METAMORPHOSIS

DIGITAL DESIGN + FABRICATION SM1, 2017 M2 JOURNAL - METAMORPHOSIS

Joshua Castan Blashki, Yan Ching Joyce Leung, Sean Chung (697827, 796230, 911221) Lyle Talbot + Group #10

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Contents

Introduction_3 Sketch Design Development_4-5 Refined Sketch Model_6 Refined Sketch Digital Model + Process_7-8 Precedent Research #1_9 Precedent applied to design #1_10 Design development - Version #1_11 Precedent Research #2_12 Precedent applied to design #2_13 Design development - Version #2_14 Model Template + Process_15-16 Prototype + Testing Effects #1_17 Prototype + Testing Effects #2_18

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Introduction

Mapping of Personal Space The project will be designed for group member Sean. A map of his personal space around the body will be the primary base for our design. The image shows that he is sensitive around his neck region, and also around his back where he is blinded to.

Design Concept “Personal space refers to an area with invisible boundaries around a person’s body into which intruders may not come” Using inspiration from Sommer’s text, in our 2nd skin design, we hope to represent the perceptions of the invisible boundaries around the upper body areas. We examined all sorts of different emotions we have with personal space.

We aim to present a visual form representing commonly associated emotions such as comfort with our chest, and the defensive, insecure feelings associated with our backs.

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Sketch Design Development

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Sketch Design Development

During the Sketch Design Development phase, we cosidered different geogemtries and morphologies to express and depict personal space.

Exploring shapes with different degrees of angularity and roundness. Eventually, we arrived at a geometry that is rounded at the front fanning out around the face and a ridge/spine that runs along the back. Like a peacock fanning its feathers at the front, this opening surrounding the face similtaneously invites and intimidates the approching party. The raised spine at the back. This geometry was then translated into a section/profile material system.

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Refined Sketch Model This sketch model is formed by placing the ribs together, both in one direction and then another direction. Refering to the definition of our personal space, as we cannot see what is at our back, we want more protections there. A sharp triangular component of the frame is used to give people at the back a kind of pressure, to scare people away.

On the other hand, we have a large circular opening in the front for welcoming our families and friends; while people on the side cannot stay too near to us.

PERSPECTIVE VIEW ELEVATION VIEW 6

Refined Sketch Digital Model

PLAN VIEW

BACK VIEW

ELEVATION VIEW

ISOMETRIC VIEW 7

Refined Sketch Digital Model: Process BASE GEOMETRY

GRASSHOPPER DEFINITION TO CREATE WAFFLE GRID

WAFFLE GRID SYSTEM

LASERCUT PIECES

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Precedent Research #1 Ichii Renovation

by Hideki Tamura

Patterning / Lighting Effects / Porosity

A surface with many triangular holes on it, which enriches the picture and gives a favourable visual impressions to people. This adds values to the original boring plane.

Different sizes of beautiful triangular shadows will be shown on the ground with the presence of light

This building is surrounded by stainless steel panels that have different sizes of triangular holes on them. Therefore, when the light shines on them from outside, some beautiful shadows will be shown in the interior; when the light shines from inside, interesting visual effect is appeared. Also, the holes on the facades allow the entry of natural wind, which increases the interaction between man-made structures and the environment. This design blurs the boundaries between the artificiality and the nature.

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Precedent applied to design #1 Patterning / Lighting Effects / Porosity

Different patterns will be applied to the surfaces of the model, some interesting and beautiful shadows will be projected on the body with the presence of light.

The circled components of the frame are the main structures that bear most of the load. In order to create some special patterns, holes will be made on the ribs, but this may decrease its load bearing ability. Thus, patterns and holes are not going to make on the structural ribs, only on the non-structural ones. As a result, we can experience a visual effect but also ensure a stable structure.

Patterning is the main focus for the design development. Different kinds of patterns and holes will be made on the frame components to provide aesthetic pleasure and create visual effects by using the light.

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Design development - Version #1 PATTERN OPTIONS

Patterning became a focus of our design development. We wanted to consider the ideas of transperency and thesholds between insider and outside the personal space bubble. We tested several patterns to observe which resulted in the most visually interesting outcomes.

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Precedent Research #2 RMIT Design Hub

by Sean Godsell Architects

Movement / Dynamic / Flexibility / Deformation

Large number of glass disks on the building facades are rotable for collecting solar energy. This feature makes the building become more dynamic but not static.

The glass disks are all attached to the torsional joints that can rotate in one axis, to create movement.

Torsional Joint

RMIT Design Hub’s frame is made by steel and glass, steel is used as the main material of the structural frame as well as the torsional joints; while glass is used as the panels within the frame.

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Precedent applied to design #2 Movement / Dynamic / Flexibility / Deformation

A piece of rib is formed by three layers of plywood.

We will drill holes on the first two layers, and then put the torsional joint in the holes in both side.

We do not use any things for fixing, thus this design allows slightly movement of the torsional joint (cylinder in shape).

LEGEND: Holes will be drilled for Torsional Joint installation

We will also make a small gap at the middle of the joint, then fix a plane to that gap. So when the joint is rotating, it also creates the swinging effect of that plane.

We grab the precedent features: Dynamic and Deformation effects to further develop our design. It produces the effects mainly by using torsional joints, thus we use its mechanism to create our own joints.

Torsional Joint

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Design development - Version #2

We then considered how we could use torsional joints to create a dynamic moving elements as part of our design. This would emphasise the idea of raising back hairs to scare or deter people approaching the personal space bubble from behind.

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Model Template / Waffle Geometry

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Model Template: Process STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 4

STEP 5

Using our rhino model as a template, grasshopper helped us split our design up into parts. Utilising the Fab Lab’s lasercutter, we had on our hands three copies of two sheets of individual piece.

Putting it together was not easy, with six working hands, first joining identical 3mm pieces, then connecting them one by one, while checking every so often the way our model was constructed on Josh’s laptop. We bumped into a slight problem as the panels were 1mm thinner than the joins.

After 3 hours of PVC glue dripping on the ground and superglue stuck on our hands, our prototype was finally 90% done.

STEP 3

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STEP 6

In order to consolidate all the joint connections, we used masking tape to fix all of them until the glue dried out. Finally, we wanted to make its surfaces look smoother, thus we sanded it using sandpaper, and our prototype was finally built.

Prototype + Testing Effects #1

We tested the lighting and shaddow effects of several different pattern types, resulting in different visual outcomes.

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Prototype + Testing Effects #2

These photos show the rotation of the torsional joint.

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