Digital Design - Module 02 Semester 1, 2019 Joseph Nolan
1003834 Siavash Malek - Studio 19
Critical Reading: Kolerevic B. 2003. Architecture in the Digital Age
Kolerevic described three fundamental types of fabrication techniques in the reading. Outline the three techniques and discuss the potential of Computer Numeric Controlled fabrication with parametric modelling. (150 words max)
1) Subtractive • Coded instructions direct a milling head to typically move in 3 axis to remove volume from a material. 2) Additive • Produced by slicing a 3d model into 2d layers and incrementally adding material to the form. 3) Formative • Heat and mechanical forces are applied to a material to deform it into a certain shape, often doubly-curved. CNC fabrication can be a useful tool to realize parametric designs. It has the ability to create accurate, unique forms at a relatively low cost. However shapes are limited by the axis of movement of the milling head.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation
The above grasshopper script deconstructs a box into its 12 edges, which are then divided into 10 parts. A variability of lines are connected to the points created then lofted together to form surfaces. These surfaces will form the base for the panels to sit on. Colours in the above script correspond to the lines that are lofted together.
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Surface 1: This introductory surface focused on the space created between two surfaces when they aren’t facing the same direction.
Surface 2: Here I focused on hierarchy. One surface is clearly dominating the other which could set up more specific panel types for each.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Surface Creation
Surface 3: This iteration mostly pushed the limits to explore what is possible and what a waffle structure will work with. Unfortunately, like many options explored, I ran into issue creating a waffle structure that would work.
Surface 4: My final surfaces combined all the lessons I learned in the previous iterations. It has an openness while maintaining strict sense of enclosure. It also has a hierarchy of one surface overbearing the other. Finally, it produced a waffle structure that would work.
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Isometric View
The primary function of the angled panels is to control the way light enters the interior. All of the openings face in the direction of the sun path. The flat panels can open and close to control ventilation in such an enclosed space.
The waffle structure provides the framework for the surface panels. Here it has been turned on its side, further reinforcing my design thesis of controlling circulation. Its formal and rigid structure provides a dichotomy to the exterior panels.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Laser Cutting
The adjacent photo depicts the product that is sent to the fabrication lab for laser cutting. The black lines are cut while the red lines are etched. 658
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Laser cutting is a useful tool for digital fabrication that directly translates parametric designs into physical components ready for assembly.
S1 R4 P5
The laser cutting provided successful waffle pieces but they were littered with burn marks which aren’t appealing on a white backdrop. I also had problems making the holes in the panels so they ultimately had to be re-printed the old-fashioned way.
SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE
Matrix and Possibilities Key
Attractor / Control Points (X,Y,Z) Attractor / Control Curves Grid Points
Lofts Paneling Grid & Attractor Point Paneling
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
{Index Selection}
{Index Selection}
{Index Selection}
{Index Selection}
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
{Attractor Point Location}
{Attractor Point Location}
{Attractor Point Location}
{Index Selection}
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
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1) The surface loft shows some of the possible outcomes of changing grasshopper variables.
2) Combinations of point and attractor curve create different effects when offsetting the grid. I wanted a grid that accentuated the form and maximize light exposure. 3) A multitude of panels were experimented with. This ranged from rectilinear shapes to flat to triangular. I ultimately used a combination of flat and angled panels with variation in opening sizes. They were able to form to the surface and were better suited for assembly.
SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Matrix and Possibilities
Flat panels emphasize the gradient height of tall panels to make it look expanding. Allocated entrance area
Gradual growth is size for seamless transition exaggerates curve of waffle structure.
Ventilation holes that can open or close to suit the environmental context. Every angled face has an opening towards the sun for maximum
Allocated exit area
exposed light absorption.
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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE Photography of Model
The final product exhibits a cohesive interplay between the waffle structure and two panelled surfaces. A control of light entering the interior space is achieved, creating a permeability between the exterior and interior. A pedestrians experience of the space is vastly different depending which direction they circulate due to the direction of the openings. This motive was inspired by Olafor Eliasson’s work ‘bridge from the future’. Flat panels can be opened or closed for ventilation without disrupting the desired manipulation of light. A gradient in height of the panels creates the visual effect of an expansion into space. Inversely, from another angle the surfaces contract almost into a point. This concept is later explored in task B using cones.
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Visual Scripting of Parametric Model
Array of Ellipses on Curve
The top image is a grasshopper script that creates a grid of points that can be manipulated. Objects can then be input onto the points to excavate from a cube. I chose to use a combination of cylinders, cones and spheres. With some success using cones, I then lofted them onto curves. The number of ellipses and size of them were adjusted by constructing a domain for the radius.
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SOLID AND VOID Surface Creation
These image show the result of subtracting (boolean difference) objects from a 150x150x150mm cube. In these iterations, the objects were concentrated onto one side of the cube and the radius fairly small. This allowed for a balance of mass and void when creating a 50x50x50mm model.
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SOLID AND VOID Isometric view
After using standard platonic forms, I used a plug-in called waterman to create a multi-sided object. The waterman form varied in size, location and shape. A more dynamic object could be extracted with greater variability depending on where it was extracted from. I liked the way light could reflect off the kaleidoscope of faces, however I wanted to control the porosity and circulation to a greater extent.
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SOLID AND VOID Matrix and Possibilities Bounding Box & Attractor Points
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
Key Attractor / Control Points Control Curves Grid Points
Task B Matrix
Boolean Difference Study Area Boolean Intersection
{Attraction Point Location}
{Attractor Point Location}
{Attractor Point Location}
{Attractor Point Location}
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
{Boolean Geometry}
{Boolean Geometry}
{Boolean Geometry}
{Boolean Geometry}
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
{Study Area Locations}
{Study Area Locations}
{Study Area Locations}
{Study Area Locations}
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
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Various shapes were used at different densities to find appropriate solutions. My focus was creating dynamic opeings and multi-leveled space for interaction.
SOLID AND VOID Matrix and Possibilities
Openings for light
Low hanging overhead threshold Major gathering space Major gathering space Final interactive level Openings for light
Dynamic skylight
Threshold between internal levels Entrance First interactive level
Entrances for
Threshold - too low for adults
Threshold - too steep to
pedestrians
but ideal for kids
walk but can climb into space
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SOLID AND VOID
Photography of Model
All of the 50x50x50mm 3d objects experimented with light, threshold, circulation and gathering spaces. The first three iterations focus on one or two components of to varying levels of success. The adjacent iteration strives to create a balance of all those components. Its multi-level interior provides an interactive space for pedestrians. Each level has a different experience of light exposure, surroundings and site lines. It has a variety of different threshold conditions suited for different activities that draw viewers to interact with on enter the space. Circulation is controlled through a single entrance, similar to that of task A.
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Appendix Process
Difficulty with waffle script
Laser cut panels
Manual cut panels
Construction of waffle structure
Constructed panels
Placing panels on waffle
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Appendix
Process
Makerbot 3d printing
Object options
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