Week 4 Submission

Ong Yeok Ho

603404

Virtual Environments ENVS 10008 2013 Semester 1 Module 2 – Design

Reading Responses

Scheurer, F. and Stehling, H. (2011): Lost in Parameter Space? IAD: Architectural Design, Wiley, 81 (4), July, pp. 70-79 A model is an abstraction of reality. Abstraction simplifies a model to a manageable level. For example, a perfect model is not one that contains a lot of information but one that has a little as possible and yet still explains it clearly. Reduction, on the other hand, is different from abstraction. Reduction is about finding the optimal way of transforming the information without changing its content. In Module 1’s analysis drawings, abstraction can be seen through the 3 different stages, where the drawings are like the “models” of the pattern. They simplify the pattern without changing its information. Reduction, meanwhile, can be seen from the recipe. It uses the optimal way to send the pattern information without changing its content. By following the pattern recipe, similar patterns can be formed. Although it is not entirely the same, it would be almost the same as the required contents are still successfully sent.

TED talks - Thomas Heatherwick Thomas Heatherwick is an architect from London. In the biomass power station project, he and his team used design strategies to create a place where people are invited in instead of being excluded. They created a composition instead of littering the buildings all over the place. The area is one of the poorest areas in Britain. Hence, Heatherwick and his team used design to create a power park, bringing the whole area in. The soil that is used also makes a difference in reducing noises. They also designed it in such a way that it is efficient and cost-effective. The end project is a place more than power plant. It is a place where people can come and experience the surroundings from a higher level. The design strategies used by Heatherwick and his team produces a certain spatial effect that could attract people and not be excluded.

Images of Digitised Model - Contouring

I traced and produced the contour of the model by the method of tracing. I drew lines on the clay model and then reproduced them in Rhino.

The lines were then lofted. I readjusted the lines to my desired effect. From the Ideation stage of Module 1, I decided that I need a model that has more curves and folds. The above figure is a model which I think is not curvy and messy enough.

Hence, I continued to move the control points on the lines to produce a curvier form.

I readjusted the lines to the desired effect and then finally settled with this form where it looks more random and messy as it is the effect that I want.

Ortographic View of Contoured Model All measurements are in cm.

Top View

Right View

Front View

Perspective View

Images of Digitised Model – Panelling

I experimented with the different form of panellings. I had to ensure that the shapes and form the panel would give my lantern a random arrangement. A good a example of precedent would be Miss Maple's lamps where the folds give the lamp a messy and random arrangement and I wish to incorporate the same effect to my lantern.

Miss Maple's Lamp.

I first started with experimentation of the available panels in Rhino.

The form of this model looks a little out of place and weird. I also feel that there is not enough folds which will make the shadows less interesting.

This model looks too orderly because of the rectangular panellings. This is also not my desired effect and there is also lack of folds.

I thought that both these panels give an interesting effect as it is the closest to what I want in my lantern. However, I want my pattern (which is the floor cracks) to be incorporated onto the lantern, hence, I could not use the panels available in Rhino and had to make my own custom panels.

Images of Digitised Model – Paneling

This is the effect when the u and v of the panelling grid are set at 20. This causes the pattern to be complicated and small, making it difficult to be worked with.

I then customized the panel to incorporate the pattern I want.

The figure on the left is the pattern that is panellised to the lantern.

The overall form is a reactangle and has 3 triangular segments. In each segment is where the cracks are. I made it in such a way as rectangles and triangles are the most basic shapes that are easiest to work with. A simpler panel would also be easier to cut and prototyped in the later weeks.

This is when the u and v are readjusted to 7. The pattern looks less complicated but I thought that the u and v should be adjusted to an even smaller number so that it looks even simpler and easier to work with in the future weeks.

I then readjusted the u and v to 5. This pattern looks so much simpler and easier to work with. The pattern can also be seen clearly. However, the folds and now lesser and the surfaces look flatter now. Since I had no other ways to change the form, I decide to manipulate the types of lighting effect to achieve my desired effect.

Images of Digitised Model – Paneling

Le Klint's Lamp

In Module 1, I decided to have cut light for my lantern. Since my lantern has more flat surfaces than I originally planned, my lighting effects would be emphasizing the cracks on the lantern.

In Miss Maple's lamp, the light passes through the outlines of the each of the triangular shapes. I wish to incorporate the same effect for my lantern too, where the light would pass through the outlines of each crack. There are also other ways to achieve similar effects. In Le Klint's lamp, the surfaces are cut and then folded outwards to enable light to pass through the gaps. I could also incorporated the same effect to my lamp. In the figure on the left, the blue lines, which are the cracks pattern, will be cut and the red lines are where the paper will be folded.

The light can then pass through the gap.

Ortographic View of Paneled Model All measurements are in cm.

Top View

Right View

Front View

Perspective View