VIRTUAL ENV.

Module 4 Arthur Wen-Jun Wei Student no. 555279 Semester 1 2012 Lyle - Group 16 ENVS10008

Chapter 1: Ideation

Natural Process: Droplet I was interested in the cylindrical shape that formed by the afte effect of a droplet.

The first clay model was created based on the interpretation of final stage. However, the outcome was uninspiring and lacking in vitality.

I turned to the prescribed reading - The Man Who Loved Fluids,

“The desire to look through nature and find its underlying form and structure is what chracterizes the formation - Ball�

I realized the approach was ineffective, as it focus on imitating the shape of natural process rather than analysing the mechanisms behind.

Chapter 1: Ideation

Concept 1: Dynamics of Waves

Above: Time Vs Dynamics Of Waves As time elpases, wave will continue travel but never change its initial shape and wavelength. It only transfers energy but not medium. In addition, each wavelike motion together are like layers.

The approach was altered to explore mechanisms instead of imitating shapes.

Above: Timelapse Of A Particle During Ocillation Every wave transformation is generated from its origin, it ends at where it begins as shown the particle in fact moving vertically.

Chapter 1: Ideation

Modeling: Dynamics of Waves Transformation: Dynamics (Part 1)

Transformation: Layers (Part 2)

• Wave never change its initial shape and wavelength Model was created in the form of strips, the gap between each strip maintains the same.

• Every wave transformation is generated from the origin Merging strips with the same conjunction. Join two conjunctions to form one origin.

• Amplitude decreases gradually as energy depletes The width represents the time taken to osccilate. The length represents the amount of energy.

• It does not transfer medium but only energy The expension of strips conveys the transfer of energy.

Logner Greater energy Wider - Longer time taken to osccilate

Shorter Smaller energy

Use of strips is effective to convey the wavelike motion of layers.

Narrower - Shorter time taken to osccilate

Chapter 1: Ideation

Concept 2: Inteference of Waves wa ve d

ct

io n

wa ve d

ire

c ti

on

ire

Above: Inteference pattern Observation on the inteference of waves from two droplets.

Above: Alternative approach Observation on the interference of waves from parallel waves.

Transformation: Inteference Pattern Finding patterns formed by manually curving the model with intersections of parallel waves.

Right: Precedent Recognition This approach was inspired by the ceiling of Junior Common Room at International House. Imagine those holes on ceiling as intersections of two parallel waves, the wavelike surface changes the pattern.

Chapter 1: Ideation

Transformation: Infinity

Precedent Recognition

In order to communicate the inteference pattern, I attempted to distort its form, which ended it up with the geometry - Infinity.

The conceptual idea - Infinity was from the lecturer’s methematical art project, Henry’s MÃbius strip. His model has an unknotted loop that can be deformed into a circle. The boundary of the strip is the circle in the middle, and the surface “goes through infinity”.

Left: The geometry was developed into the shape of infinite symbol, which extended the curvy pattern of wave inteference and the concept of infinity.

Chapter 1: Ideation

Concept 3: Collision of Droplets Second droplet drops First droplet drops Second collision (more explosive)

First collision

Rest

Above: Interpretation of the journey of particles during the collision of droplets Second collision: Second droplet colliding with aftereffect of first droplet First collision: First droplet bounces up forms cylindrical shape due surface tention of water

Chapter 1: Ideation

Above: Plan view of Orthographic method Taking plan view enables illustrating the horizontal relationships of what we see or envision. As both collisions of droplets happen in the same space along the same vertical axis, plan view allows its journey to be displayed on the same axis along horizontal axis.

Chapter 1: Ideation

Further Development: Dynamics of Waves Left: Extention of shells into full rotation This approach incorports the last mechanism that has not been addressed - “At the same origin, it ends at where it begins”.

“Painting is a work not of imitation but invention”- Leonardo.

The concept 1 is chosen for the further development because it better resembles mechanisms of the natural process.

Critically, this model might be unlikely to digitalize due to it complexity. For modelling purpose, the model would be claied with simplified smooth surface. To compensate the loss of original appearance, by using panelling and lighting techniques.

Precedent Recognition: Kinema Pendant Luminaire This was inspired by the movement of crustaceans; a wide variety of forms can be created by arranging the pendant’s rings in alternating open and closed positions.

The lighting object uses a combination of different layers to create a specific effect and appearance, which inspired me the solution of using panelling and lighting effects to compensate the loss of mechanisms that my model present.

Chapter 1: Ideation

Chapter 2: Design

Digitization: Tracing sectional slices

Alternative Approach: Modeling directly in Rhino

Curved surface makes contouring process difficult.

The resulted opening areas on two ends do not match the physical model, fails to convey mechanisms of the natural process - Dynamics of waves.

I look back at the initial form of the model where each paper strip is connected into layers, which hints me a possible solution by directly modeling the model in Rhino using command - InterpCrv to draw curves with respect to the constant interval.

Using command - Rotate 3D, each inteval is increased by 2 cm in total height of 40 cm. Each curve is roated by 18 degrees in total of 20 curves, which makes a complete circle of 360 degrees. This conresponds to the mechanism that “At the same origin, it ends at where it begins�.

Chapter 2: Design

Panelling: Experiments Choosing Diomand panel as the base for elaboration because the appearance extends the conceptual idea further. Dynamics of wave is communicated through the transformation of diomand panel, where the identical spiky shape conveys that wave never change its initial shape and wavelength, and reduction in the size conveys that amplitue decreases gradually as energy depletes.

Precedent: La Fabrique Sonore

Recognition: Triangular panel

Application: Triangular panel

La Fabrique Sonore is relevant to this subject for methods and materils used. It composite of aluminium & polyethylene that combines computational design techniques with ancient paper folding techniques.

Transforming the diomand by integrating the triangular panel (La Fabrique Sonore) to a further extent, by pyramid into 3D. The approach by using pyramid not only ensures the stability of the structure, also allows me to think out of the box whereby altering the pattern of geometry while mainting corresponded conceptual ideas still.

The structure is composited of basic triangular panel in forms of pyramad and is able to support a 345 cubic-meter suspended structure, which inspired me to explore the power of basic geometry, using triangular panel increase the stability of the model.

Chapter 2: Design

Precedent: Corcoon Lamp

Recognition: Lighting characteristics

Application: Lighting characteristics

The Cocoon is in a form of shell that inspired by the metamorphic behavior of insects. This precedent recongnition is a signifiicant source of the lighting effect that I would like to achieve. A linear elements applied around the luminaire not only assure protection of the shell, but also enables users defining different positions to create desired optical appearance. the ability to give users to control light’s character to match the mood of environment, is the ultimate outcome that I would like to achieve onto my final design.

Offseting borders with point attractor to adjust the hole size relative to the panel size. This corresponds to one of the mec anisms - Amplitute decreases gradually as energy depletes.

Further, this approach enables the lighting effect of through reflective surface, light would go further into the space and provides desired color contrast.

Chapter 2: Design

Final Digital Model: Rendered View

LHS

Above: The structure of LHS differes from RHS. When installing the light system, it would give the ability for users controlling the light’s character to match the mood of environment (Application of precedent ecognition: Corcoon Lamp).

RHS

Mechanisms vs Digital Model ‹ Wave never change its initial shape and wavelength

‹ Amplitue decreases gradually as energy depletes

‹ Every transformation is generated from its origin

Chapter 2: Design

Final Digital Model: Rendered View Top

Front

Left

Right

Chapter 2: Design

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Challenges: Refining model

Refining I: OffsetBorder sizes OffsetBorder with distance of max = 3 cm & min = 0.1 cm resulted fine eduges, the model was unstable. The width needed to be at least 1 cm to attach to taps.

Refined Model: OffsetBorder with distance of max = 2 cm & min = 1 cm.

Refining II: OffsetBorder - Point attractor Initial position of point attractor was placed inside the model, creates offset borders in a incompleted full rotation Refined Model: New position of point attractor is placed outwards.

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Original curve Duplicate Original curve Inward Offset curve Outward Offset curve

Refining III: Stability of structure

Above: Curves for lofting

These interfaces join two sections together. But only edges are being attached, which makes it unstable.

The structure has potential to collpase.

Curves are offset both ouwards and inwards as creating two substructures to improve stability of the structure.

Above: Two 3D Triangular substructures

Another purpose is to utilize upper substructure as the base for light sources. The lower substructure ensures the stability of light system.

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Fabrication: Unroling & Labeling

R20 L20 L1

R1

Modeling: 1:5 Partial prototype Glue

Double sided tape

Left Top Substructure (LT) Left Bottom Substructure (LB)

Using glue leads to utidy and messy outcome at tips. Using double sided tape is more effective.

Transparent tape

Bottom Substructure

Right Top Substructure (RT) Right Bottom Substructure (RB)

These segements have small tapes that thed to break off. Using transparent tapes directly increase the stability.

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Modeling: Light Source

Precedent Recognition: Suspended Luminaire

This suspended luminaire is in features of blades and long snake-shape LED, which is inspired by the deep space creature from the dark space. It intends to explore designs that beyond the usual scope of trends and patterns.

In parallel: LEDs are connected in parallel as to reduce the total load of cells on the model. It only needs 2 AAA baterries to light up 10 LEDs. It needs 20 LEDs for my mdel.

This precedent is a significant source of concepture inspiration the lighting effect. The suspended sculpture is composed of thin strips of aluminum and powered by a snake-shaped LEDs, alternates between light and shadow.

Its continuous exploration of patterns and light source seemed to creating the impression of a moving organism.

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Modeling: Final prototype

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Modeling: Lighting effects

Precedent: Water Cathedral This is caused by the thickness of irovy card.It is not able to fit all segments to the center which is an imaginary tiny point.

Recognition: This has a large wooden roof with openings that brings in abundant amounts of dayligh.

Light sources are installed underneath the triangular structure forms inner glow lighting effects. This inspires me on how to function the light sources in my model. Lighting effects are not restricted only to light ejection, but also the reflection within model which forms inner glow effects on interface of each segment.

Precedent: Middelfart Savings Bank in Denmark

Recognition: The horizontal nave of Water Cathedral is made of numerous vertical components with vary in height and density. Its formation is similar to the composition of the center of model.

By looking at how sunlight is passing through its center and forming condensed lighting effect, it inspires me a solution for untidy appearance of the model. Transforming this weakness to strength whereby the condensed lighting effect conveys the explosiveness of droplet when colliding with the water surface.

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Further Development: Pillars

New Lighting system

Pillars are built undernearth the model, which increases its stability to ensure it does not collpase. They are created out of wasted fabricated irovy cards, so wasted areas are recycled.

Desired Effect: As this model has contrastive presentation in form of shape - LHS (aggresive) & RHS (ressecive). I decide to follow up this with lighting effect. LHS with recessive lighting effect while RHS with aggressive lighting effect. This way, it results a more balanced lighting effect.

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Critical Analysis: Conceptual Ideas - Dynamics of waves < Wave never change its initial shape and wavelenth This is conveyed through identical shapes of each triangular segment

< Every wave is generated from its origin This is conveyed through formation of segments that rotates around the center

< Amplitute decreases gradually as energy depletes Gradual reduction of amplitute is conveyed through systematic reduction of the size of segments. Gradual reduction of energy is communicated through lighting effects whereby the amount of light emiting through holes on each segment.

Everyone needs a home It needs a stand!!!

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Final: Reflection

â&#x20AC;&#x153;As digital techniques become more sophisticated, there will be new tendencies away from the abstraction of earlier models towards a real-world rendering of the actual and the existing, producing more unique works, (Macfarlane, 2005).â&#x20AC;?

The impact of contemporary digitalization is undeniable. The new tool gives new ways of seeing, almost to the point where one can think digitally. With these application and implication, I found myself completely liberated and conceptually freer to explore the virtual world.

Throughout this course, I gain confidence and accomplishment from being able to itentify weakness of the model and state appropriate strategies such as using substructures and pillars to improve the stability of the model. This allows me to think and visualize as an architect.

Chapter 3: Fabrication