I N T E R I M P R E S E N T A T I O N
T H I S P R E S E N T A T I O N
1. I will outline my main findings and responses from the site in relation to the design brief.
2. Patterning and image sampling proves to be efficient in generating aesthetical, yet easy to model concepts.
3. Characteristics of patterning and image sampling in relation to my reverse engineering project ‘Aqua Tower’. 4. Evaluation of the criteria I used for analysing the outcomes of the reverse engineering project.
5. Things I have learn from fabricating my own grasshopper designs.
6. What I will take from all of these exercises into the next stage, the fun part of designing.
L I V I N G A R C H I T E C T U R E
‘An architectural intervention that will express, support, amplify or question continuous relationships between technical, cultural and natural systems’…
The ability to use a design to improve on the lives of people, animals and the general environment in moving towards a sustainable future.
S I T E
Merri Creek is one of the few natural reserves left in the metropolitan area of Melbourne. It provides a sanctuary for many wild lives as well as an escape from the populated city. It is a place of peace for adults and a learning environment for children. In my perspective, I will try to maintain its natural characteristics and only improve on areas that cause harm to the environment. From the visit to the Merri Creek reserve, I have observed a few things that needed to be changed or improved. Firstly, there was rubbish along the path and the creek, which is always harmful to the image of the reserve. Thus, a solution of designing rubbish bins could reduce pollution. However, this may attract animals to seek for food within the bins, potentially turning the bins into a death trap if animals fall in. Secondly, there were these tree protectors, I thought I might replace them with a more interesting design. However, seeing the quantity needed for the protectors, it will be an expensive project.
B R I D G E S
The most distracting thing I experienced on site was the uncomforting feeling when walking under the bridges. Not only it is aesthetically unpleasing, it also posed a threat of pigeon bombs. The area was dirty and dangerous. It is a shame that a prime space like this is being left out when it has the ability to facilitate people and animals against the unpredictable weather of Melbourne. As well as a great resting space for joggers or a recreational space for people. To my experience, a space like this in China would be packed with people playing Chinese chess. Thus, it is to my consciousness to change the atmosphere and the environment of the space under the bridges and transform it from a space of brief passing into a place of interest that is able to facilitate its potentials. To achieve this, I believe, involves mainly covering up the underside of the bridge. The technique of patterning would be very effective in generating a horizontal plane, layer or canopy that connects to the underside of the bridge. Closely binding rectangular, triangular or random patterns would form an architectural decoration to the space. At the same time, hiding the hideous concrete bridge on top and hindering pigeons from nesting and dropping on the edges of the bridge columns.
R E V E R S E E N G I N E E R I N G
R E V E R S E O V E R V I E W
P R O T O T Y P I N G
To further more expand on the technique developed previously, a grasshopper definition was written which allowed patterns to be generated in a boundary with varying 3D structural shapes (A). This provided a rigid structure similar to many skeletal structures found in many large irregular buildings, such as the Sydney Opera House. However, the rigidity of the design poses many problems, which are the incapability to adapt to the site environment, the industrial look and the difficulty of manufacturing and installing the parts as they will need to be precise.
Group B is the solution to A that uses flexible joints to freely create different patterns. The cables that join to form the pattern can be made from flexible light material which can be connected by zip-tie like joints. This way, the structure is able to maintain multiple directions of flexibility. The design will show the natural hang of gravity, reassuring people the realism of nature. However, the light flexible structure is prone to wind and weights. Since the underpart of a bridge is usually windy, it would mean the structure would swing a lot, which could unrest users of its stability as well as causing pigeon droppings and dirt to be shaken down to pedestrians.
By combining the rigidity of group A in combat against the elements and the flexibility of pattern forming in group B, I am able to produce a series of single layered patterns (C). These patterns are easy to manufacture and install with pre-fabricated joints shown above. The 2D layer is able to adapt to the shape of the bridge. The diversity of patterning creates interesting patterns against the dull background of the concrete bridge. Though, people have to be directly under in order to perceive it, meaning sore necks and possible sun glares.
Thus, group D solves the problem by transforming a 1 way perspective/2D into a 3D patterning design. It started with taking the easiest form – rectangles and eliminating the row beams to provide simplicity for the extrusion. The extracted pattern thus displays a pattern from all directions. The panels were then shaped into irregular wave patterns using image sampling from grasshopper. At this stage, it starts to resemble elements of the Aqua tower façade used as the ceiling pattern.
Extrusion continues as an experience to find the optimum height to generate an all-direction pattern. The ceiling was then charged to a point to create a perspective and dynamic effect, however, it proved to be unsuitable to the squarish site. However, the purpose to hide the underside of the bridge as well as to hinder pigeons from accessing the space has not been met as there are too few panels to cover up the view of the bridge nor to create obstructions for pigoens.
Through development, I have increased the density/reduced the spacing between each panels to generate the outline of the ceiling pattern. This creates a mysterious atmosphere to the site backed up by the experience of abstract, depth, vertical gravity and vivid contrasts. Contrasts between the concaving and extruding pattern, the depth of the dropping down panels vs. the spacing in between as well as the rigid structure of the bridge vs. the abstract design. This creates diversity, a point of interest to the site but not domination to the surrounding environment. Moreover, different images were used to generate different ceiling patterns to utilise computation in generating quick patterns to choose the best from.
C H O S E N T E C H N I Q U E
Lastly, to adapt the design to the underside of the bridge, I must consider the fact that there will be a lot of vibration, thus, using fixed joints to connect the panels to the bridge would mean constant vibration and tension at the joints as well as the whole design, which may lead to instability and reduced the life of the design. Thus, a solution is to divide the pattern into individual strips and connecting them individually to the bridge using 2 fixed joints connect by tension cables. This way, most of the vibration from the bridge can be dispersed by the movements of the cables. Moreover, this allows the panels to swing a bit amongst themselves which creates an unintentional experience of living architecture through movement as well as the experience of transformation in patterns through controlled movement.
Honourable mention: using image sampling and patterning to extract similar sized cones that make up the image with the cones measuring the same size as 330ml cans. This allows the design to be constructed with only recyclable rubbish. Provides a hint to increase people’s awareness in protecting the environment.
There was a bit of difficulty transforming the 3D planar surfaces into 2D . Due to interpolation and connecting points in constructing the outline of the wave pattern in grasshopper, many lines overlapped each other which I had to pick out 1 by 1 and deleting the overlaps. This would be even more difficult with larger projects. Thus, I =n the future, I will pay attention to overlaps and make sure that lofted surfaces do not have overlapping layers or lines. The model was constructed with MDF as it provide more strength than some other materials, such as poly and boxboard. It also has the wood effect which suits my design very well, as it is a reference to nature. Since the model is a ceiling structure, I have to manually hold it up in order to allow the bottom to hang naturally, showing the effect of gravitational force.
To further develop my concept, I will add in adjustment commands in grasshopper, such as altering tree structure, creating multiply planar surfaces and intersecting them to generate unknown patterns.
Thank you