A I R L u k e
A d a m s o n
S e m 1 , 2 0 1 6
B Fig 19.
PART B
CRITERIA DESIGN
Research Field
Patterning In Architectural terms, patterning is about finding a design solution that can be replicated on a large scale relative to the necessary context. A fundamental structural organisation scheme, patterning is entrenched in most design software. It has the potential to provide rules, guidelines, schemes, relationships, systems of operating. Within nature or a human creation, pattern coexists with people, an intrinsic feature. If you want to look close enough, one could say that people themselves are patterns, just repitition of their gene pool in a variety of combinations, influnced by various factors. Architecturally, patterning can work and be understood in a variety of ways. It can work to replicate, to mimic, to repeat. One must be careful not to be defined or controlled by a pattern or its logic, rather use it as another design tool. Fig 20.
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Fig 22.
Fig 23.
Fig 24.
B.1.
Patterning provides many opportunities to architecture in all of its facets. Software programs have enabled people to create increasingly complex geometries through the repetition of design constants, something impossible to do by eye. Naturally occuring patterns can be replicated with ease, almost as to analyse the environment into mathematical ideas. The Aqua Tower of Chicago (depicted previous) is inspired by the topographical location of the city and well as the Great Lakes of the surrounding areas, while the Winery Gantenbien (left) has a robotically constructed facade that replicates an oversized basket of grapes. Of course observations can be made about these architectural examples on an intermediate inspection, but the complexity its realised until the design process is truly studied and appreciated; although computerised, they are pattern taking complex form. Patterning provides concern for fabrication often only in its complexity. Even then, architecture can be broken into creatable solutions which work together to create a whole. With the main idea be ing replication and repitition, anything can be crafted with the right tools and technology. Fig 29.
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Fig 26.
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Case Study 1.0
Swanston Square Apartment Tower. Ashton Raggart McDougall
Fig 30, 31, 32.
B.2.
In recognition of the history and presence of the Aboriginal People in this country, Ashton Raggart McDougall (ARM) Architects decided to impose the image of William Barrack (a famous aboriginal artist and advocate for social justice) on their building visible down the Swanston Street axis. Controversial to say the least, ARM created this statement, in your face piece that has divided critics. ARM took an image from artist Peter Schipperheyn to begin the process. When transposed to Black and White, Photoshop was used to transform the image into horiztonal white strips which create the balconies on the facade. From there the process was imported into 2D and 3D CAD files which were used to determine the measurements and details for fabrication. Although not directly created with Rhino and Grasshopper, the portrait building can be reverse engineered with curves controlled into points that are influenced by an image sampler to create all different kinds of images.
1. Increasing Curve Concentration
20 U, 10 V
40 U, 20 V
Origin Direction Plane
X Direction Plane
2. Altering Surface Shape and Direction
3. Creating New Surfaces
Piped Lofts
Swapping Move Lines
Failed Point Cull
Arc Face Curves
4. Modify Point Positioning and Frequency
Y Dir
60 U, 30 V
80 U, 40 V
100 U, 50 V
120 U, 60 V
rection Plane
Shell Shape
Multiple Folds
Voronoi 3D
Delaunay
OctTree
Facet Dome
Surface Frames
Offset Lofts
Change Image Pattern
Change Image Pattern
Change Image Pattern
Mirror Points
Sphere
180 U, 90 V
Repetition of Surfaces
Analysis of Results
Arc Face Curves
Sphere
Facet Dome
Mirror Points
Criteria for Selection
- The ability to create structure that raised from a flat plane. -Able to be adapted in conjunction with existing features. -Create a connection between natural and synthetic
Arc Face Curves
- I chose this iteration because of its wrapping nature. The swarming arc lines continued to get larger as though they are reaching out to something. It is interesting to think of this shape intersecting existing structure as to create a bridge between the natural and man made. - Repetition of shape with increaing radius . - Shape seems to be something natural
Sphere
- This created interesting shape by applying a sample image into a divided surface. Interestingly it divides the sphere but doesnt actually create the image. - The small changes in surface shape - Repetiton with small change - Applying this pattern to different surfaces would give an intersting contour style pattern. - No directionality, structure is a whole.
Facet Dome
-I dont think this iteration worked properly but it created a really interesting result, these plans that are arranged in all different directions, creating this 3 dimensionality. - This has the potential to create 3D form if you lay it down. - It creates this raised canopy that could be using as a shelter/bridgeway. Mirrior Points
- I think this iteration best captures the idea of pattern - The facade is patterned and repeated, thus creating another pattern. - Could be developed onto another desired surface. - Very ornamental - Could provide an intersting start for planter wall.
Case Study 2.0
This single story building is a mulitpurpose office building for ‘Campus Netzwerk’ in Germany. Its hexagonal acts as a wrapping which makes the building seem as though it is floating in the trees. The facade is an attempt to modernise the building in regards to its context, located within an old industrial area. Inspiration is drawn from the honeycomb structure in the natural world which is then parametrically drafted and modified. Considerations needed to be in regards to light filtration and natural lighting requirements, thus the hexagons are of varying sizes at different locations. These facades are then laser cut from relatively lightweight aluminium panels. It is interesting to consider that this design is only feasible with digital techniques; something of such repetitious detail is only available with computer accuracies.
B.3.
Campus Netwerk Office. 2014 // Toging am Inn, Germany Format Elf Architekten
Fig 33, 34.
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Create Hexagon Grid
Extend X and Y values.
Image
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e Sample Pattern
Overlay Image Sample at the Right Size.
Cull Unwanted Geometries
Technique: Development
B.4.
1. 2 Dimensional Transformations
Loft Spread Surfaces
Voronoi
Delaunay Mesh
Facet Dome
Quad Tree
Metaball
Kaleidoscope 5 Surfaces
Kaleidoscope 10 Surfaces
Kaleidoscope 50 Surfaces
Cull FFTT
Cull FFFFT
Triangulate
2. Adaption to a Variety of Curves
Square
2D Loft
Arch
Ribbon with Cull
Random Curves
Out and In
Sphere
Ramp
Ribbon
Continual
Broken Sphere
Loft with Logic
Technique: Development
B.4.
3.Altering Patterning
Just Points
Diamond Panels
Square Grid
Staggered Quad
Hexagon and Square
Hexagon and Diamond
Offset Hexagons
Half Loft with Square
Triangulation
Diamond and Quad
Half Loft with Quads
Developable Loft
4. Lunchbox Patterning with Different Loft Options
Triangular Grid
Points with Loft
Decrease Quads
Developable Quads
Increase Hexagons
Loft back
Hexagon Grid with Points
Straight Loft
Hexagon Overlay
Larger Hexagon Grid
Developable Loft
Increase Frequency
Technique: Development B.4. 5. Line Concentration of Selected Patterns
Increase Hexagon Size
Reduce Hexagon Size, Keep Overlap
Further Reduce Hexagon Size, Reduce Amount of Hexagons
Reduce U Values
Increase U Values from Previous
Then Increase Hexagon Size
Increase Frequency
Reduce V Values
Reduce One Layer to look Offset
Increase V Values from Previous
Increase Size, Drastically Reduce Number
Then Decrease Hexagon Size
Analysis of Results
Ribbon with Cull
Loft with Logic
Increase Hexagon Size
Increase Size, Drastically Reduce Number
Criteria for Selection with Alterations
- The ability to create structure that raised from a flat plane. -Able to be adapted in conjunction with existing features. -Create a connection between the natural, human and cultural relationships.
Ribbon with Cull
- Creates an interesting distribution of the original hexagons. - Seems very fluid (like water?) - This look could be adapted to multiple surfaces to combine to make one pattern? - I like its flowing nature which could be continued, created out of hexagons as planar surfaces?
Loft with Logic
- I chose this loft because it was a combination of Hiedelberg Road, Merri Creek and Aboriginal Symbology. - There is potential to arrange the pattern different or create a new pattern all together.
Increase Hexagon Size
- This was chossen because of its large scale. - It would be interesting to combine something like this with sectioning exercise and see the outcomes. - Almost looks natural like a spiders web. Could be deconstructed into different shapes.
Increase Size, Drastically Reduce Number - This was chosen as opposite to the previous, really simple and obviously defined. - Possibilities to create obvious details?
Prototyping
The prototyping process follows a design logic I employed in one of my iterations, which was then adapted in 3D to create the above 3 different variations of the same shape. From here I worked to analyse the capabilities of polyproplyene as a material that could create these kinds of form. I wanted to look at the effects of shadow, the ability for the material to bend/ stretch, and details of connecting the hexagons in a variety of ways.
To begin there was a hexagon grid hand cut using the forms defined by the interations , but lofted onto a flat surface for construction purposes.
B.5.
This prototype is being displayed here with the initial shape and form, followed by randomly bending the material to see how it cooperated and the effects of the shadows on the background.
Prototyping B.5.
From there I applied my process to a replica of some of the model at a 1:2 scale with help from the laser cutter in the FabLab. I again used polyproplyene because I like the qualities of the material and how it can bend and mold to different shapes. I also thought it would be interesting to think about using a plastic that is a waste material as part of my design thinking. I salvaged some transparent plastic from site but there wasnt enough of it to creat a design like that. Instead, I found a similar material in a rubbish pile at a local shop centre to use. In the end this processes proved to be a dead end in the fact that I couldnt find plastic with the exacty needed qualities in high enough concentration, so I decided that polyproplyene was the material available in large enough quantities that was readily available and workable.
1
From this point I decided to try and inflict some kind of logic in the prototyping stages of this design concept. This was to again identify the performance of the material in 3 dimensions with some form of real life constraints; - flexibility - whether it could create desired shapes - impact on its environment - finished look of the piece Image 1 shows a corner being released from the surface, creating and extended shadow on the wall. Image 2 shows a corner being pinched in which creates a distortion in the shadow on the wall and a hump created on the right side. Image 3 indicates a corner tucked up underneath, interestingly pushing the shadow down and out on the wall. I really liked this effect. Image 4 is a corner pinched in yet this created a diagonal curve across that same corner. Image 5 pinches in two corners which creates a symmetrical kind of fold similar to that seen in image 4. Image 6 shows all corners pinched in to create a rise in the middle of the pattern. Image 7 is two corners pinched in with one detached, creating two seperate kind of shadows that distinctly overlap. Image 8 is one corner pinched in with two detached, giving a large shadow for both of the detached corners. Image 9 is where I played around with the pieces that were extracted from the pattern, attempting to connect them in a way which was interesting as a pattern or random assortment.
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The chosen site, Hiedelberg Road Bridge.
Technique: Proposal Merri Creek, 70 kilometres long, originating in Wallan and merging with the Yarra River at Dight Falls.
B.6.
- A culmination of natural, human and cultural; walking, talking, running, riding, existing, avoiding. - Opportunities all through the site to represent connections between technical, cultural, natural. - I found that these 3 groups of elements commonly existed as seperate or existed together rather than being interwined or represented collectively. I decided to focus on the area of Hiedelberg Road Bridge. Here I felt as though there was potential in a few different areas. This is a spot where human (bridge) and natural (creek) have a chance to meet and mingle but rather they go out of their way to avoid. I thought it would be an interesting concept to create a design that helps them both interact. At the same time, I felt as though the area had much more to give than its initial face value. Upon first glance the underside of the bridge seems to be ugly and unthoght of. But if you spend enough time at the site you realise that it is actually a marvellous achievment of engineering and how the whole structure is standing up is fanscinating to think about. It is just a pity that this site is majorly used as a thoroughfare so this aspect of the bridge may go unnoticed. Thus, my design concept was to create a culmination of the natural, technical and cultural aspects of the site in a way which would instantly beautify the space beneath the bridge and make it interesting.
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Represented here is the ultimate concept. I scaled down Hiedelberg Road Bridge and the distance of Merri Creek from the Falls to the site at 1:1000 in a line representation. This was combined with an aboriginal symbol for water extracted as linework. These curves were lofted with a hexagonal style grid (inspired by my previous case study and the natural/synthetic nature of the shape).
Broken down into seperate elements, the initial lofted lines creates a physical connection to the abstracts of each of the 3 systems identified. This is decorated with a hexagonal pattern, with hexagons existing as a natural shape that is often replicated and executed in a perfect form as though to seem synthetic, creating a middle ground between the two. This is all suspensed as an installation beneath Hiedelberg Road Bridge itself to embody a recreation of the bridge above below, almost masking the aesthetics of the underside of the bridge, yet creating a piece that is interesting enough to be able to stop and analyse, allowing the targeted audiences to stop at that site and further think about the area and in turn the beauty of the bridge itself.
The Bridge Above, Below
Learning Outcomes Objective 2: Developing an ability to generate a variety of design possibilities for a given situation by introducing visual programming.... - Through the development of my interations, I have displayed the ability to use different aspects of Grasshopper to create different shapes and forms for a single or many designs. These then possessed qualities of their own which I could manipulate further. I think this shows that I can create a variety of different designs that can also be adaptable with endless possibilities. Objective 5: Developing the ability to make a case for proposals by developing critical thinking and encouraging construction of rigorour and persuasive arguments... - My design proposal shows a strong and lengthy thought process behind a concept which works to interact with the brief as well as the physical constraints on site. With that said, there is always room for improvement in being able to be fluid in my thinking and not get stuck with one design idea or concept. Objective 7: Develop foundational understandings of computational geometry, data structures and types of programming. - I believe this is perhaps one of the objectives that I have truly struggled with. Although spending hours on hours trying to remember the concepts behind Grasshopper and how everything works I have not yet truly been able to understand all of its complexities. I have, however, continued to work as understanding fully the computer program and the way in which it works, developing my knowledge and technological skills. Objective 3: Developing skills in various 3D media and specifically in computational geometry, parametric modelling , analytic diagramming and digital fabrication. - I believe that I have had success and failure in this objective throughout this journal. On one side, I have been able to produce shapes by hand and through computer aid, both influence by parametric modelling, all of which could be manipulated with purpose as a means of testing and prototyping. However, I wish I had more time to practice and perfect objects through laser cutting and execute design work which is both complex and interesting to create.
B.7.
Appendix
POINT CHARGE CONTINUOUS PATTERNING FRACTAL TETRAHEDRA
B.8.
PATTERNING PATTERNING WITH VORONOI
References Figure 20 - Aqua Tower - https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/fando-forgotten-nobility-3462981/vistale-aqua-tower-chicago-via-4809216548 Figure 21 - Le Corbusiers The Modulor - https://www.flickr.com/photos/ad_symphoniam/4056805051/in/set-72157622692779974 Figure 22, 23 - Aiming Technologies Inward - http://butdoesitfloat.com/Now-weare-aiming-our-technologies-inward-where-they-will-start-to Figure 24 - Pattern - http://ww1.high-resolution-wallpapers.com/wall-scratchestexture-295509 Figure 25 - Sacred Geometry - http://colourfulway.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/30. html Figure 26 - Aiming Technologies Inward - http://butdoesitfloat.com/Now-we-areaiming-our-technologies-inward-where-they-will-start-to Figure 27 - IO Andy Gilmore - https://au.pinterest.com/pin/334392341061517584/ Figure 28 - The Puddle Builder - http://ertdfgcvb.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/the_puddle_builder_06_2.png Figure 29 - Bearth & Deplazes - Gantenbein Winery - https://au.pinterest.com/ pin/486529565973751833/ Figure 30, 31, 32 - Swanston Square - http://www.a-r-m.com.au/projects_SwanstonSquare_Barak.html Figure 33, 34 - Campus Netwerkz Hexagonal Facade - http://www.designboom. com/architecture/format-elf-architekten-formstelle-kantine-campus-netzwerkgermany-09-02-2014/