Extruded Light
Matthew Law 641246 Semester 1, 2013
Ideation Review I have chosen a leaf as my natural pattern in Module 1. The aim for my lantern design is to utilise the characteristics of the diffusing leaf pattern, to create emerging light effects out of it. Sphere is the shope that I am going with in my design process. In order to add the element of symmetry into the leaf pattern, Creating a contrast as leaf pattern doesn’t have a clear Symmetry system. Light can pass through a sphere shape, making it like the light source, shining in every direction, creating strong, but multi-directional light effects.
Digitised From the clay model, I digitise the clay model into rhino 5.0, and started to play with different faces and textures of it. Then I started to add on panels on the sphere shape. Attempting to apply different faces, compare and contrast the effects that each options provides.
Design Alternatives: Precedent Study Thomas Weatherwick and company’s seed pavilion has been my inspiration for my lantern design. Ignoring the fuzzy, alive-like facade of the pavilion, the most superb element about this structure is the lighting effects that it brings along from England. Lights are directly projected from inside out, utilising sunlight at its best, projecting all natural lights, however at night, this structure will be installing little tiny boxes everywhere
Design Alternatives: Precedent Study Chinese paper cutting is another inspiration for my lantern design. Thomas Heatherwick building oh the previous page also shares the same types of light effects. Chinese paper cutting is all about symmetry and disciplines, matching up with my initial aim.
Design Alternatives: Different Design Options
I have considered three different pattern that is generated by the diffusing leaf natural shape. By rotating and joining edges, i come across with three different types of design alternatives.
Design Alternatives: Prototypes
In the creation of my prototypes, I tested out different design alternatives’ light effect and the brief facade of each lantern design.
Design Alternatives: Light Effects Testing
Other lighting effects
Final Design: The Crossed Cut
OrthoGraphic Views
Shadows in Rhino
Scheurer and Stehling Reading Reflection + TED Video
In Thomas Heatherwick’s presentation, he mentioned about large, bulky buildings being souless and cold. Thomas and company has won a competition in ShangHai. There are 250 exhibition pavilions, 250 countries competiting along with Thomas, who is representating Britian. He has the idea of spreading out, combining nature with the exhibition centre. Seeds are chosen as the only element for this exhibition centre. Like our project, Thomas has able to foresee the final form of the building through a basic element in which is a glass tube, with seeds stored within. The idea of spreading out has helped me a lot in terms of developing my lantern form. In the Scheurer and Stehling Reading, it talked about Architecture being a process of communication. Recently the trend of design has changed from being solid and regular into more of an abstract form of shape. Architectural Design does not stop even though you can define the shape of the overall shape. Other desinging components can have big impacts towards the ultimate form of design. For what you have consider as the final form of shape for the design, the outcome can be absolutely different.