Week 4

Lectures & Reading

In the article Lost in Parameter Space, the author describes the process of translating physical model into a digital form. One of the core terms and concept that frequently appear during the process is abstraction and reduction. The authors imply that abstraction is a process of reducing the amount of information by considering the general concept or the main characteristic as opposed to the concrete reality. Reduction on the other hand, is a process of restructuring or eliminating unnecessary parts without altering the contents. These two terms could be related back to the process I undertook in module 1 when generating the analytical drawings from the natural pattern. The analytical drawings I produced are a process of abstraction of the fern based on the 3 distinguishable characteristic namely movement, balance, and symmetry. The process of reduction was demonstrated when creating the recipe for the analytical drawing.

Although the description could’ve easily been a couple paragraphs, I chose the optimum way of representing the process (a brief 50 words with the aid of pictures).

Orthographic View of the Model Figure 6. 4 different view of the clay model

Digitisation of the model

Method 1. Generating contours by tracing profile curves First I tried the first method by tracing the overall shape of the entire model using the orthographic view. Although it was a fast and relatively simple process, the resultant form was becoming too abstract that it was losing the initial idea. Therefore I decided to divide the form into two separate parts for more accurate representation: the base model and the ring shape, former representing the stem and the latter, the leaves of different scale.

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Method 2. Trace and loft reference curves After dividing the model into two separate parts, I initially drew a multiple of circles to trace . the contours of the base form. I then slightly manipulated the angle and the length between each circles using the top view. Finally I selected all the circles and lofted them to arrive at a digitalized form. The form was futher developed through the manipulation of control points to give a more organic and smooth surface. Although this method was a little bit more time consuming, I was able to produce a more accurate representation of the clay model

Making the Sub-Structure To create the substructure, I copied the three circles that were lofted to make sure the substructure would fit to the desired place. I then produced an outer circle for each of the inner circle at a different scale (largest at the left smallest on the right).

Finally I applied the ‘pipe’ command to complete the process.

Final Model

Standard 2D&3D Paneling Here I used the standard 2D paneling option to explore the various effects that could be implemented in the lantern.

Triangular

Base – Partition Sub Structure - Pyramid

Angle Box

Brick

Base – Box3D Sub Structure - Partition