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Section title
Bespoke Kotorii
by MUD Architecture
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CSA Research Report
Project Details Project Lead:
Owain Caruana-Davies
Design Participants:
Lucy Jones Owain Caruana-Davies
Title:
Bespoke Kotorii
Type:
Public architectural installation
Location:
UCA Canterbury campus central quad
Project Dates:
16 August - 17 August Stucture installed on site 18 August -24 August Show Build 25 August Structure open to public
Design Period:
2 June 2018 - 10 August 2018
Budget:
ÂŁ500
Scale:
1.4m x 1.4m x 2.0m
Support:
University for the Creative Arts
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Section title
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Research Agenda and Process Overview ‘The most significant features of avian geography in Africa concern the distribution of birds of the evergreen forest. ... Some of these have been reduced by human activity to a few hundred acres...’ (Howell, 2008:29) This is not enough only to consider human survival in the design of process, but we also need to consider the well being of birds, for example. Protection of birds is a topic worthy of concern, we cannot ignore the dwindling of birds and it brought many benefits to human. For example, Some birds provide pest control, and some birds help to control weeds. In addition, bird-friendly landscaping promotes environmental conservation. In my design, the most obvious thing is the benefits of bird watching. Because bird-watching provides stress relief for humans, listening to their songs, filling bird feeders. You feel calm as you observe the natural world and understand your part in it. also the sounds of some birds can give people a lot of inspiration. ‘pigeons are competent agents—in the double sense of both delegates and actors—who render each other and human being capable of situated social, ecological, behavioral, and cognitive practices. their worlding is expansive... in which people and animals tange together in innovative ways...render each other capable of a finite flourishing—now and yet to come.’(Haraway,2016:16)
Fig.01 (previous page) The Bespoke Kitorii, Effect diagram show Fig.02 (this page) Bird Man of the Mission, mural by Daniel Doherty, 2006
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Humans have done a lot of design for extreme environments, but have neglected to take animals into consideration. In this context, which raised me to think about the design for animals in the environment or climate, can we also give animals a home? In this design, through this human act of caring, it has a direct impact on the ecological environment and so on various aspects in the area. At the same time we can use building to link people and animals. For example, let them live in harmony in the same space and share the same space. The purpose of this project is to build a suitable home for birds through in-depth study of birds on the premise of establishing contacts, so as to encourage people to pay more attention to the design objects.
Research Questions 1.
How to build a ‘home’ that can support bird life.
2. How to make some functional designs based on the bird’s nest built by itself and develop and design, such as areas where birds can drink water or eat food. 3. How can the design encourage interaction between humans and animals, so as to arouse people’s concern for birds. For example, gathering people in the same place with birds. 4. In the process, how to build a bird house on a tree which is under the existing natunal conditions without nail which could not harm the tree itself.
Significance and Contribution ‘... humans will support a balanced relationship between the companion bird and all humans in the home (the flock).’ (Athan, 2007:16) In this design the nest box that I design is built especially for animals to nest in. Compared with nest which are built by birds themselves, the purpose of this project based on ecological protection which shows how to design to provide help to the birds and encourage, The aim of the design is to balance the relationship between people and bird,and to create a fun look and feel.
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Research Statement
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‘…the human activities cause ecological and sonic disruptions ...A healthy natural environment responses emphasise the significance of bird sounds for people’s sense of place... While listening to birds can still iconically and indexically ground people, signs of absence and change can precipitate anxieties that stem from the ambiguities implicit in the Anthropocene’s formulation of human relations with other species. ’ (Whitehouse, 2015:53) Different from the previous design, in the research process, I added the research and test of collecting birdsong, a new field, and made a video. In the process, I deepened my love for nature, and I strongly believe bird sounds can inspire people.
Fig.03 The recording for bird voice editing Fig.04 The sound collection equipment (microphone and sound recorder)
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Methodologies 1.
Understand the different species of birds what foods or habitat they prefer. And find interesting elements and use it as a source of inspiration for the shape of the bird’s nest.
2. Understand how bird creates their own nest or shelter, and how the box can accomodate the space. 3. In the context of the natural environment, look for what is needed and relevant in the design of birds. 4. What Impact or influence of human achieving on bird species? And understand the inspiration that birds give to humans, what interaction relationship between the people and birds?
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Design Proposal ‘... Like most other nut crops, almonds are favorite food for birds, particularly ravens, parrots and cockatoos that can ...’ (Jennifer, 2005:91) The proposed installtion is to create a space for bird life and protection, through the construction which connects to the trees. I visited the environs of Canterbury and summarized the general distribution of birds, After in depth research of birds, I found the nut is birds’ favorite food. Because nuts have a hard shell, many birds can’t eat the food inside. But it is interesting that some birds have a high IQ. They can use tools to open the nuts and eat the inside of the nuts. So I decide a space with the appearance of nuts, so as to achieve the result of imitating natural structure.
At the same time, Design of bird’s nest can also ensure that can build a suitable nest box for birds for life. For birds, perhaps the nest box just a only a small part of the solution. However only if we know that birds need our help, it would make sense to give them a home. In addition, there are many different ways to connect the nest box to the tree. But in this design, usually people preferred to do the nails into the tree body and connection. I think for my design which is successful side is connected by natural way, and won’t hurt the tree itself. This design includes bird information, its habitat, the materials needed, and how to build, install and maintain the nest box. At the same time, it has also made great contributions in interaction design.
Key technological outcomes of proposal 1.
Design the connection or interspecies concern between the design and the host.
2. Because the surface of the trunk is uneven, so making a model that matches the tree exactly is a challenge. 3. To connect the tree without harm the tree itself.
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Proposal & Context
Design Research Context
Fig.05 (left) Spontaneous City in the Tree of Heaven Fig.06 (right) White house by nendo
Field of Work
Work by others
Spontaneous city in the Tree of Heaven consists of two sculptures with one in Cremorne Gardens in Chelsea and Kensington, and the other in Duncan Terrace Gardens in Islington. These bird boxes have been installed by art and architecture collective London Fieldworks around trees across London in clusters inspired by neighboring housing. It challenges the design project to fully fit the irregular trunk surface and It challenges the traditional or natural belief of authenticity of architectural reuse.
A treehouse designed for the Ando Momofuku Center, a facility devoted to promoting and increasing access to nature activities. The facility is located in a forest in Komoro City in Japan’s mountainous Nagano Prefecture. This treehouse is collective housing for many birds and one person. On one side, the treehouse has entrances to 78 nest spaces for birds. The other side has an entrance for one person, who can look into the birds’ nests from inside the treehouse.
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Design Methodologies We can model them on nature’s ecosystems, which are sustainable communities of plants, animals, and microorganisms.’ (Walls, 2007:13) At first, I chose a tree on the campus and 3d scan it, and place it as design background, and establish a bird’s nest in the trees, through the study of parasitic architecture to help understand and research projects and connection method of the tree, and let a person can really feel part
of it. The design allows people to appreciate the surrounding scenery brought about by the project. The 3D scanning technology is used to scan and measure the design objects to make the future design more suitable. Through the modeling of the sketch master, a space is designed and constructed to provide the necessary function and environment for birds. Simulation analyze the bird’s movement in space.
Fig.07 Scan the tree file Fig. 08 09 10 Scaning machine
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Section title
What I do for my design, firstly sketchup modeling was used to design the intallation and than produce information for cnc manufacture. As the model is generally composed of similar elements with different angles and height changes, sketchup software plays a key role, and then draws the plane distribution diagram of the model through CAD, and USES CNC intelligent machines for accurate cutting. On the other hand, the parts of the joint are not supported by the equipment and are completely made by hand.
Critical Design Elements 1.
The different 3d scanning devices scan objects with different effects.
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The key point of the design is the connector that matches the tree.
3. Create an individual spaces and feeder for birds.
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Process & Methods
Prototyping and testing The aim has been to create a space using this system, on which people can sit and relax in the historic ruin and enjoy the view under the tree. Because the project is designed to wrap around the trunk, it is necessary to modify the connector between the project and the tree in the design. After modification, the design consists of two types of connectors, which can guarantee that the design will not fall down on the vertical tree.
so I change to silicone, which is more tightly bound to the surface of the tree. b. Wooden structure In the install of the project, firstly attach the connector to the surface of the trunk, and then put each board in to the connector. At last, use the elastic rope to circle the board. The shape and structure of the wooden board form a space for the birds to stop and rest.
a. Trunk connection / sticky c. Bungee tension structure pad The function of the bungee is for The original connection is made fixed the design on to the tree by 3d printing technology. One without damage, adn it will unlike side is used to connect the the previous design, used nails to wood, and the other side is used fix the tree which destroy the tree to match the texture of the tree itself. surface. After that, considering that the attachment made by 3d printing did not fit the tree 100%, d. Exhibition stand The whole design consists of only three parts, seemingly unrelated, but actually every part are interlinked. So for the exhibition, I design a standard to support the whole design. Site prototyping Arrange the design project on the selected design object, and the vertical heights are then corrected and marked. The assembly is removed and taken back to workshop for further amendment.
Fig.11 3D print equipment
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ipad 3D scan
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3D scan documents
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04e Fitting test
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Process & Methods
Clay model
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put plaster in to the model
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04k
clean the plaster surface
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04l put silicone in to the model
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final model
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use CNC to cut the model
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Process & Methods
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Process & Methods
Fabrication Techniques a. Reusable Mould making The connection to the tree is made from silicone which made from a model that replicates the surface of the tree. The first step is to cover the part of surface of the tree with a small amount of clay. In order to accurately obtain the texture of the surface of the tree, it is necessary to press with a wooden stick after the cover, so that they clay and the tree are better matched together. After the clay is dried, removed it from the tree surface.
Fig.12 Model preliminary production
The second step is to poured into the clay model with the previously mixed gypsum. After about one hour, when the gypsum is solidified removed the clay and cleaned the surface. When all of these done, the mold is formed, use the same way that I mentioned before, use clay make a mold for a circle around the model. Pouring in to the prepared silicone resin, and we can use the tool inserted into the liquid meature the thickness. After one night, I got the final model. Because the flexibility of the silicone, the model is perfectly matched to the surface of the tree.
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Process & Methods
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09a
09d
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09e
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Process & Methods
Control Systems There are a few precautions that trunk and expand and expand as makes the components of the the tree grows. On the one hand, structure work flawlessly. it will not destroy the growth rules of the tree itself and make a. Element testing the nest of every tree unique. In the process of production, in order to obtain the most original c. Fixings and bracing tree trunk surface, it is necessary to be able to fill and duplicate the complete material in all parts of the mold, and finally get the mold, which makes the fit more accurate. b. Bungee tension structure
Considering that there would be no natural environment in the exhibition area, I chose to build a stable bottom and bracket to support the whole design. d. Scanned models
Using 3d scanning technology, The use of rubber bands allows the copy and paste are scanned the whole design to surround the to obtain 3d documents.
Fig.13 The model
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Occupation and Interaction The device will be mounted on a tree and connected to the tree by natural connections. The device will be used as a shelter for birds, where they can rest. It’s also part of the landscape
Due to indoor environmental factors there won’t be have tree, but in order to let visitors have immersive experience, I developed the model of the form, give it a support structure, and all parts will be separated, By carefully selecting the let visitors can come to internal materials to blend well in the design. landscape, the device has minimal impact on the aesthetic Compared the indoor and of the site. There is no damage or outdoor different forms, both physical modification to make the can build an atmosphere of installation an interesting space. interaction design, the difference People can come close and see is that the outside viewing basis how birds live freely in them. on the indoor one can access visitors see the internal design.
Fig.14 The performance of the model in the exhibition
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Review of Outcomes
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Fig.15 Analog line drawing Fig.16 Effect representation
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Review of Outcomes
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Dissemination and Future Work The challenge is to use professional and expensive scanning equipment to scan objects and get models, but this is not the case. The resulting files have many problems, and finally adopt this traditional method similar to copy and paste. Fortunately, it is very successful and better than professional equipment.
Fig.16 The Bespoke kotorii internal representation Fig.17 The model rendering
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Fig.18 The Bespoke kotorii internal representation
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Appendix
Appendix Materials and Suppliers List Timber (from Timberite, Canterbury, 01227 765011) 45 x 45 x 1000mm PSE4646 timber battens 45 x 21 x 540 PSE4646 timber battens Wood (from Woodshop) 1400 x 800 x 15mm Polywood 894 x 541 x 9mm Polywood Other sundries: Machine screw 5 x 30mm, B&Q UK Machine screw 5 x 50mm, B&Q UK Steel Brackets 19 x 19mm zp, RANGE UK Self Tapping screw 5 x 20mm, B&Q UK Silastic 4.5kg, NOTCUTT Series fast catalyst 900gm
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Appendix
Bibliography Laws, R., Howell, F. and Bourliere, F. (2008). African Ecology and Human Evolution. The Journal of Applied Ecology, 1(2), p.29. Whitehouse, A. (2015). Listening to Birds in the Anthropocene: The Anxious Semiotics of Sound in a Human-Dominated World. Environmental Humanities, 6(1), pp.53-71. Wilkinson, J. (2005). Nut Grower’s Guide. Melbourne: CSIRO Pub. Porter, D. (2018). The Benefits of Birds - Things could be worse. [online] Things could be worse. Available at: http://www.thingscouldbeworse. org/home/benefits-birds/ [Accessed 25 Jul. 2018].
Image Credits All figures are copyright the author unless noted as follows: Figure 05: copyright Spontaneous City in the Tree of Heaven Figure 06: copyright White house by nendo
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Credits MA Architecture Course Leader: Lucy Alice Jones MA Architecture Design Tutor: Owain Caruana-Davies Visiting Critics 2014/15: Lucy Alice Jones Owain Caruaua-Davies Kim Trogal Anna Holder Luke Jones John Joe Brophy
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