INDN441_clarkson_documentation

S e a m + l e s s b l o s s o m richard clarkson INDN441

Element Balmond, C. (2007). Element.

London: Prestel.

Balmond’s very interesting and inspiring book on finding and analysing partners in nature. Of particular relevance is the section on flower patterns.

Balmond’s pattern interpretation is a mix of personal interpretation and mathematical algorithms. This was particularly useful as a research precedent for this project, especially this patterning process from analysis to re-creation.

The Architecture of Variation Spuybroek, L. (Ed.). (2009). Research & design : the architecture of variation.

New York: Thames & Hudson.

This book was an excellent starting point for this project. It provided both theoretical and project based explorations by Manuel DeLanda Lars, Spuybroek and architects such as Youngjin Yoon as well as many others. It also provided an excellent precedent on the genetic variation process in architecture and using cad modeling and coding to create form.

It also had a breif catalog of Variations found in Roses, looking at differences between 26 petal Hybrid Tea Roses, 30-35 petal Grandiflora Roses and 40-50 English Rose, 15-20 Shrub Roses, 40-50 English Roses, 20-30 Buck Hardy Roses and 50-60 Climbing Roses.

Blowup Topham, S. (2002). Blow-up : inflatable art, architecture and design. London: Prestel.

One of the few dedicated resources purely on inflatable design. This book covers a large range of scale, from large scale buildings to fruit-bowl sized design. Whilst reading this book I noticed there was a distinct lack of very small scale inflatable design. Perhaps this is because of manufacturing difficulties. This is one area where the benefits of 3D printing can be truly shown.

One of the excellent features of this book is that many of the designs are pushing the capabilities of both material, form and manufacture. This is something that I really want to push in this project.

Installation The Final design consists of three 3D printed parts, a pump, valve and unique flower bud. The flower and valve are joined together and attached sections of to 6mm plastic tube suspended in a random ‘curtain’. Near the bottom edges of the curtain amongst the tubing hangs 10 pumps which when pressurized by the guests of the conference each inflates 6 randomly spaced flower buds causing them to blossom. When the pressure is released from the pump each flower bud returns to its neutral position. At the end of the conference guests are invited to pluck the flower buds from the installation or use provided secateurs to harvest one rose stem each.

the worlds first 3D printed inflatable flower...

“blossom”