Design Principles and Methods II Digital Portfolio
Stylianos Tsilimparis C1012094
Water The numibian beetle lives on sand dunes and survive by drinking water that collects from fog. The way this is achieved: 1. Bumps on its back increasing the exposed surface area 2. Bumps on its back attracting water droplets 3. Hydrophobic surfaces allowing water to be channeled Aim: Investigate if a water collection system, as similar as possible to that of the beetle, is applicable and efficient within an urban context. Precedents: An MIT student created a mesh that converts fog into water. Net harvesting is done by using fine polypropylene meshes stretched between two poles. Fog that passes through is then converted into water falling into the reservoir.
The numibian beetle
The polypropylene mesh
Form finding. 3D Studio Max Design
Form finding. Autocad These digital models explore which shape would have been more efficient for water collection and whether or not these bumps can form panels which could be installed on the building.
Form finding. Physical Model. Exploring the Bump
The team agreed on several materials that would be appropriate for the panels. All of them were chosen based on their properties, hydrophobic properties, water filtration properties etc.
Results The water collection system explored is applicable however: 1. Most probably it is not efficient 2. It requires a lot of space, something not available within an urban environment 3. The materials chosen are very expensive making the creation of such panels forbidding Thus, this system can not be used. On the other hand an idea of increasing the surface area in an urban environment, where extra space is always needed, could be explored (second page first property of the beetle)
Another Approach
Other methods of increasing surface area After the failure of the first experiment traditional methods that humans used in order to increase the available farming space were investigated. These man made terraces could be explored and provide multiple routes. left: rice fields in china right: similar to the chinese example an island in greece.
Precedents
The top left picture is Isokon building that has some beautiful external alleys creating a semi-private space between the road and the flats. The other three pictures are about Habitat 67 similar to the mountain terraces as it can be seen at the section to the right. This building provides alternative routes for someone who wants to enter his flat,
Exploring the idea of alternative routes
These are some models which were created in 3D Studio Max design. Those spheres are animated and fixced to follow a certain path. These animated shperes are exploring the idea of multiple routes till the final destination.
The Final Form of the Building
top left: the masterplan of the building clearly showing the variations in heights and these terraces on different levels
left: A collage showing one of the terraces that allows different views of the urban context and how people would interact on it. Next page: Plans and sections of the building
A couple of images created in 3D Studio Max Design showing the interior of the flats and they give a good sense of materiality to the whole project.
Top left, Middle: Physical model of the housing unit scale 1:50 Top right, bottom row: Physical model of the whole building scale 1:200, exploring massing and whether or not the circulation, routes work.