S OUND BITES CITY
Week 1
Week 1 We were introduced to different kinds of curves and the idea of a grid shell - a grid structure created by intersecting curves. The logic is that if a suspended grid form can be supported in tension via the anchor points, the same structure will stand up-side down, where the load transfers like a 3D arch towards the same anchor points.
M책rten Nettelbladt The Geometry of Bending
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The Geometry of Bending by Marten Nettelbladt Different Types of Curves, ( The Geometry of Bending) Suspended gridshell model - from Parametricwood.com Gridshell pavillion, Austria, photo by Stefanj4242 at Panoramio
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#1 After being introduced to the idea of a gridshell, we were given the opportunity to explore the notion with suspending beads. We designed a versatile system where the foam base gives freedom to the grid points on the X & Y axis while the corrugated card board and bamboo sticks the Z Axis. Even after we placed the strings of beads in the right anchors, we learnt that it is important how it weaves - which string goes on top of which. The rigidity of the bead string itself was too strong for it to drape in a catenary curve, yet for it to drape naturally the model has to be tripled the size, hence a lot of pushing and pulling was needed to make it look like it is.
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Intention
Reality
Opposing force 1. 2. 3. 4.
The Geometry of Bending by Marten Nettelbladt Different Types of Curves, ( The Geometry of Bending) Suspended gridshell model - from Parametricwood.com Gridshell pavillion, Austria, photo by Stefanj4242 at Panoramio
#2 A very basic model was explored to understand the essence of the gridshell. It is observed that every point affects the next, hence adjusting the form involves adjusting a series of curves in gradual amounts that ‘feathers’ out.
Once suspended, the inward arching force pulls the grid away in a bending form, not very evident in the string bead model because of reasons mentioned before.
Although in plan the curves are meant to travel along the X and Y axis, the intercepting points does pose a force on the them which bends them, forming a 3 dimensional curve.
#3 An ambitios effort to create a grid that goes in all XYZ axis that intersects in space in a radial form. The scale of the model was too small for the string beads to drape.
Initial sketch
#4 Testing the effects of pulling the grid aside on one side to create an opening.
#5 In this model we explored the notion of a grid going around in a radial form. Spatially it is interesting. Structurally there are one too many points coming together - potentially just a scale issue.
Week 2
Kangaroo, Weaverbird, karamba, Grasshopper, rhino. 'LJLWDO IRUP ÀQGLQJ WKLV ZHHN ZH OHDUQW DERXW creating a digital model of a gridshell and simulating forces (ie gravity) in Grasshopper, Rhino using plugins like Karamba, Kangaroo, Weaverbird etc. We were given the task to explore a gridshell design. I was trying to achieve one similar to the image on the left.
proposal 1 Forming the outer and inner circle and connecting the lines was the easy part. I couldn’t intersect the straight lines with the rings to create a grid points that drapes - hence the rigid form.
Proposal 2 The closest I could get on my own was the form on the left - subdividing two rings and drawing lines connecting both sets of points.
Proposal 3 A form that terminates on the wall on one VLGH DQG WKH Ă RRU RQ WKH RWKHU 7KLV LV WR FUHDWH two separate zones that one can experience either being under a huge canopy or outside looking at it.
The sound bit A trip to Sial’s Sound lab where Lawrence Harvey introduced the acoustic side of the story to us. We learnt about bits of history of sound, the 8 channel sound system, the acoustic connection plug systems that are getting smaller and more LQHIÀFLHQW WKH VRXQG SRG DQG LWV FRQVWUXFWLRQ heard a few sound pieces from several artists, learnt about the speakers that were potentially going to be installed as part of the sound exhibition. Lawrence also walked us through a bit of history lessons of sound and photography when he was bringing us through the building. (as seen in images to the left).
Week 3
1:1 , 1:20 We were split into two groups, one doing a one to one test of the model and the other a 1:20 scale.
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Spacer blocks Timber laths 1:20 scale version of edge beams Laser cut wood veneer
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1:20 As part of the 1:20 group we were assigned to built a model to simulate the construction process of the actual gridshell. However the complexity of the ambition at that scale was QRW HDV\ WR ZRUN ZLWK ÀQGLQJ D VXLWDEOH material to laser cut the laths, sticking the edge beams together, etc. We only got to the stage of completing the edge beams, even getting the position correct was no easy task, as it only had about 1-2mm tolerance.
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Medelling the structure of the ramp. Edge beams in place. Separating the laser cut pieces, preparing the base Trying to make sense of the form of the edge beam
1:1 The other group was working the actual prototype of a section of the grid shell. The preparation process included labelling the laths, and from the labels they each were to be either GULOOHG RU URXWHG DQG WKHQ VDZV LQWR WKHLU VSHFLĂ€F measurements. Spacer blocks were placed in between holes that are more than 300mm apart.
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(DFK ODWK DUH ODEHOOHG WR EH LQGLYLGXDOO\ LGHQWLĂ€HG between the top and bottom laths spacers are placed to keep the shape consistent A lenthy process was to mark the holes before cutting them. Weights were used to simulate the edge beam condition.
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1:1 :H ZHUH ÀJXULQJ RXW WKH PRVW HIÀFLHQW ZD\ of installing the laths. Because of the way it is designed with 4 laths overlapping one another they had to be installed almost layer by layer. however also because of the nature of it being a grid, they had to be installed in pairs where it has to be secured at any one point for it to stand on its own while the next can be installed.
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Bottom laths of a single direction are put in place. Hence having the need for someone to temporarily hold them in place while... ..as the second set of lath comes in it can secure all the laths in place when connected on every node. Nick and John testing the way the connection comes together, as the length of the screw was close to exactly the total thickness of 4 laths and 3 spacers. )LQLVKLQJ XS WKH ÀQDO ELWV RI WKH PRGHO Criss-crossing of each member.
Cladding test A few investigations were made to determine the most effective way of cladding the structure.
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Testing out a cladding method with fabric, which using steel rods to push fabric at certain points. Ditto. Trial pushing the Fabric with a round timber end. Image courtesy Guangshan Pan. Ditto. Image courtesy Guangshan Pan
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Week 4 PREFABRICATION
The process
Timber extention The timber came in lengths of approx 4 meters, but there were a few laths that needed to be longer than that. John taught us that to do this while maintaining the structural integrity (if not making it stronger) is to so a diagonal cut and glueing them together.
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John Cherrey showing the class a way to get timbers consistently and accurately cut. $ MLJ ZDV À[HG LQ SODFH WR UXQ WKH VDZ Cut timber stack Even with the jig the cut was still not 100% consistent.
routing Routing part was a lengthy but crucial part of the process as it determines the connection points of each lath which shapes the grid. The images to the right shows a jig that was made for consistent routing. There was a knob side to it. We learnt how the router works - best cut sideways for the longevity of the bit, therefore to drill a hole it has to go in downwards but diagonally. It started off fun but as seen in the image on the right one will eventually be working in an atmosphere of saw dust that even breathing blows dust into safe glasses and cause eye irritations - hence the need for safety goggles.
MEANWHILE While we were preparing the laths and edge beams another team was constructing the center platform on site.vv
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Structure of the base 3LHFHV RI WKH WRS FODGGHG LQ DUWLÀFLDO JUDVV ÀWV LQ WRJHWKHU almost perfectly like a jigsaw puzzle.
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edge beam
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Capping pieces Rectangular pieces are placed along the insides of the beam to maintain a regular cross sectional form throughout while holding it structurally and in shape. It takes many hands to bend, twist, hold in place, clamp, glue, staple-gun the timber in place. Portion of the edge beam being clamped onto a piece that was cut to curve while waiting for the glue to set. Ditto In the later stages when we had more experience on how it connects a staple gun was used for a much faster construction process.
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Coming together We started off attaching the beams by having pieces of timber attached and glued on the sides (image 1). This soon proved to be unstable because it cracks under pressure. We later came up with another method where it combines two beams via timber blocks and 4 long screws. This proved to be stronger and a lot PRUH ﾃ？[LEOH
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Small but significant The laths are meant to be secured onto a hidden screw within the beam. To achieve that PP EORFNV ZHUH GULOOHG DQG À[HG ZLWK DQ HQG cap and then glued on the sides of the beam. The glueing process was something different I learnt that once it has been applied and put pressured on, it has to be taken apart for approx 5 minutes for the glue to become slightly dry and solid and then it is attached again but this time pressed on with a clamp until it is dried for best structural strength.
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Placing the blocks in place After blocks was placed it is taken apart (as seen in 3.) for 5 minutes before securing it again with a clamp (as seen in 4.)
Cleaning up 7KH ÀQLVKLQJ ELW IRU WKH HGJH EHDPV ZDV to clean up. Again, because of the precision of the design, there was just enough room for the cap to go on, therefore bits of glue had to be scrapped off, and there were parts that didn’t have enough room John had to make a jig and shave a few milimeters off with a router for the cap.
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The main curved beam held up by temporary structures and clamps while waiting for the glue to dry. Using the chisel to scrape off excessive dried glue. John using the router to shave and make room for the caps Ditto.
Week 6
on site
Setting up We learnt about spatial organizing on site. It was crucial that we had enough space for others to work and move around. And quite often things have to be moved around the gallery to create room for different work to be done. The alignment of the edge beams was another crucial process. Because of the design of the JULGVKHOO WKDW ÀWV MXVW LQWR WKH GLPHQVLRQ RI WKH gallery, there was very little tolerance. Each end of the beams had to be measured to a GHÀQHG SRLQW LQ WKH JDOOHU\ ZLWK DERXW PP RI tolerance. The stage had to be disassembled and moved slightly because it was approx 500mm off where it was meant to be. 1. 3.
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3DLULQJ XS WKH ODWKV IRU HIÀFLHQW LQVWDOODWLRQ ODWHU RQ Positioning the beams. Points were measured and marked to ensure they are in place. The team connecting and completing the loop of the outer ring edge beam.
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first laths :KHQ WKH HGJH EHDPV ZHUH À[HG LQ SODFH the laths were ready to go in. The top laths were WKH ÀUVW WR JR LQ DV WKH\ ZHUH WKH RXWHU OD\HU As more laths go in the structure became more rigid.
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Photo by Guangshan Pan. Photo by Guangshan Pan. Photo by Guangshan Pan.
More laths 7KH ZRUNà RZ ZDV SUHWW\ JRRG DV GLIIHUHQW people were assigned to different roles and everyone was constantly busy. There was always SHRSOH SXWWLQJ XS ODWKV VRPH KDG WR À[ XS mistakes back at the Gossard workshop, some were working on the platform’s ramp etc. 7KH ÀUVW SDLU RI ODWKV ZHUH SXW LQ SODFH ,W JRW tricky when it came to the curving part of the gridshell as a lot of twisting had to be done to get it in place. Many a time we thought the holes were drilled in the wrong spot but it was just a matter of twisting hard enough for the timber to bend into place. Many hands were needed in this process. Bits of the 80mm we left at the ends of the lath had to be sawn off to make room as it bends and curves - something we learnt on site.
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Nick and John getting the inner edge beam to be in the right position. Image shows a few laths standing on their own. It gets more VWDEOH ZKHQ WKH ERWWRP ODWK JHWV À[HG RQ A team bending and twisting the timber into place. They have to be put into position before screwing it in altogether.
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And more laths After being introduced to the idea of a gridshell, we were given the opportunity to explore the notion with suspending beads. We designed a versatile system where the foam base gives freedom to the grid points on the X & Y axis while the corrugated card board and bamboo sticks the Z Axis. Even after we placed the strings of beads in the right anchors, we learnt that it is important how it weaves - which string goes on top of which. The rigidity of the bead string itself was too strong for it to drape in a catenary curve, yet for it to drape naturally the model has to be tripled the size, hence a lot of pushing and pulling was needed to make it look like it is.
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A lot of pushing and pulling and twisting was involved to get the laths in to where they belong. Photo by Guangshan Pan. There were some where the holes were just out of place and we decided to make another hole on site. A lot of passion and effort was put into it. Completed laths.
cladding This was a learning curve as there is a trickcleaner ÀQLVK WR JHW WKH IDEULF WR ERQG ZLWK WKH WLPEHU ,W was decided to do a simple and minimal cladding with Lycra cloth. The trick was to tape the sides and apply resin while pressing hard to eliminate air bubbles and then leave to dry. If not done properly air bubbles will form and the cloth will tear open the day after and everything has to be redone. If done correctly the hardened resin can be easily cut of with a stanley knife, leaving a seamless clean edge. Clips were used at parts where the curve of the grid was causing the fabric to lift off the surface, IRU D FOHDQHU ÀQLVK
Turfing Covering the ramp and platform with astro turf was fun. Many a part were nailed on with a staple gun. The tricky bit was trying to align the direction of the grass so that it looks consistent. It helps hiding the staples too. Photos by Guangshan Pan.
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the completed gridshell
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Photo by yours truly Photo by sialsoundstudios@rmit.edu.au Photo by Mark Ashkanasy.