STUDIO STUDIO AIR AIR PART B Tirteen Zheng Wu 846736
CRITERIA
D D
D D
ESIGN
B.1. RESEARCH FIELD - MATERIAL PERFORMANCE Silicon
Materiality is one of the most important consideration in design, as it is concerned with structural performance, connection, contractibility, ecological impacts and so on. Moreover, in parametric design, physics simulation of different materials and phases-changing processes are not only able to mimic the features of material performance but also help optimize the design by providing instantaneous feedback, for example, using plug-ins like Kangaroo Physics. These software were programmed to parametrize various kinds of physical conditions that have direct and indirect effects on material performance, such as wind forces, tensile and compressive forces, and repulsive, attractive, path-following, and flocking interactions between particles that you can set rules on how they behave. Moreover, design by fabrication is a further step to verify the legitimacy of the optimized form as well as to better enhance the design by getting feedback from the real-time construction method and material behavior that parametric tools usually lack of the ability to predict. This chapter studies the parametric design process of two case studies, and by reverse engineering, explores possible forms that satisfy the selection criteria for designing a habitat for Echidnas. Furthermore, the design will be modified and enhanced by fabrication process to choose the most suitable material and digital fabrication method.
Concrete
Sawdust
B.2. CASE STUDY 1.0
Voussoir Cloud, an architectural installation by American architects Iwamoto Scott, is parametrically designed using Kangaroo Physics to find the optimal form. The wedge shaped masonry blocks that make up an arch, are redefined in Voussoir Cloud using a system of three-dimensional modules formed by folding paper thin wood laminate along curved seams. The curvature produces a form that relies on the internal surface tension to hold its shape and allows for a structural porosity within the constraints of sheet material. The resulting dimpled, concave modules pack together; naturally creating vaulted forms with a light porous surface. The formfinding exploration of the whole is thus dependent on the geometric performance of the individual units and their relation to the gallery walls.
Iwamoto’s Voussair Cloud
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By altering the parameters of Voussoir Cloud, several iterations are created for comparison so that the optimal forms are selected for deisgning the habitable structure for Echidnas.
B.3. CASE STUDY 2.0
AA DRL’s Syntax Error
The research explores the aspect of robotics to generate flight choreographed structures using quadcopters as a fabrication as well as a design tool. The thesis proposes a development of a prototypical system based on tensioning and dynamic relaxation. The self-organised system is made possible using parametric tools that make behavioral rules to freemoving particle agents to generate a structure within a time. The research also explores material performance in the process of fabrication using phase changing materials like resin and foam. Hence the design is further enhanced to become compatible to the chosen foam material so that the final fabrication is made possible.
The reverse engineering process of this case study is realized using parametric tools such as Quelea and Culebra, where rules of flocking, pathfollowing, attraction and repulsion are set to freemoving particles to generate a selforganised and self-supportive structure.
B.4. TECHNIQUE DEVELOPMENT
MORPH CAVE-LIKE
META-BALL CHAMBER & FORTRESS-LIKE
CULEBRA SELF-ORGANISED
ISO-SURFACE STRUCTURAL CONNECTIVITY
B.5. TECHNIQUE PROTOTYPES
PROTOTYPICAL INGREDIENTS From left to right: Cornstarch Sawdust Tissue Paper Polyester / Wool Balloon Ground Acacia Beans Quickrete Concrete Wax Ice
The first prototype was explored using free-standing balloons wrapped by steel wire to represent echidna’s chambers. Then, ice cubes as mold were placed around it so that hot melted wax poured on it immediately solidified to give a structure that both exhibited the form around ice cubes and simulated the physical process of pouring. After several hours, the ice melted to leave voids in the structure that could be occupiable by echidnas. One of the critical improvements on this prototype is filling the balloons with water and freeze the water balloons, so that the vulnerable balloons would not burst when hot melted wax were poured on it.
This prototype is really fascinating in terms of creating a very dynamic and complex internal structure that is not only selfsupporting but also records the phase-changing process of wax. As a feedback, this simulation process indicates it is good opportunity to use physics simulation tools such as Kangaroo Physics in the parametric design for echidnas. This prototype also leads the design to a direction that Metaballs are used to find the void or mold form to get better control instead of using randomly shaped ice cubes.
The second prototype was explored using freestanding spherical balloons glued together as a mold to represent echidna’s chambers. Then, cornstarch, extra-fine sawdust, tissue paper were heated and mixed in water to produce a paste-like material. This paste was applied to the balloon structure and more smaller balloons as a mold for exterior were pressed into the paste structure. When the paste dried to a firm enough extent, balloons were removed to leave a wood-like structure that full of concave-inward spaces. As a feedback, this prototype suggests the compound material, where sawdust is porous and good for evaporation of moisture and cornstarch is a strong gluing agent, is not only sculptural but also environmentally friendly and decomposable. This leads the design project to the idea that architectural design is a living thing that has a lifespan. Hence, this material is highly preferable for building a habitat for echidnas, especially because sawdust is ideal for attracting termites and moth larvae which can become great food sources for echidnas. However, the form of these metaball voids need further improvements to distinguish different functions or performance at different parts of the structure.
The third and fourth prototypes were also explored using free-standing spherical balloons glued together as a mold to represent echidna’s chambers. Then, this metaball structure was placed into a contained whose all internal faces were filled with small baloons as molds. Next, silicon was poured first into the mold to occupy half of the internal space. And after it was set a mixture of quickcrete concrete, polyester/ wool, ground Acacia beans and water were cast into the container to fill the upper half of the space. The purpose of using additional polyester/wool and ground Acacia beans is to reinforce the concrete as they are fibrous and perform well in tension. Then water-filled balloons were pressed into the top surface of the concrete mixture to give the concave inwards form to the top. When the concrete cured, balloons were removed and the two prototypes were taken out and cleaned with water. As a feedback, the silicon prototype suggests a very bouncy and flexible materiality that creates an unusual experience if echidnas walk through the structure. Also this structure might be too bouncy such that it could be easily pressed downwards without internal structural reinforcement. It is also not preferable as it is not decomposable in a natural environment. The concrete prototype is too hard and also not decomposable.
Echidna’s perspective in the second prototype made of sawdust, cornstarch, and tissue paper. Warm and soft atmosphere.
Echidna’s perspective in the third prototype made of silicon. Stretchable texture with varying transparency.
Echidna’s perspective in the fourth prototype made of concrete, polyester/wool, and ground acacia beans. Cavy, hard, and gloomy atmosphere.
B.6. CLIENT RESEARCH
BODY LENGTH ~ 40 cm BODY WIDTH ~ 30 cm SNOUT LENGTH ~ 7 cm
INCUBATION SEPT
GROWING YOUNG OCT POUCH LIFE
NOV
DEC
JAN
FEB EATING TERMITES ANTS MOTH LARVAE
HIBERNATION MAR SWIMMING
APR BURROWING
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
MATING
B.6. CLIENT RESEARCH
DESIGN CRITERIA 1. SINGLE BACK-FILLABLE ENTRANCE 2. HEAT-RETAINING CORE CHAMBER FOR HIBERNATION 3. ENCOURAGING TERMITE GROWTH FOR FOOD
4. 5. 6.
THREE-CHAMBER DEFENSE MECHANISM RETREAT SPOTS AT EXTERIOR FOR CAMOUFLAGE / BURROWING CONNECTIVITY TO RIVER FOR SWIMMING
B.7. TECHNIQUE PROPOSAL
The design proposal at this stage is a structure that extends from an underground burrow of Echidna to the riverside, incorporating two defensive chambers, several circulatory tunnels, and a swimming platform. The overall form is designed using parametric tools including Octree, WeaverBird Loop Subdivision, and Metaball. This structure offers complexity that provides echidnas with both three-chamber defense mechanism and various
The entrance of approach is exactly the same size as an adult echidna so that it is backfill-able by an adult echidna for camouflage or defensive purpose so that predators are unable to enter the chambers.
A view from side the structure, where baby echidnas can comfortably and safely rest.
The structure will be made of sawdust and cornstarch. Hence, it is biodegradable and attractive to termite and moth larvae, which will gradually consume the structure and become delicious food for echidnas. These 4 pictures roughly show the decaying process of the structure within its annual lifespan and the internal structure and void spaces are gradually revealed when vulnerable baby echidnas has grown up to a defensive adult.
The 3D printed structure model shows the overall form and how it sits and programmatically connect to heat-retaining underground chamber in the site model.
B.8. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
Material performance as a research field directs the design of the habitat for echidnas to a more pragmatic and matching stage, when facilitated with parametric tools that instantaneously give the designer feedback to improve the design. At this stage of design, fundamental forms of the structure are found and metaballs that are concave inwards are the basis of the form-finding process. Physics simulations are used to find the optimal form of the structure. Sawdust and cornstarch mixture is chosen as the most ideal and comfortable material for echidnas to live with and get food source from. The next step of the design process is to use digital fabrication methods such as Hololens and CNC milling to get better control of the shapes of the fabricated form.
B.9. APPENDIX ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES
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