as they please.
D E TA I L A
D DEETA IL B TAIL 2 1:20
SECTION 1:50
In each form there is o
TOP VIEW & ELEVATIONS
ENLARGED RESTING POINTS
diameter dilates, in ord contemplation and rest.
area, users must first get provide by the forms.
one resting spot where the
der to create a space for In order to get to the resting
t through the struggle that is
NORTH
EAST
SOUTH
WEST
The two tubes contrast each other allowing for different experiences within each one. They are opposites in colour, finish and aesthetic. A defining feature that is part of the experience is the way each form submerges in and out of the water. This amplified the experience within. People are able to chose which path they take, with the triangulated form creating a more intense climbing experience. Users will be forced to think hard about their every move resulting in an energy release when they come out the other side. With the rounded form being a less intense walk, users will still have to concentrate to ensure they don’t fall in. Both forms create a journey that will create a rush and push users to their limits.
C.2. TECTONIC ELEMENTS & DETAILED MODEL LARGE SCALE 3D PRINTING Large scale 3D printing will be utilised in order to carry out the construction of our design. Large scale 3D printing offers the ability to fabricate unique and differing forms created using parametric design. The use of large scale 3D printing will result in optimal accuracy with minimal errors. They allow for fabrication and assembly on site, resulting in no time or money being wasted on transportation.
MATERIALS Due to the differing materials, each of the three components will be printed separately and assembled on site. With industrial 3D printers being able to print any desired material, the core will be an opaque plastic allowing the light shine through. The rounded tube will be rubber due to the smooth finish and to ensure users have a safe enough grip not to slip or fall through. The triangulated tube will be stainless steel due to the way it reflects and catches light. All these materials have been chosen due to their durability and ability to withstand the constantly wet environment. The three materials: 1. Black reflective stainless steel 2. White Rubber 3. Opaque plastic
LARGE SCALE ROBOTIC PRINTERS Due to the complex curves in the design, normal 3D printers would be inadequate due to their inability to print in any direction other that x and y. The robots that will be used, can point and move in all directions, resulting in these complex forms being able to be printed. The robots must not only know where they are printing but also how and at what angle to ensure an accurate finish. The robots poses a closed loop feedback system that enables them to keep track of what they are doing while also correcting failures in real time. Due to the robots being such a large size, to ensure safety on site, they will work along side a site manager who will oversee the entire construction process. The two types of robots to be used: 1: 6-axis KUKA 3D printing robot – For the rubber tubes and plastic blob 2: Large scale robotic stainless steel printer (industrial-robot specialist ABB) – For the triangulated form
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS Each of the three components will be printed separately and assembled on site due to the differing choice of materials. The form will be printed on site to reduce costs while also involving the community. People will be able to watch the structure being constructed and therefore increase awareness about the striking attraction, as well as the new technology. A section of Merri Creek will be closed off during the construction period for safety purposes, however due to the efficient speed of this new technology, the printing and assembly process should only a few weeks. The propeller and light will be installed within the blob after the print is complete, and finished with an air tight seal to prevent water leaks. The printing location will be on the grass, beside the river and upon completion, starting with the blob and ending with the triangulated form, they will be lifted into placed one at a time using a crane.
CONSTRUCTION STAGE
LEGEND Construction site Proposed site Robot 1 Robot 2 Crane Crane Path
MOVEMENT ONTO PROPOSED SITE
FORM CONNECTIONS With the new technology of large scale 3D printing allowing for pin point precision, the forms slot perfectly within one other. With the use of parametric design tools such as grasshopper as well as CAD software such as rhino, optimal forms are able to be produced without any compromise in the design. Evident in our 1 to 10 3D printed prototype, each of the three forms clip into each other allowing for minimal joints needing to be added. This snug connection links back to the way in which coral latches on to its host form.
C.3. FINAL 3D PRINTED MODEL Although we ran into a number of problems throughout the printing process, we gave ourselves enough time to work through them in order to produce a great model. The main issues we ran in to were; the triangulated form was too thin, the rounded tube had too many holes to be able to successfully print without failure and the whole mesh was too complex for Rhino or Grasshopper to Boolean the bottom part off. Cost was also a factor to consider. We realised that in order to reduce the printing cost from $500 we had to find a way to cut and hollow out the mesh. To fix all these issues before printing we came up with a script that reduced the amount of holes, and thickened up the triangulated mesh. To make the forms editable we reduced the mesh before hollowing it out and trimming the bottom section off. We finished all of that with enough time to refine and print before presentation day.
C.4. learning OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES FURTHER DEVELOPMENT The two points of criticism we received regarding our final presentation consisted of not having site specific people in our renders and also ensuring our deign has not simply been placed in the water for the sake of it. With some panel members not being fully convinced that our design is specific to the site that we chose, I would like to reiterate that this structure would not be able to function anywhere else on site but in the deep part of the creek. From the very beginning of the design process, every decision was made with the intent of having the design submerged in water. Without the water, the hydroelectric lighting system would not function, the form would not be able to sit flat on land due to the uneven mass under the water, and the bridging concept would have to be eliminated. The materials have been chosen due to their ability to withstand the wet environment and the experience of challenging users by having them engage with the water would also be eliminated if this structure was on land. In terms of the renders, we removed all the people that looked as though they should not be there and replaced them with site appropriate people. This is something I am guilty of doing in not only Studio Air, but also past studios. One of the panel members suggested that if you cannot find an appropriate person then pose for it yourself. This advice regarding renders is a extremely important and I will take it forward into all my future design work.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES Through completion of Studio Air, I have gained many skills that I will use throughout my design career in the future. I have not only broadened my knowledge surrounding algorithmic design, but also the design process. By closely analysing the brief, we came up with a design that specifically met the requirements. Our design responds to the specific site, uses our chosen biomimicry system (coral) in a number of innovative way throughout all the submissions, pushes our algorithmic design skills to their limits and overall, provides a space of contemplation. From the beginning, we felt a strong connection to our Heart Chakra, so therefore this shined through in our final design. With the use of algorithmic tools and parametric modeling, I was able to experiment and generate a number of varying design possibilities for the wrapping pipes in a short amount of time. This was extremely helpful as it allowed me to alter certain parts of the design without having to remodel the whole form. By adding components to the grasshopper script, I was also able to alter specific parts of the design that needed tweaking for the 3D model to successfully print. For example, I was able to thicken the triangulated mesh so that it would not break, as well as remove specific holes that intersected, causing failure in the rounded tube. This was where the tutorials provided on the LMS as well as other online videos and forums came in handy. Although initially my parametric modelling skills were only basic, throughout the semester by experimenting within the program and overcoming hurdles, my skills rapidly improved. Before Studio Air, 3D printing was a completely new concept to me. Since completing a number of 3D prints throughout the semester for the subject, I have learnt about the process and requirements for a successful print. While completing Studio Air, I was also doing the subject ‘Construction Design’. Excited about my newly found knowledge of 3D printing, I sat down in Rhino, modeled my roof sheeting (Spandek) and sacrificial slab reinforcement (Bondek) and 3D printed them for my Construction Design model. This allowed me to get the exact sheet profiles and sizes, which was impossible to accurately hand modeled from card. This is a clear example of taking knowledge from Studio Air and using it to better my other subjects. I am excited to take this knowledge about 3D printing into more of my future model making subjects. Asking myself and my partner difficult questions and thinking in a critical manner helped us to form a solid proposal for our final. In the end, spending just as much time on the proposal and concept as on modeling the design itself, we were able to come up with strong proposal that supported our design. Throughout the semester, I have developed a personalised repertoire of computational techniques that my partner and I used in all of our designs leading up to the final. We figured out through testing the advantages and disadvantages of different variables, what worked well for our final design. The final thing that I took from Studio Air is how important it is to listen not just to your own feedback, but to everyone else’s feedback too. I found that a lot of the time, the comments given to other groups related just as well to my design. With some simple re-wording, I was able to see how feedback given to others, related to my design. Here was where I gained some valuable information that I took and used in my project.