1
Interior Tides
by Xinyue Long
2
Interior Tides
3
CSA Research Report
Project Details Project Lead:
Xinyue Long
Design Participants:
Lucy Jones, David Di Duca
Title:
Interior Tides
Type:
Indoor installation
Location:
UCA Canterbury campus Archetecture building
Project Dates:
31 July - 24 August 2017 Show Preparation 25 August 2017 - 1 September 2017 MA Final Exhibition
Design Period:
1 June - 24 August 2017
Budget:
ÂŁ 800
Scale:
0.3m x 0.6m x 6.225m
Support:
University for the Creative Arts
4
Interior Tides
5
6
Interior Tides
Research Agenda and Process Overview My project questions how to represent nature and how installation design can raise awareness of our natural environment. The project leads viewers to discover a natural creature or phenomenon through installation, evoking their imaginations in a indoor space. In the process of studying installation desigh, I try to explore the interaction of people and installation through the perspective of symbiosis, looking for a balance between benefit of installation and people. In this project, my work has explored different natural phonomena, especially tidal flows. I have explored how low and high tides could be represented using water and light technologies and how these technologies could activate people’s interaction. My work is to represent the real tidal flows and refer tidal phonomena to creat an Interior installation: a tidal simulator.
Research Questions 1.
How can installation design effectively represent natural elements, specifically the tide?
2. How can installation design build people’s imaginaries of nature and the natural environment? 3.
How can we use installations to raise environmental awareness?
Research Statement
7
Significance and Contribution Natural phenomena are closely related to humans’ lives, but sometimes humans hardly observe or get close to nature, thus people may ignore the importance of our environment. Currently, our planetary environment is weak because of human activities, so I hope my installation can reflect environmental issues and arouse people’s awareness to protect nature. This public interactive installation as a piece of public art will play a cultural and functional role. It is the social value of public installation beyond its aesthetic value as an artwork, that enables people to experience the natural phenomenon in a interior space and understand its environmental complexity.
Methodologies 1.
Site research and observation of the real marshes, mud flat and tides in the Oare Marshes, Kent(see Fig. 1).
2.
Prototyping different representations of real tides.
3. Observation and doccumentation of the installation in use in order to understand the relationship between people , the installation and the tides.
Fig. 1
8
Interior Tides
Design Proposal This project is an installation work to represent the of the Oare Marshes tidal flows. Everyday, there are four tides, two high tides and two low tides. Normally, two tides (one high tide and one low tide) in the day and two tides (one high and another low)at night, with a tidal range of aroud 5 metres. I would like to refer to these natural phonomena to create an interior installation: a tidal simulator. The proposal is for a 5 metres installation set in the atrium of the architecture building at UCA. Using suspending vessels to hold water, and flowing water through tubes and pumps, I fabricate a vertical circulation systems. In encountering the installation, water circulation will works, water will be drawn from the vessel on the ground floor to a vessel 5 metre high through other 4 vessels, representing low tide to high tide. Scondly, water will flow from the highst vessel to the lowest vessel, representing high tide to low tide. In this process, the LED light will illuminate, representing daytime. When the water flows back down to the ground, the LED light will switch off, representing night. I use flowing water to represent the real tide, and I hope this installaltion will encourage people to think about this natural phonomenon.
Key technological outcomes of proposal 1. Water pumps to draw water to highest level. 2. Motion sensor to activate the installation.
9
Proposal & Context
Design Research Context Field of Work
same as the relationship between There are many ways to create the installation and audience. public installations, the use of elements, shapes, materials Work by others and scales are different. Some There are two examples of architects, designers, and artists use water as a design element to installation using water. create different pieces of work a. DGT architects has designed by its mobility, transparency, an installation called “Light in reflection, refraction and the Water”. (see Fig 2.) It’s a circular ability to adapt to different water cascade, put in the shapes of containers. Light darkness, where the visitor can effect and sound performance interact by touching the 3 tons of are the most direct ways to water that falls. attract sudiences' attention and approach. However, water as a b. Rick Mather establish a family liquid is wet, sometimes make group of cooly - considered viewers have a sense of distance. dining environments for Zen So that the relationship between Restaurants. He using water, installation and audience is subtle bowl and metal holder to design because of these characteristics. the installation in the interior Water is an indispensable part commercial space. (see the Fig. 3) of the natural environment and is also essential to humans. But In my project, I use the form of sometimes, for environment and installation as the reference, human, water can be a threat. developing the form and changing This contradictory relationship is the techniques of expression.
Fig 2. “Light in Water” - DGT architects
Fig 3. Zen Restaurants - Rick Mather
10
Interior Tides
Design Methodologies In order to represent a natural tidal phenomenon, I am using flowing water. Base on the real tidal times and water levels, I integrate these elements into my installation. I am making a tidal simulator in the form of water-circulation, because I want to create an installation that can be a form of energy conservation and promot thinking about how to protect environment. A closed system will make water move in a circuit, controlled by pumps.
Flowing water with the LED light on will represent real tide, drawing audience’s attention and encourage them think about the tidal resouce. When installation start to work, water will be pumped up and flowing back, moving in circles, just like the ebb and flow of tides. Viewers need use their imagination to connect the installation to a real tide through view the process of works and hear the sound of waves I setted.
Critical Design Elements 1.
A significant element in the vertical installation is the use of vessels, I set up 6 handmade vessels at different levels.
2. Pumping mechanism: water pumps will be set at each suspended vessels, with the water drawn through tubes. These tubes will connect the vessels. 3. Arduino will control the LED lights and water pumps, with the lights actives as a switch to the flowing water. The LED lights and pumps will be set up each time to make sure each water pumps active and every LED lights are in order.
11
Process & Methods
Prototyping and testing a. Water circulation Prototyping In order to testing how the water circulation works, I did a tiny tidal simulator as a prototyping. I made a two crylic boxs, connecting them through PVC tubes. Water can be drawn from first box to another by pumps, when pump connects 9v battery. Then, without battery, pump stop working, and water flows back to first box. The process is represents the tidal rise and fall. (see Fig 4. - 5.)
12
Interior Tides
b. LED light testing with crystal soil balls in the vessel Using LED atmosphere.
light
to
render
Fig 6. LED strip shining in the box Fig 7. LED light shining in the box with crystal soil ball
Fig 8. A small tidal simulator with LED strip shining
13
Prototyping & testing
c. technique tesking
Fig 9. Testing if the LED strip works.
Fig 10. Testing if the LED strip works, when I turn on the switch.
04l
14
Interior Tides
d. Form of installation tesking
Fig 11. The first LED light shining
Fig 12. The second LED light shining
Fig 13. The third LED light shining Fig 14. The fourth LED light shining
Fig 15. The fifth LED light shining
Fig 16. The sixth LED light shining
15
Fabrication techniques
Fabrication Techniques The process of making the installation, I need making the physical elements first, including the vessels and holders making. Then suspend vessels and hoders in order, seting up pumps and LED lights with Arduino. a. Element Making
05b
Fig 17. Presseure forming
Fig 18. Cutting forming
Fig 19. Burnishing
Fig 20. Making hole
16
Interior Tides
Process & Methods
Fig 21. Adding bubble on the surface of vessel
05d
Fig 23. Cutting steel wire to pieces
Fig 22. Adding resin on the surface of vessel
05e
Fig 24. Beatening
17
Fabrication techniques
Fig 25. Components of holders
Fig 26. Welding
Fig 27. Complete holder with vessel (the reverse side)
Fig 28. Complete holder with vessel ( the obverse side)
18
Interior Tides
Process & Methods
b. Connect mesh and Holders by steel wire rope
Fig 29.
Fig 31.
Fig 30.
19
Fabrication techniques
c. LED lights and Pumps fixation
Fig 32.
Fig 33.
Fig 34.
20
Interior Tides
Process & Methods
Control Systems In order to make water flowing through vessels and tubes, pump is the most important control elements. LED light will turn on and keep shining with flowing water, so I need make sure pumps and LED lights work in order. a. Pumps fixing I fix pumps at the bottom of each bowl, fixing a tiny mesh at the top of each tubes and pumps.( see Fig 35.) b. Pumps code setting I connect a Relay to the positive wire of each pumps, connecting a transformer adapter driver power supply for each pumps. I setting the arduino code for relay to control pumps. So that water can be drawn from first vessel to the sixth vessel.( see Fig 36.)
Fig 35.
Fig 36.
21
Control systems
c. LED light code setting I connect a Relay to the positive wire of LED lights, connecting a transformer adapter driver power supply for three pumps. I setting the arduino code for relay to control pumps. So that when water be drawn from first vessel to the sixth vessel, the LED lights will shining in order.( see Fig 37. - 38.)
Fig 37.
Fig 38.
22
Interior Tides
Review of Outcomes
Occupation and Interaction The real tidal levels as the reference, so the installation need at least 5 metres high. I chose the Entrance Lobby of UCA School of architecture as the exhibition site. ( see Fig 40. - 41.)
Fig 40. The plane of UCA School of architecture
Fig 41. Entrance Lobby of UCA School of architecture
23
Occupation and Interaction
Fig 42. When the first pump switch on, the first LED light will on and water in first bowl will be drawn to second bowl. As long as water reach to second bowl, the second LED light will turn on as well. (see Fig 42.)
Fig 43. When water has been drawn to second bowl, the second pump will switch on and the firsh pump will swith off. Then water will be drawn from second to third bowl through tube. When water reach to the third bowl, the LED light in third bowl will turn on, the first and second LED light keep shining.(see Fig 43.)
24
Interior Tides
Fig 44.
Fig 45.
When water has been drawn to third bowl, the third pump will switch on and the second pump will swith off. Then water will be drawn from third to fourth bowl through tube.
When water has been drawn to fourth bowl, the fourth pump will switch on and the third pump will swith off. Then water will be drawn from fourth to fifth bowl through tube.
When water reach to the fourth bowl, the LED light in fourth bowl will turn on, the first, second and third LED light keep shining. (see Fig 44.)
When water reach to the fifth bowl, the LED light in fifth bowl will turn on, the first, second ,third and fourth LED light keep shining. (see Fig 45.)
25
Occupation and Interaction
Fig 46. When water has been drawn to fifth bowl, the fifth pump will switch on and the fourth pump will swith off. Then water will be drawn from fifth to sixth bowl through tube. When water reach to the sixth bowl, the LED light in sexth bowl will turn on, the first, second ,third fourth and fifth LED light keep shining. (see Fig 46.)
Fig 47. When water has been drawn to sixth bowl, the sixth pump will switch on, and then water will be drawn back from sixth to first bowl through tube. When water flowing back to first bowl, the water level will from 5 metres heith to 4 metres, the sixth LED light will turn off. (see Fig 47.)
26
Interior Tides
Fig 48.
When water flowing back to first bowl, the water level will from 4 metres heith to 3 metres, the fifthth LED light will turn off. (see Fig 48.)
Fig 49.
When water flowing back to first bowl, the water level will from 3 metres heith to 2 metres, the fourth and thired LED light will turn off in order. (see Fig 49.)
27
Occupation and Interaction
Fig 50.
Fig 51.
When water flowing back to first bowl, the water level will from 2 metres to 0 metre, the third and second LED light will turn off in order. Finally, just first LEDlight shining. (see Fig 50.) Then, the process of installation moves in circles. (see Fig 51.)
28
Interior Tides
Fig 43. The elevation of installation
Review of Outcomes
Fig 43. The effect sketch of final installation
29
30
Interior Tides
31
Fig 44. The effect sketch of final installation
32
Fig 45. The effect sketch of final installation
Interior Tides
33
34
Appendix
Interior Tides
Dissemination and Future Work The developing process of the project was record in my individual blog: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/xinyuelong0422 My project questions how to represent nature and how installation design can raise awareness of our natural environment. The project leads viewers to discover a natural creature or phenomenon through installation, evoking their imaginations in a indoor space. Therefore, this installation can be developing and can be decorated in any safe interior space. I hope my installation can be developed and improved to adapt any indoor space, decorating the public space and encourage viewers to pay attention to our environment.
Fig 46. The effect sketch of final installation
35
Appendix
Appendix Arduino Code Excerpts Pumps Code: // the setup function runs once when you press reset or power the board int relay1 = 2; int relay2 = 3; int relay3 = 4; int relay4 = 5; int relay5 = 6; int relay6 = 7;
void setup() { // initialize digital pin LED_BUILTIN as an output. pinMode(relay1, OUTPUT); pinMode(relay2, OUTPUT); pinMode(relay3, OUTPUT); pinMode(relay4, OUTPUT); pinMode(relay5, OUTPUT); pinMode(relay6, OUTPUT); }
// the loop function runs over and over again forever void loop() { digitalWrite(relay1, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) delay(40000);
// wait for a second
digitalWrite(relay1, LOW);
// turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
digitalWrite(relay2, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
36
Interior Tides
delay(40000);
// wait for a second
digitalWrite(relay2, LOW);
// turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
digitalWrite(relay3, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) delay(40000);
// wait for a second
digitalWrite(relay3, LOW);
// turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
digitalWrite(relay4, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) delay(40000);
// wait for a second
digitalWrite(relay4, LOW);
// turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
digitalWrite(relay5, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) delay(40000);
// wait for a second
digitalWrite(relay5, LOW);
// turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
digitalWrite(relay6, HIGH); // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level) delay(20000); digitalWrite(relay6, LOW); delay(10000);
}
// wait for a second // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW // wait for a second
37
Appendix
Materials and Suppliers List Timber (from Timberite, Canterbury, 01227 765011) 375no x 45 x 45 x 2800 PSE timber battens Arduino: Arduino Uno boards from (from Whaleys Ltd, www.whaleysltd. co.uk) Relay (EBay seller) Electrical Cables (EBay seller)
Other sundries: 1mm Stainless Steel Wire Rope cable (EBay seller) 1mm Aluminium Wire Rope Ferrules (EBay seller) Stainless Steel Nuts and Bolts (from Wilko) 100mm Black & White Nylon Plastic Cable (from Wilko) 3mm Acrylic Board (from Wood workshop, Canterbury) 2500 Water Aqua Soil Bio Gel Crystal Ball Beads (EBay seller) Transformer Adapter Driver Power Supply (EBay seller) Modern Colour Changing 5V RGB 5050 LED Strip (from Amazon UK, www.amazon.co.uk) 44 Key IR Remote Controller Receiver Kit for 3528 5050 RGB LED Strip Light (EBay seller) LED Light Strip 4 Pin Splitter - 3 way splitter (from Amazon UK, www.amazon.co.uk) 10mm 4 Pin Male Female PCB Connector Cable For RGB 5050 3528 LED Strips(EBay seller) Mini DC12V 4.5W Micro Brushless Water Oil Pump 240L/H Lift 300cm (from Amazon UK, www.amazon.co.uk) 100m 4 Pin 5050 3528 LED RGB Strip Cable Wire (EBay seller)
38
Interior Tides
Credits MA Architecture Course Leader: Lucy Jones MA Architecture Design Tutor: Lucy Jones David Di Duca Technique Support: John Joe Brophy
39
40
Interior Tides