STUDIO AIR 2017, SEMESTER 1, CHRISTOPHER FERRIS LAURA RAWLINGS
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CRITERIA DESIGN
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B.1 RESEARCH FIELD
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Vuossair Cloud by IwamotoScott Architecture was created using the reverse hanging method, invented by Antonio Gaudi, to form find the entirely compressive vaulted structure. In order to build the structure, the vaults were then divided into cells using Delaunay tessellation, where the cell density became greater towards the base and edges of the vaults for increased stability. The cells were then filled with four repeating elements with zero, one, two or three curved edges, depending on the number of adjacent void spaces. Each object varies in size and thickness relevant to its positioning in the vault.1 In this example tessellation allows a complex form to be broken into smaller repeating elements that are simultaneously modelled using grasshopper and rhino to fit the pre-specified structure. The objects are then simply unfolded, laser cut, refolded in physical form and cable tied together. This allows for the simple construction of a large complex shape using lightweight repeating elements, saving on time and materials. R
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The Dragon Skin Pavilion was designed and built in just seven days, taking advantage of digital design and fabrication techniques to create a structure out of repeated post formed plywood elements. The regular elements are connected by gradually changing joint elements to create a curved volume that is indicative of a portion of dragon scales. 2 An obvious advantage of tessellation, as seen in this project, is that you can create something from the same repeating element. This would be particularly useful when you have lots of the same object or material to use up. A disadvantage however, it that the resulting form in this instance is one of cold mathematical precision, 3 perhaps losing any humanistic qualities.
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1.“Vuossair Cloud,” IwamotoScott Architecture, accessed March 27, 2017, http://www.iwamotoscott.com/VOUSSOIR-CLOUD 2.“Dragon Skin Pavilion,” Design Playgrounds, accessed March 27, 2017, http://designplaygrounds.com/blog/dragon-skin-pavillion/ 3.“Dragon Skin Pavilion,” Arch2o, accessed March 27, 2017, http://www.arch2o.com/dragon-skin-pavilion-students-of-tampere-university-of-technology/
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Fermid by Behnaz Babazadeh takes advantage of tessellation to create an object that explores natural movements found in living organisms. The underlying shape of the sculpture is curvy and fluid, which is them made physical by the separation of the surface into small repeating elements, fabricated from thin, flexible material and fixed using pin joints to allow for movement. The resulting structure can then be pushed and pulled to simulate breathing movements.4 Tessellation can hence allow for objects to be fabricated for movement. Opening up possibilities for forms that imitate human or animal movement, or perhaps adapt to changing environmental factors. However, the aesthetic outcome of this project and many others that use tessellation is sharp and fractured even when used to build shapes that are originally smooth and fluid. S
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Hyposurface by dECOi is a display surface, expanding the possibilities of display to become movable and interactive. The surface is divided up into small triangles that allow for movement made possible by a bed of almost 900 pneumatic pistons that create dynamic terrains on the surface. The surface also has the ability to deform as a real-time reaction to environmental conditions such as light, movement and sound. 5 In this example tessellation is simply used to allow a flat surface to move and change into a contoured surface. The repeating element used in a tessellation pattern allows the surface to look continuous and uniform, however does not add much interest in this instance, despite the aesthetic capabilities seen in previous examples.
4.“Fermid by Behnaz Babazadeh,” Design playgrounds, accessed March 27, 2017, http://designplaygrounds.com/deviants/fermid-by-behnaz-babazadeh/ 5.“Aegis Hyposurface,”Mark Burry, accessed March 27, 2017, https://mcburry.net/aegis-hyposurface/
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A.2 CASE STUDY 1.0
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