ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO
Air Studio XIAODI ZHANG SM2, 2015
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AIR STU
TUTOR:
STUDENT: XIA
STUDENT NUM
SEMESTER T
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UDIO #2
: CHEN
AODI ZHANG
MBER: 657695
TWO, 2015
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A
INTRODUCTION
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y name is Xiaodi Zhang (Dora), I am 21 years old and a third year student in Bachelor of Environments majoring architecture.
Born in Beijing, China, I have been studied in Melbourne since 2012. I used to study accounting in the foundation before the University. While accounting is boring for me, so I changed to study architecture because I like drawing and designing.
Architecture is a comprehensive career which intergrades multidisciplinary. The complexity of architecture itself is attracting for me because I found that architectural designing is related to plenty of precedent researches, science, landscape, etc. Also, using designing techniques, some architects create parks, furniture, products or even fashion design. I am really interested in the designing process of challenging and exploring the conventions with multidisciplinary.
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A
MY PROJECT
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learnt rhino skills and paneling tool skills in the subject of Digital Design and Fabrication. Digital technique allows me to expand the designing approach and design something that is extremely hard to produce by two dimensional drawing. It provides a quicker way to create and change the design for designers and it shows a shift from traditional design to computational design. I also understood the digital fabrication procedure of CNC machine and 3D printing. The fabrication skills with fabrication machines and variable materials are useful for further model making.
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Part A CONCEPTUALIZATION
Part B CRITERIA DESIGN
Part C DETAILED DESIGN
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A.1. DESIGN FUTURING
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BEIJING GARDEN EXPO PARK 2013, Beijing, China
Fig 1. Beijing Garden Expo Park
environment ecologically, the previous geography of rubbish landfill is remained and designed as a sunken valley with plenty of vegetation. The selection of vegetation species is related to scientific analysis such as digital diagraming of sun hours per day (Fig. 2).
Fig 2. Diagram of Sun Hours per day for Wave Garden, Beijing Garden Expo Park
B
eijing Garden Expo Park (Fig. 1) is located at the west bank of Yongding River. The site used to be a construction rubbish landfill. However, the abundant environment has been reused and recreated as an ecological park with science and technology. Water recycling system is installed in the park and the vegetation as a filter ameliorates the water quality of Yongding River. 1 With the concept of representing the 1. China International Garden Expo, About Beijing Garden Expo (2013), < http://www.gardenexpo-park.com/About/abge/162.html > [accessed 12 August 2015].
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The project as a “democratic design” focuses on the sustainability of environments. 2 The park improves the regional ecological environments, and thus it leads to the direction of the city development which combines cultural inherence with ecology priority aiming to serve people’s livehood. It also has educational functions not only for science popularization but also for the increased potential of sustainable design in the future. As the project is finished by the integration of design and science, multidisciplinary is another emerging direction for design development in the future. 2. Tony Fry, Design Futuring: sustainability, ethics and new practice (Oxford: BERG, 2009), p. 1-16.
UPPSALA POWER PLANT BIG, 2014, Uppsala, Sweden
Fig 3. Uppsala Power Plant
U
BIG also challenged the conventional industry layout and building geometry. They replaced the linear layout with compact layout and created the dome structure combining maximum enclosure with minimum envelope. The The plant was proposed to be seasonal colored photovoltaic panels allow the dome use as the peak loads happened in au- structure to express thermal exposure by diftumn, winter and spring. However, with ferent color ranging from red to blue. 4 transparent enclosure, the new building is designed to invite people visiting The project is considered as a “critical dein summer when the plant shut down. sign” which beyond “radical design”. For the 3 Consequently, the plant will provide designing process, BIG identified the shortcultural and social life in summer. Also, coming of precedents and provides a betBIG designed the building as an edu- ter design with exploration and innovation. cational centre in winter. Thus, the plant Moreover, the consideration of how to inis fully functional in terms of energy, so- tegrate the site with the project both funccial, cultural and educational aspects. tionally and visually is always important. ppsala Power Plant is a biomass cogeneration plant as a supplement for the existing infrastructure designed by BIG in Sweden.
Fig 4. Diagrams of form generation 3. Karissa Rosenfield, BIG’s “Unconventional” Uppsala Power Plant Designed to Host Summer Festivals (2015) <http://www. archdaily.com/603259/big-s-unconventional-uppsala-powerplant-to-host-summer-festivals> [accessed 12 August 2015].
4. BIG, Uppsala Power Plant (2014) <http://www.big.dk/#projectsupp> [accessed 12 August 2015].
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A.2. DESIGN COMPUTATION
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THE WATER CUBE 2007, Beijing, China
Fig 5. The Water Cube
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he National Swimming Centre, also kown as the Water Cube, was constructed for the Olympic Games in Beijing. The structure derives from the form of aggregated water bubbles in foam. ARUP designers represented the idea by dividing the space into cells of equal volume with the least number of surfaces and without gaps. As a result, the geometry is composed of repetitive units which makes the building to be easily built. Meanwhile, random appearance is generated from arbitrary angles as well. Thus, the facade and the structure are continuous element that works together, representing the water bubbles in aggregation through architectural expression. Computational techniques are used in both designing process and construction process. The geometry of the building was designed in computer directly as the form
Fig 6. Framework of the Water Cube
is impossible to be represented by two-dimensional drawings accurately. Thus, computational design provides much more potential possibilities for architects and allows designers to experiment a variety of solutions as fast as possible. For construction process, ARUP relied on the algorithmic system to test the structural performance of different design configuration and easily make changes to the structural system. 5 As the architectural design has been shifting from the traditional design methods to the computational design, designers are required to have computational abilities which can utilize software expertly. However, software is just a designing tool which cannot replace appropriate decision making. Thus, designers should always focus on the idea itself and the functions and amenities of architecture.
5. Rita Margarida Serra Fernandes, Generative Design: a new stage in the design process (2013) <https://fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/downloadFile/395145541718/ Generative%20Design%20a%20new%20stage%20in%20the%20design%20process%20-%20Rita%20Fernandes-%20n%C2%BA%2058759.pdf> [accessed 12 August 2015].
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ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2010 ICD/ITKE, 2010, Stuttgart University
Fig 7. ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010
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he project was a temporary research pavilion designed by ICD and ITKE in 2010. The project was a material-oriented computational development and the final outcome turned out to be a bending-active light- weight structure made by plywood strips.
The project started with the material research of the elastic bending ability of plywood strips. Physical experiments were made to test the bending property of the material and the forces of the whole structure. Based on the material behaviors, the computational model contained with all the measurement of plywood deflections under bending and geometric information, and generated the required structural analysis model. The final physical model was made by 80 plywood strips after accurate detailed structural calculation generated by the computer. 6 6. Stuttgart University, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010 (2010) <http://www. achimmenges.net/?p=4443> [accessed 12 August 2015].
Fig 8. Diagram for construction
Computational technology is not only helpful for design and construction, but also important for experiments. The project indicates a new tendency of the integration of algorithms skills with researchedbased experimental design. 7 For younger generation of architects, â&#x20AC;&#x153;research by designâ&#x20AC;? is regard as an emergence of architecture field. Multidisciplinary research now is becoming a fundamental approach for experiments and exploration of computational geometry. In this case, the material research is predominant in the designing process as it directly influenced on the geometry. With computational techniques, material design is shifted to be a significant part in architectural design since it may provide potential possibilities for structure and form.
7. Rivka Oxman & Rovert Oxman, Theories of the Digital in Architecture (New York: Routledge, 2014), p. 1-10.
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A.3. COMPOSITION/GENERATION
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SWARM INTELLIGENCE Tyler Julian Johnson, 2010
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he project is a generative design using computational techniques based on the research of swarm intelligence.
Fig 9. Emergent Architectural System
The swarm system in this project relates to the swarm behavior of people with an attractor. Attraction agents and peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movement is recorded and inputted into the computer to generate diagrams of patterns (Fig. 8). Using the research as a basis, the architectural design is developed according to the geometry of the pattern. 8 Using the generative design method, designers are able to create the a generative logic, which provides a range of possibilities and automatic fashion for further development. 9 This methodology contributes to the creativity and exploration from the nature and surroundings.
Fig 10. Iterations of Multi-Agent Behavior in 2D
8. Tyler Julian Johnson, Swarm Intelligence (2010) <http://www. tyler-johnson.com/Swarm-Intelligence> [accessed 13 August 2015].
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However, for most of the time, generative design only creates a dramatic geometry without functioning. Designers should use generative design as an approach for finding a creative form and put efforts to design the functions and amenities as well.
9. Branko Kolarevic, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (New York: Taylor & Francis, 2003), p. 3-62.
ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2011 ICD/ITKE,2011
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he project uses computational technique to explore the performative capacity of sand dollarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biological structure and express it in architectural form. Manufacturing processes are also under the computer control which automatically calculate the effectiveness of a range of geometries. The pavilion is finally built by thin sheets of plywood with CNC machines cutting the material piece by piece in the particular angle. As shown in Fig. 10, the form of the pavilion is consist of a series of modular and the form is developed by making geometric variation of the components. Since the modular are linked together at edges, the change of a single unit relates to the difference of the whole structure. 10
Generative and parametric design methods allow a form transforming consistently and continually under changes of parameters, which provides harmony and unity to the geometry. Unlike the conventional design, the emphasis of generation shifts to the designing process because the form keeps changing through the process, as well as the performance of structure and material. With computational techniques, designer can change any step of process efficiently and effectively.
Fig 11. Research Pavilion 2011
Fig 12. Diagram of form generation
10. Institute for Computational design, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011 (2011) <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6553> [accessed 13 August 2015].
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A
A.4. CONCLUSION
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n Part A, I learnt that how design can be used for nature and how computation influences on design process and outcome.
Design Futuring introduces how design serve for nature and people. From ethical aspect, design is not an isolated artificial product. Rather it should be considered holistically as a project contributes to the sustainability of the environment and peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifestyle. In addition, good architectural design can relate to the context and broaden the functions for people. Potential possibilities and innovation are key values that designers should to explore. Design Computation and Composition/Generation illustrate how computational methodology applies to and influence on design. Shifting from conventional design to computational design, designers are able to create and test more possibilities and change the designing step quickly and easily by using computers. Research-oriented design and generative design are emerging and developing through digital technology. Under this background, designers for younger generation are required to have computational skills and multidisciplinary knowledge. Parametric design is my intended design approach. Instead of a specific shape, designers create a sequence of parametric equations to generate the geometry. It brings infinitely potentialities for designers, which attracts me by the algorithmic logic and variable possibilities.
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A.5. LEARNING OUTCOME
B
efore I study this subject, I categorized all the projects made by computers as digital design. After the reading and lecture, I understand the categories of digital design, and how computational design benefit to design process and bring possibilities for design and developing directions. Furthermore, I also realize that there is ceratin risk for design computation. Although parametric design and generative design could generate fantastic geometry, a good project could not be created without plenty of analysis for functionality and amenity. Focusing too much on poetry aspect will result in less decision making for designers. My previous design were all carried out by rhino with compositional designing method. By learning the theories of computational design, I found that my previous design could be represented by algorithmic logic and hence the form could be changed and improved with a variety of possibilities quickly and efficiently.
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A
REFERENCE BIG, Uppsala Power Plant (2014) <http://www.big.dk/#projects-upp> [accessed 12 August 2015]. China International Garden Expo, About Beijing Garden Expo (2013), < http://www.gardenexpo-park.com/About/abge/162.html > [accessed 12 August 2015]. Fernandes Rita, Generative Design: a new stage in the design process (2013) <https://fenix. tecnico.ulisboa.pt/downloadFile/395145541718/Generative%20Design%20a%20new%20 stage%20in%20the%20design%20process%20-%20Rita%20Fernandes-%20n%C2%BA%20 58759.pdf> [accessed 12 August 2015]. Fry Tony, Design Futuring: sustainability, ethics and new practice (Oxford: BERG, 2009), p. 1-16. Institute for Computational design, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011 (2011) <http://icd. uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6553> [accessed 13 August 2015]. Johnson Tyler, Swarm Intelligence (2010) <http://www.tyler-johnson.com/Swarm-Intelligence> [accessed 13 August 2015]. Kolarevic Branko, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (New York: Taylor & Francis, 2003), p. 3-62. Oxman Rivka & Oxman Rovert, Theories of the Digital in Architecture (New York: Routledge, 2014), p. 1-10. Rosenfield Karissa, BIG’s “Unconventional” Uppsala Power Plant Designed to Host Summer Festivals (2015) <http://www.archdaily.com/603259/big-s-unconventional-uppsala-powerplant-to-host-summer-festivals> [accessed 12 August 2015]. Stuttgart University, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010 (2010) <http://www.achimmenges. net/?p=4443> [accessed 12 August 2015].
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A
IMAGE REFERENCE 1. Xinhua, “Explore Garden Expo Park in 360 degrees”, 2013 <http://www.bjd.com.cn/10beijingnews/ photos/201308/05/t20130805_4278523.html>[accessed 12 August 2015]. 2. Balmori Associates, “Wave waves>[accessed 12 August 2015].
garden”,
2012
<http://www.balmori.com/portfolio/sound-
3. BIG, “Uppsala Power Plant”, 2014 <http://www.designboom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ bjarke-ingels-group-big-uppsala-power-plant-sweden-designboom-02.jpg> [accessed 12 August 2015]. 4. BIG, “Diagram of Uppsala Power Plant”, 2014 <http://images.adsttc.com/media/images/54e7/ a98c/e58e/ce7f/c300/0118/large_jpg/upp-9-16-5_original.jpg?1424468339> [accessed 12 August 2015]. 5. ARUP , “The Water Cube”, 2007 <https://www.google.com.au/search?espv=2&tbm=isch&q=wa ter+cube+beijing&revid=1383332959&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ1QIoAWoVChMI6Ya5gP-lxwIV5CSm Ch0qcAwu&dpr=1&biw=1366&bih=643#imgrc=gIH4vCoAVQ4GMM%3A> [accessed 12 August 2015]. 6. PSI, “The framework of the Water Cube”, 2007 <https://www.google.com.au/search?espv =2&biw=1366&bih=643&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=water+cube+frame&oq=water+cube+fram e&gs_l=img.3...29041.30342.0.30439.6.6.0.0.0.0.317.317.3-1.1.0....0...1c.1.64.img..5.1.316.E g Aq 8 _ r NA E # i m g d i i = 9 B U L 3 d q h _ x v b c M % 3 A % 3 B 9 B U L 3 d q h _ x v b c M % 3 A % 3 B o0fx1eex7R0YM%3A&imgrc=9BUL3dqh_xvbcM%3A> [accessed 12 August 2015]. 7. ICD, “Research Pavilion 2010”, 2010 <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/icd-imagedb/ICD_ITKE_Pavilion_web.jpg> [accessed 12 August 2015]. 8. ICD, “Research Pavilion 2010”, 2010 <http://formsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/POSFig02+3.jpg> [accessed 12 August 2015]. 9. Tyler Johnson, “Emergent architectural system”, 2010 <http://www.tyler-johnson.com/SwarmIntelligence> [accessed 13 August 2015]. 10. Tyler Johnson, “Swarm Intelligence”, 2010 <http://hisheji.qiniudn.com/qiniu/1550/image/0b7a1 a3d7cc35de2f7444bcee9c8e166.jpg> [accessed 13 August 2015]. 11. ICD, “Research Pavilion 2011”, 2011 <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6553> [accessed 13 August 2015]. 12. ICD, “Structural joints”, 2011 <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6553> [accessed 13 August 2015].
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Part A CONCEPTUALIZATION
Part B CRITERIA DESIGN
Part C DETAILED DESIGN
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B.1. RESEARCH FIELD
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B
BIOMIMICRY
“Biomimicry is an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies.”1
1. Biomimicry Institute, Solutions to global challenges are all around us (2015) <http://biomimicry.org/biomimicry-examples/#. VgMDGiGqqko> [accessed 23 September 2015].
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B
B
iomimicry is a method for innovation which searches for sustainable solutions learning from the nature. It has been applied to the fields of architecture, energy, transportation, agriculture, medicine and communication. For example, engineers reduced the noise of High speed train by creating many structural small vortices. This is similar to the way an owlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary feathers have serrations that create small vortices instead of a large one (Figure 1).2 In terms of architecture, biomimetic Architecture is usually based on computational technologies applied in biomimicry methodology.3 Abstraction and integration of biological systems are used for forms, texture and construction. Learning from nature, the largest laboratory which ever existed and ever will, there are more possibilities of reinterpretation of materials and structure, and generation of form and pattern. Merging arts and culture with science and nature, Biomimicry methodology brings more creativity and meanings to architecture. On the other hand, although the dynamic form generated through biomimicry methodology is more aesthetic compared to traditional architecture and construction, it may not have the optimization of overall structural performance, which means it perhaps results in a loss of efficiency in resource and structure.
Fig 1. High Speed Train in Japan
Fig 2. Biomimetic structures of Sydney Opera House
Fig 3. Bark Lab 2013
2. The Biomimicry Institute , High speed train silently slices through air (2013) <http://www.asknature.org/product/6273d963ef015b98f 641fc2b67992a5e> [accessed 23 September 2015]. 3. Biomimetic Architecture, What is Biomimicry? (2015) <http://www.biomimetic-architecture.com/what-is-biomimicry/> [accessed 23 September 2015].
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B.2. CASE STUDY 1.0
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B
MORNING LINE
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-Aranda Lasch
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Fig 1. Drawing of the Morning Line Project
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he Morning Line is a project which conceived as a collaborative platform to explore the interplay of architecture, art, cosmology and music. The Morning Line is formed by intertwining lines connecting to each other. The structure has no single beginning or end, only movements around multiple centers. Each bit of the structure is interchangeable, demountable, portable and recyclable which allows the piece to change over time. 4
Making the fractal structure by grasshopper, I scaled different shapes of geometry by a series of times in different order. The plugin of Bullant was used for finding the geometry of joining fractal units. Patterns on the surfaces and patterns in the space were drew based on the geometry of fractals. The patterns replaced the original geometry and made the entire geometry joinable.
4. Aranda Lasch, The Morning Line (n.d.) <http://arandalasch.com/works/the-morning-line/> [accessed 24 September 2015].
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B
ITERATION OF SING
SPECIE 01
SPECIE 02
SPECIE 03
SPECIE 04
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B
GLE FRACTAL UNITS
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B
ITERATION OF THE GEOMETRY SPECIE 05
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o join the units together, I used Bullant to create a series of different fractals joining together, and then I drew curves and surfaces to select the joining units randomly. I also bake the Bullant fractals and delected parts of them in rhino to create the geometry.
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ITERATION OF THE PATTERN (on the surface) SPECIE 06
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ITERATION OF THE PATTERN (in the space) SPECIE 07
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ITERATION OF PATTERN & GEOMETRY
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B
Scaling the basic geometry for several times, the forms has been changed far away from the original shape and has became much more dynamic. The first two selections have scaling units joining to the original unit, which makes the fractal as a whole for further joining. The rest of the selections have more complex forms and achieve the aesthetic aspect by broken into pieces.
The pattern is drawn within the space of the single unit geometry. As it is a three-dimensional pattern without any opening, it could be a structure itself without the original geometry. The three-dimensional pattern provides more possibilities of geometry variations.
The pattern of the geometry makes the form more complex and also makes it possible to be assembled piece by piece.
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B
The Tessellation of the fractals could be used for different shapes as different functions. The fractals have faces orienting to several directions, which makes more potentials for joining the fractals together to create dynamic geometries.
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B.3. CASE STUDY 2.0
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B
DEEP SURFACE MORPHOLOGIES
“Negotiating form, performance, and context in form-active material systems.”
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ICD: Prof. A. Menges, S. Ahlquist ITKE: Prof. J. Knippers, J. Lienhard Summer Semester, 2012
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T
his project pursues the study of a micro tensioned element that is highly flexible in its form, easily connectable and geometrical aligned but at the same time appears organically arranged. A system is developed consisting of an easy geometrical principle, which becomes more complex through minor deformation of the single unit, and can be materialized as a membrane tensile element or a stiffened fibre-composite cell. Through this process the single element can be highly differentiated by several ways of manipulation and reaction to different parameters. 5
5. ICD, Deep Surface Morphologies (2012) <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6947> [accessed 24 September 2015].
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B
REVERSE EN STEP 1
STEP 2
STE
STEP 1: Ge graft and
STEP 2: Co Set the m the Ancho
STEP 3: Se are only c
STEP 4: Ch
STEP 5: Ext by BREP|B 42 |
B
NGINEERING
EP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
enerate and offset Voronoi grid. Move the Voronoi grid to create a proper height and then d loft the curves.
onvert the loft surface into Mesh. Use Mesh Surface to generate the numbers of U, V values. mesh edges as Spring and the rest length. Set the Mesh vertices on the Voronoi edges to be or points. Use Kangaroo to create the tensile structure.
elect the discontinuity points of the Voronoi edges to be the Anchor point, so that the units connected by the common points.
hange the shape of Voronoi grid to make the base geometry more dynamic.
trude the new grid and draw a surface, then find the interaction of the surface and brep BREP definition. Use polyline to redraw the grid between vertices as lines. Repeat STEP 2. | 43
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B.4. TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
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B
ITERATION OF
ITERATION OF
ITERATION OF
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B
BASE PATTERN
BASE SURFACE
TENSILE FRAME
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B
ITERATION OF TENSIL
ITERATION OF TEN
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B
LE REPRESENTATION
NSILE GEOMETRY
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B
The first four selected iterations are made by the K structures which provides more opportunities for the
The last iteration is made by shifting lines of two laye are consisted of single elements. The shifting line pr result more interesting.
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B
Kangaroo plug-in. They are different forms of tensile e further design development.
ers of geometry. The previous tensile structures I made rocess represents the units by lines, which makes the
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B.5. Technique: Prototypes
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B
Materialisation The material of the prototype is the fabric that is tensile in two dimensions so that it could be stretched vertically and horizontally. Construction The structural frame was made firstly. Pin connection was used between balsa pieces so that they could have rotation movements. Then the fabric was sewed together and tied to the corners of the frame by fish lines.
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B
Test Because of the rotation movements of the frame, the form of the fabric could be easily changed, which shows the tensile capacity of the fabric. Learning Outcome The form of the element is shaped by the frame. As a result, for the design project, the design of the frame is as important as the fabric element. Instead of a flexible frame, the frame for the design project should be rigid so that the model is possible to be stable.
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B.6. Technique: PROPOSAL MERRI CREEK
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B
SITE AN Topology & Hydrology
Flora Distribution
Planning Overlay&Localities
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erri Creek is located in the inner city surrounding with ing Range to the Yarra river flowing through the Nor tem which includes reserves and wetlands for Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
However, the pollution of the environment for Merri Cree discharged to the creek, which makes the water polluted to water quality and aquatic animals. According to the d are located around the river. Thus, the bad water quality
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B
NALYSIS Property Allocation
Rail & Railway Station
Road & Road Facilities
h residential suburbs. The creek connects the Great Dividrthern suburbs of Melbourne. It contains a fragile ecosyss threatened flora and fauna.
ek is severe. Waste water from the surrounding suburbs is d. Daily litters thrown by residents and tourists are harmful diagram of flora distribution, most reserves and tree areas y has a negative influence on the whole ecosystem.
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SITE SELECTION
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B
SITE SEL Topology & Flora area
Design Site
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Surroundin
George Kno Reserve
he design site I selected is the most polluted the site is the Heidelberg Road Bridge. The sit the litters are accumulated by the water flow. water condition is really bad at this spot. Plast tree branches on the riverbank. Dead tree roo floating on the river surface.
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B
LECTION
ng Regions
Litter Density
ott
Litter Distribution
Northcote Park Design Site Heidelberg Road Bridge
area based on my observation. The landmark of te located on the turning point of the river, where . There is a waste water discharge nearby, so the tic bags are the main litters lying or tangled with ots and falling leaves also lying on the riverbank or
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B
Litters along the riverbank
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Site V
View
B
Landmark Heidelberg Road Bridge
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DESIGN CONCEPT â&#x20AC;&#x153;Litter Trapâ&#x20AC;?
Precedent Study: Bandalong Litter Trap The Bandalong Litter Trap is a floating device that installed along waterways to collect floating litter, vegetation and other debris. The system does not have any mechanical assistance so that it operates silently to capture litter ready for removal and disposal. 6
6. Bandalong International, How The Bandalong Litter Trap Works (2010) <http://www.bandalong.com.au/products-andservices/how-a-bandalong-litter-trap-works/> [accessed 24 September 2015].
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B
Litter Trap System
The Bandalong Litter Trap floats on waterways, given buoyancy by polyethylene pipes. The element is held in place by galvanized chains attached to the ground anchors or fitted to rider poles for canal installations. Outspread collection booms direct floating litter through a one-way mesh gate into trap which is ready for removal. A 150mm polyethylene side skirt beneath the river surface prevents debris from escaping from under the main floats. 7
7. Bandalong International, How The Bandalong Litter Trap Works (2010) <http://www.bandalong.com.au/products-and-services/how-a-bandalong-litter-trap-works/> [accessed 24 September 2015].
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B
Concept The concept of my design project is to create a litter trap capturing the debris on the river in order to solve the problem of pollution in the design site. It is also a warning sign for the public that the pollution of the Merri Creek is severe. Client The clients of the project are cleaners who have to clean the litter regularly and the aquatic animals living in the river. Agenda Learning from the precedent, the outer structure of the litter trap should be tied to the ground anchors so that it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t flow away. The inner cage of the litter trap should be floating on the river surface and be easily removed for the convenience of cleaners. Tensile structure learning from the Reverse Engineering is chosen to be the basic structure for the project, because the material (fabric) is flexible and porous, which is suitable to be a filter for the river while does not impede water flow.
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B
Inner Cage water flow
Litter captured in the litter cage
Shape The sphere form is selected as the basic shape for the inner cage because it is a closed surface which is easy for removal. Drawback The connection system for the litter trap still need to be clarified and test. However, the project is related to the site and is benefitial to the public and environment.
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B
B.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes
P
art B makes me have better understanding of the computational theories I read in Part A. In Part B, we are forced to understand each definition, each
possibility and each logic behind the script, which provides me with a deeper understanding about grasshopper skills and parametric design. As I was using Kangaroo for the Reverse Engineering and technical development, I learnt more about the property of mesh, the difference between mesh and NURBS as well as how the mesh could be divided or subdivided. Throughout the practice of Part B, I not only learnt how to use definitions but also learnt the logic of Kangaroo, Grasshopper and computational design.
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B
I
also learnt the logical thinking of exploring a topic by listing species and making iterations. Using Grasshopper as a technique, I found that it saves a lot of time
as most of the details are recorded by parameters and I do not need to redo all the previous steps when I want to change a detail.
The model making process is harder than the computational designing. Designers do not need to really think about the strucutre or construction method when they generate a form by grasshopper. However, to make a physical model, one need to fully understand the property of the material, the construction joint and the load distribution. In order to show the tensile capacity of the structure, I made a physical model manually. I found that I have better understanding of how does the frame affect the fabric shape and how does the fabric and the frame work as a whole.
Generally, parametric design is challenging but exciting for me. I like to challenge the thousands of possibilities generated by parametric design.
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REFERENCE
Aranda Lasch, The Morning Line (n.d.) <http://arandalasch.com/works/the-morning-line/> [accessed 24 September 2015]. Bandalong International, How The Bandalong Litter Trap Works (2010) <http://www.bandalong.com.au/products-and-services/how-a-bandalong-litter-trap-works/> [accessed 24 September 2015]. Bandalong International, Bandalong Litter Trap (2010) <http://www.bandalong.com.au/products-and-services/ bandalong-litter-trap/> [accessed 24 September 2015]. Biomimetic Architecture, What is Biomimicry? (2015) <http://www.biomimetic-architecture.com/what-is-biomimicry/> [accessed 23 September 2015]. ICD, Deep Surface Morphologies (2012) <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6947> [accessed 24 September 2015]. The Biomimicry Institute, Solutions to global challenges are all around us (2015) <http://biomimicry.org/biomimicry-examples/#.VgMDGiGqqko> [accessed 23 September 2015]. The Biomimicry Institute , High speed train silently slices through air (2013) <http://www.asknature.org/product /6273d963ef015b98f641fc2b67992a5e> [accessed 23 September 2015].
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IMAGE REFERENCE
http://www.asknature.org/product/6273d963ef015b98f641fc2b67992a5e http://www.asknature.org/strategy/3f2fb504a0cd000eae85d5dcc4915dd4#. VB51YC5dUa0 https://khuanmiao.wordpress.com/2011/10/16/project-sydney-opera-house-imorphology-%E2%80%93-biomimicry/ http://www.barkdesign.com.au/news/bark-lab-will-present-growth-floatingland-2013 http://arandalasch.com/works/the-morning-line/ http://arandalasch.com/works/quasitable/ http://arandalasch.com/works/quasimirror/ http://arandalasch.com/works/fauteuil-chair/ http://arandalasch.com/works/quasi-series/ http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=3968 http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6947
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Part A CONCEPTUALIZATION
Part B CERITERIA DESIGN
Part C DETAILED DESIGN
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C.1. DESIGN CONCEPT
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Feedback from the inerim presentation
Victor “Don’t use 3D printing for the whole model, re-think the joint system.” Vicky “The geometry used in the proposal is very interesting however the concept needs to be refined and the prototype needs to be explored at a larger scale and different material.” Dora “You should fabricate a few different cells and extract information from the digital model so that you can create a more controlled and precise outcome.” Philip “Increase the scale of the proposal and consider its materiality.”
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Improvement for Part C Our starting point for our group was that we would develop our design in a way that would be conducive to being unrolled or made into strips for either fabrication through a card cutter or laser. As far as possible we would also look to develop a fixing or joint system that would be available off the shelf rather than bespoke.
The technique and geometry used in this Part B project was decided upon as our starting point in developing our script and form.
The use of parametric design for precision and control was essential for the geometry we were seeking to develop, without it fabrication was impossible as the double curved geometry was too complex.
At the same time that we started developing the script for our geometry and had a rough idea that we were probably going to be using developable strips in our final model, we made decisions early regarding materiality and eliminated rigid materials such as Perspex, plywood, foam and MDF. Polypropylene was chosen as it would be within our budget constraints, however if our proposal was built and installed at the site we would probably consider thin aluminium sheets.
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Site Introduction
T
he Merri Creek site is an area of surprising picturesque views and an atmosphere of tranquillity that belies the effects of its urban setting. Much has been improved by volunteer organisations and local councils to dramatically improve Merri Creek through efforts to rectify and restore the area along the creek and the creek itself, through removal of weeds, replanting of native species and the removal of rubbish and many other initiatives. 1
Water quality is highly polluted due to the stormwater runoff from the urban landscape of roofs, roads and concrete paths which concentrates the pollution in the urban environment by washing it off hard surfaces and into the stormwater system. Merri Creek is part of the Lower Yarra waterway and is part of an interconnected waterway including the Yarra River, Plenty River, Darebin Creek, Moonee Ponds Creek and Gardiners Creek and highly valued by the public. 2
1. Melbourne Water, Yarra catchment (n.d.) <http://www.melbournewater.com.au/waterdata/riverhealthdata/yarra/Pages/ Yarra-catchment.aspx> [accessed 4 November 2015]. 2. Melbourne Water, Yarra catchment (n.d.) <http://www.melbournewater.com.au/waterdata/riverhealthdata/yarra/Pages/ Yarra-catchment.aspx> [accessed 4 November 2015].
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The government authority in charge of the waterways, Melbourne Water has listed the water quality of the Lower Yarra system as one of its significant management challenges. Merri Creek is part of an important system of waterways in Melbourne that the people of the city use for recreation and an improvement in water quality would have benefits for the community as well as for the flora and fauna of the site. Melbourne Water’s long term goals for the Lower Yarra waterway:
• “Very high”- populations of fish and frogs. Amenity through increased linking of sites • “High” – populations of macroinvertebrates, streamside birds, platypus and vegetation. 3 Whilst there are many challenges to the site such as, litter, weed control, flooding and erosion, our group has chosen to focus on water quality as an issue that has an impact on all of the key long term goals of Melbourne Water’s plans and management of Merri Creek and the waterways at large.
3. Melbourne Water, Yarra catchment (n.d.) <http://www.melbournewater.com.au/waterdata/riverhealthdata/yarra/ Pages/Yarra-catchment.aspx> [accessed 4 November 2015]. Note: The Site Introduction is the text shared by our group. The author for the texts is Philip Skewes.
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MERRI CREEK
SITE
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DAREBIN CREEK
YARRA RIVER
YARRA RIVER | 81
C
Design Concept
O
ur proposal is an installation to draw attention to issues around water quality and how the urban environment impacts rivers through stormwater runoff. The installation will have two functions. Firstly, and most importantly it is hoped that the design form will provoke interest and speculation about its presence on the river and thereby provide an opportunity to prompt people to inquire and be informed as to what it is, particularly children. Secondly, the installation is on top of a floating island that uses local plants growing at the base in a grow media to contribute positively to water quality.
T
he function of floating islands and plants as a means of improving water quality has been shown to work in reducing various contaminants in projects around the world, with research studies carried out by the University of Auckland, Faculty of Engineering Department of Civil Engineering and also Massey University in New Zealand on their role in improving water quality. The initial catalyst for the idea was found in the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens in Guilfoyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s volcano which functions as an open stormwater containment system with floating planted islands.
Note: The Design Concept contains text shared by our group. The author for the text is Philip Skewes.
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he floating islands act like wetlands in their concentration of wetland plants growing in a media that floats on the water. The plant roots make their way through the media and down into the water where the plant takes up nutrients and in the process removes nitrates and ammonia, which are serious pollutants in waterways. This process also dissolves oxygen into the water body. The floating island and the roots provide a surface area that attracts microbes and these also feed upon the nutrients and help cleanse the water. The same principle of microbes and large surface areas are used in aquatic farming in biological filtration systems as well as in domestic aquariums. Floating islands have an advantage over wetlands, in that they are able to tolerate changes in water levels to a great depth because of their ability to float on the surface. This allows them to function normally in a range of conditions that would cause wetlands to be reduced in their functional effectiveness.
A further advantage to the floating islands is the scalability of the islands which can be added to a body of water as needed. 4
4. Tanner Chris C., Sukias James, Park Jason, Yates Charlotte, Headley Tom, Floating Treatment WetlandsL A New Tool For Nutrient Management In Lakes And Waterways (2014) <http://www.massey.ac.nz/~flrc/workshops/11/ Manuscripts/Tanner_2011.pdf> [accessed 2 November 2015].
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President Study
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uilfoyle’s Volcano was built in 1876 and historically it was used for storage of water for the botanic gardens. Recently, it redesigned as a “Working Wetlands“ with floating mats and appropriate plants. The “Working Wetland” project aims to create a new form of landscape design and at the same time, use the roots of the plants and the bacteria system to improve the water quality. 5
This spectacular water reservoir has commanding views of the city, and its striking landscape design showcases low water use plants. Boardwalks and viewing platforms give visitors the opportunity to explore this long-hidden but remarkable feature of Melbourne Gardens. In addition, it is remarkable for its educational function and safety design for children learning the environment. 6
5. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Guilfoyle’s Volcano (n.d.) <http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/visit-melbourne/attractions/guilfoyles-volcano> [accessed 2 November 2015]. 6. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Guilfoyle’s Volcano (n.d.) <http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/visit-melbourne/attractions/guilfoyles-volcano> [accessed 2 November 2015].
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The Floating Mat Biofilm (predominantly non-photosynthetic) attached to root surfaces Anchor Point
T
0.7m depth
Figure 1: Cross-section of FTWs in a treatment pond (fromhe Headley and Tanner, 2011). mefloating mat (Batch Aquatic Plants socosms) consists of a fibrous polyester mat injected with Growth Medium expanded polyurethane for Floating Mat the benefit of buoyancy. The growth medium in the center of the mat is a mixture of sand, peat and compost (1:2:1). The plastic sheeting is suspended over the water surface as a control treatment to provide a shading to the floating mat. 7 1m
7. Tanner Chris C., Sukias James, Park Jason, Yates Charlotte, Headley Tom, Floating Treatment WetlandsL A New Tool For Nutrient Management In Lakes And Waterways (2014) <http://www.massey.ac.nz/~flrc/workshops/11/ Manuscripts/Tanner_2011.pdf> [accessed 2 November 2015].
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Advantages of Floating Treatment Wetlands
> Improving water quality > Wetland restoration > Habitat restoration > Natural beautification > Reduction of wave and water erosion > Carbon sequestration 8
8. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Guilfoyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Volcano (n.d.) <http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/visit-melbourne/attractions/landscape-features> [accessed 2 November 2015].
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Applying the researches to the proposal
A
pplying the presidents to our proposal, we inspired and adopted to the idea which to improve the water quality by biological approaches. Instead of collecting litters in the river (my Part B proposal), the new proposal focuses on the long term effect of the water quality improvement, which could not be replaced by manual cleaning done by the volunteers and the council. At the same time, the proposal has the educational meaning to teach children and remind residents and tourists of protecting the environment.
T
he plant we chose for the project is reed as it is a typical aquatic plant which is also one of the main aquatic plants in Merri Creek. Therefore, it has the ability to fit and grow in the site.
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C.2. Geometry Development
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Input lines to create openings
1st Geometry
2nd Geometry
New lines generated a single â&#x20AC;&#x153;tubeâ&#x20AC;&#x153; with two openings, which makes the geometry more dynamic and complex. 90 |
Millipede mesh output
Trimmed an ext opening for the b
tra base
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Designed new edges for the openings
Geometry output from Kangaroo
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flowerâ&#x20AC;&#x153; pattern was generated for the geometry, which creates a random effect as each hole has different size. | 91
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Geometry Overview
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Script Development The selected points are not in order after “Cull Pattern”, which will create problems for next step. Therefore, “To Polar” rearrange the order of the points from one spiral direction.
Lines & Boundary Geometry Wrapper ISO Surface Minimal Surface
Millipede Mesh Mesh Edges Discontinuity List Item Curve Closest Point Cull Pattern
Select points on each edge automatically without baking and selecting in Rhino. “List item” is used to identify the target edge among all the edges. “Discontinuity” selects all the points on all the edges. “Curve closest point” allows the program to find the points on the target edge by integrating with “Cull Pattern”. 94 |
Points on each edge To Polar
Curves de as new ed
Sort List
Divide Cu
Points in order
Vector
Amplitu
Move
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The points from “Divide Curves” should be the same as the points on the target edges. Vectors are created by moving the points on the current edges to the points on the new curves, and the vectors become the direction for “Move”.
Geometry
Mesh Triangulate Divide Curve Intepolate Sort List
Pattern
Mesh Edges
esigned dges
urves 2Pts
ude
e
Springs From Line Anchor Points Kangaroo Physics Kangaroo plug-in anchors the unchanged edges and generates the original geometry towards new edges. | 95
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The height of the model is 1.3 meters, which matches with the height of reed (the aquatic plant we picked for the project).
The number of openings on each direction is similar to make sure that the model will not fall down on one side after the construction.
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Most of the openings are upward for the better growing of aquatic plants.
The pattern creates more holes so that plants can get more sun penetration.
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C.3. Prototypes
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Joint Type
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eâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tried three types of joints, which are screws, xx, and rivets. Screws are the worst joint for this model because it can only be pressed through the holes of connection tags and it cannot join the strips tightly. Eyelets are quick and convenient to use, however, it needs bigger holes and the
back sides do not look good. We chose rivets as our joint because rivets have clean finished surfaces and high strength. We integrated washers with rivets to overcome the problem of the strip falling off after joining caused by the small size of the rivet head.
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Strips
T
he first type of strips was divided from our ideal model with 13,000 mesh surfaces, which takes a long time to fabricate. Another problem is that each mesh surface is too small so that the connection tags are too much with small and unappropriated distances. Learning from the first strip, we reduced the mesh surfaces to create a simplified version for fabrication.
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Furthermore, we also changed the distance between two holes of connection tags and reduced the number of connection tags on each edge from two to one. Moreover, because of the problem of the connection tags on the first strip, rivets could not be used for the strips, so the strips did not join together.
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Prototypes
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e used the “overlap” connection for the second type of strips. The disadvantage of “overlap” connection is that it ruins the pattern. The third prototype is made by strips with connection tags joined by rivets and washers. It is the most successful prototype with tight joints and good appear-
ance. Learning from the third one, we adjusted the connection tags as two tags on edges longer than 10 cm and one tags on edges shorter than 10 cm, because longer edges tended to distort only with one fixed point on the edges.
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Simplified Model
The mesh surfaces of the model are reduced from 13,000 surfaces to 800 surfaces with 100 strips separating from the simplified model, which makes the model workable.
The “tubes“ of the model are reduced so that the openings are reduce. The interesting features of the design (one “tube” with two openings) are kept whilst some normal “tube” are deleted.
The mesh surfaces of the model are reduced from 13,000 surfaces to 800 surfaces with 100 strips separating from the simplified model, which makes the model workable.
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Strips & Connection Tags
MESH PLOY-SURFACES GROUP INTO STRIPS
DECONSTRUCT BREP BREP IN GH
SELECT BOUNDARIES DISTINGUISH CURVES & LINES
CULL OUT LONG EDGES
ADD TWO GROUPS OF HOLES
KEEP SHORT EDGES
ADD ONE GROUPS OF HOLES
GENERATE TAGS
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Assembly Diagram
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Details A mounting rubber is a material we tried to use to prevent the edges from the distorting. We connected the mounting rubber and the prototype with rivets and washers, but since the material itself is too soft, the opening of the edge was still loose. We also thought about Aluminum strips. However, the openings vary in height and width and the aluminum strips could not accommodate this without cutting into pieces, which has a potential of massy finish.
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Pinchweld is another material we tested for the edges. It is made of PVC and within, there is a aluminum cap inside. Compared with the mounting rubber, the opening of the edges was big and extended as what we want. Also, the connection between the pinchweld and the model was down by pressing by the pliers, which is much quicker than the mounting rubber.
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C.4. Learning Objectives and Outcomes
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E
xcept the learning from the prototypes written in previous sections, I realized that the relationship between design and fabrication is not linear. Doing a project always need to integrate design and fabrication tightly, and compromise and re-do the design based on the condition of prototypes. For example, Vicky and I designed the complex geometry but it has too many mesh surfaces so that it would have too many stripes and take too much time to finish. As a result, we re-designed a simplified geometry with workable mesh surfaces for fabrication. We were not supposed to make the model by 3D printing in the beginning, however, we have to make one in order to show our original geometry. In terms of the 3D printing, we used powder material because the powder-material machine could print big-
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ger model than the plastic-material machines. At first, we wanted to print the model with pattern, but the holes resulted in the instability of the whole geometry, so it is not possible to be printed out. After discussing with the staff, we decided to print the model which only has the geometry and we thickened the model to prevent the model from falling into pieces. We also used changed the mesh surfaces to make it smoother for another model. The two models are satisfying and they are possible to display our complex geometry although a few pieces still falling down. Throughout the 3D printing process, I learnt that fabrication type and machine are also two significant factors for making a good model. Communication is also important in terms of getting valuable feedbacks from the masters and making changes based on the feedbacks.
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F
or the final model (the simplified model), there are also a lot of problem during the fabricating process. The Polypropylene material of our model is 0.6 mm, which is too thin to make it stand or keep it in shape. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve bought a polypropylene sheet with 1.4 thickness for laser cut testing in fablab. The outcome is that the laser cut machine can cut the polypropylene sheet with 1.4 mm thick, but it will be really slow with high risk of inaccurate and burnt edges. As a consequence, we have to use the pinchweld (extra black edges) to keep the shape of the openings and hang the model by fishing line because it cannot stand. The best material for the project should be aluminum, because it is a rigid, strong and light material. There is a higher possibility for the model to self support when the material is more rigid than the current one. Furthermore, we re-
ceived the feedback that the connection tags are not perfect. The current connection tags are circular, which means the common edges between the tags and the opening edges are short. Shorter common edges weaken the joint strength. A better solution is to design a roughly semi-circular shape so that the common edges are longer. Thus, if we have a chance to build another model, we would change the material to aluminum and redesign the connection tags. Designing, to some extent, is to solve the emerging problems through the process. For fabrication, making prototypes is always the best way to find solutions.
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C.5. Photographs
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REFERENCE
Melbourne Water, Yarra catchment () <http://www.melbournewater.com. au/waterdata/riverhealthdata/yarra/Pages/Yarra-catchment.aspx> [accessed 4 November 2015]. Tanner Chris C., Sukias James, Park Jason, Yates Charlotte, Headley Tom, Floating Treatment WetlandsL A New Tool For Nutrient Management In Lakes And Waterways (2014) <http://www.massey.ac.nz/~flrc/workshops/11/Manuscripts/Tanner_2011.pdf> [accessed 2 November 2015]. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Guilfoyle’s Volcano (n.d.) <http://www.rbg. vic.gov.au/visit-melbourne/attractions/guilfoyles-volcano> [accessed 2 November 2015]. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Guilfoyle’s Volcano (n.d.) <http://www.rbg. vic.gov.au/visit-melbourne/attractions/landscape-features> [accessed 2 November 2015].
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