HOUSE FOR THE FUTURE THE NEW URBAN VILLAGE - SHENZHEN, CHINA -
Chiang Mai Worshop: This chapter is a collection of outcomes from the Chiang Mai Future-Natural workshop. The workshop is focused on design and fabrication, using traditional materials with innovative approach.
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Workshop Objectives: The seven days workshop is a collaborative project between Bartlett unit 22 and Chiang Mai University students, it is a seven day long project to build four 1:1 installations within the Architecture Department building of Chiang Mai university. The students were split into groups and my project theme is Canopy. To be more specific the site is on the ramp of the building which lead people from the courtyard up to higher levels of the building. The Architecture building is situated within a very well planted, lush environment, and it has very strong connection to nature, also the courtyard is one of the focal point of the building as it is a place for people to meet and a lot of activities being held here, for example at the time of the workshop there was a nicely produced school play with bamboo built stage in the courtyard, right above our site. With the characters of the site, the initial concept is to connect the Canopy with the natural suroundings and the vibrant human activities, and to create this interaction between human and nature.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
FACMU International Workshop Series Presents:
FACMU x BARTLETT UNIT 22 INTERNATIONAL DESIGN & FABRICATION WORKSHOP EXHIBITION In Association With: UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, FACMU
UNIT 22 BARTLETT SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, UCL
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02.12 - 07.12.2013
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FUTURENATURAL
Group 2- Canopy Flamed Seed Catcher h ua T ho m s Jo
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Concept: Group 2 is looking at bees and their nests as an inspiration, both structurally and conceptually. The structure unfolds into a honey comb shape to give it strengthen for making a cantilever canopy, together with the idea that it will help to protect nature like Bees help flowers to pollinate, therefore maybe there will be some seed deposits within the canopy where birds can feed on and help with protect and make nature grow. Function: Solar shading, protecting falling seed, feeding birds.
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How it Protects Nature: Protect the falling seed from the tree and allow the seed to grow, at the same time allow bird to feed on the seed and further help nature to grow. How it reconnect us with Nature: This canopy allows us to get closer to nature, so provide new chances for man to grow more trees.
The Faculty of Architecture, Chiang Mai University,Chiang Mai 50200 Tel +66 5394 2806 Fax +66 5322 1448 l www.arc.cmu.ac.th
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
The Site Conditions: The site of choice sits on the ramp between the second and third floor of the building, as one of the main features of the building, it not only creates a passage for between, out also a place of interaction that links between the indoor and the semi-outdoor (courtyard). After studying the site, there are a number of factors came to our attention. The courtyard is a very lively place, not only for people to gather, but also it attracts a lot of nature. There are a lot of birds inside the courtyard, they are attracted by food and also nest on trees and man made structures. In addtion, bees and wasps also favor to build their hive here onto the structure, being protected. Furthermore, the trees within the courtyard are a very specific species call Flame Tree, this kind of tree has very beautiful red and purple flowers during winter which will attract butterflies, and after autumn, they has this very big and rigid seed pots that shape like beans. The natural elements inside the courtyard are very rich already, so we imagine the canopy can bring people closer to experience nature, and also it can help the natural elements to be connected better, for example the seed pots need to be exposed to sunlight to open, but the bottom of the courtyard has little sunlight for that to happen. To help the natural process, the canopy will catch the seed when they drop from the tree and then birds will eat the seed, later the seed will be spread by the bird for them to grow into new trees, because the courtyard is paved with hard surface and the seed will not germinate. During the natural interaction happens above the canopy, people can observe when they pass under.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
The pot provide protection to the seeds before they are matured. The seed pot of the flaming tree will open by itself when its dry under the sunlight.
When the seeds are broken out of the pots, birds will eat them as food.
Without the help of the bird, it is very difficult for the seeds to become new trees.
To encourage the bird to encrete on a certain area,
col-
our red will be the colour of choice. Because according to research red is more easily targeted by birds, red
700% more likely to catch bird fieces compared
cars are to other cars.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
Initial Concepts: The initial concepts were developed by the Chiang Mai University students, the canopy is divided to repeated hexagon parts, not only because it symbolised the bee and wasp hives found in various locations of the site, it is also one of the most rigid shapes, also can cover the most of the surface area with least materials. Each hexagon has flexible and fixed joints, the combination of two types of joints allow the canopy to fold and unfold as a whole. within each haxagon there is a woven fabric that catches the seed pot, also when the canopy it folded the fabric becomes a basket, which provides the possibility for birds to nest in there. When we try to develop the concept further, the first thing is the canopy can be less stiff because in the original design, the canopy moves along a straight rail system. However the group thought the installation should have a more soft and fabric like performance. More types of joints where developed to achieve in certain parts it moves to a specific direction and in other parts they do something else. Also the movement is controlled by ropes instead of stiff rails. A softer installation will not only correspond to natural elements better, but also echos with the traditional Thai weaing and hand craft traditions.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
Selection of Materials: For the materials of choice, the main compoent will be bamboo, this material is very common in Thai and South East Asian vernacular architecture. One of the chanllenges was to really learn the performance and strength of this material, thankfully the local students were very helpful to provide such knowledge. Apart from bamboo, we decided to use ropes and other soft materials to join different elements, these material can be easily found at markets in Chiang Mai, it is very surprising that using different techniques such simple materials can achieve many tasks. In the end all the joints were tied together with different knots and performed as we imagined to be: a installation that is both hard and soft.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
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Joint of the main structure is taken inspiration from the local technique of scaffolding, using ropes and small pieces of bamboo to fix.
Primary structure is using long pieces of bamboo, fixing them to both sides of the handrails of the ramp.
Hexagon units which were prefabricated now using ropes to be tied together.
Pully/control system that connects hexagons together and then linked to the main structure, the red ropes are guides and green ropes control the canopy.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
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Smaller piece of bamboo for guide rope to run through
Flexible joint to link 2 hexagon pieces, allow rotational movements.
Piece from hexagon no.1.
Piece from hexagon no.2.
Movable Joints: One of the main feature of the canopy is it can open or close depending on whether its function is to catch seeds or provide comfortable conditions for birds to nest on. So that the joint must allow this movement smoothly. The biggest chanllenge is to incorporate different material property (hard bamboo and soft fabrics and ropes) and make them move at the same time. This movable joint utilised the different diametres of bamboo, cutting the bigger bamboo and attach the piece reversely to create this pocket that only allow smaller bamboo to rotate but no twisting. Using string to fix the joint to allow subtle movement without being rigid. The joint is also combined with the piece to run the guide rope through. 1. Cutting the large bamboo piece 2. Attach the rope guide 3. Fixing the joint with string 4. The finished joint on the canopy
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
THE HEXAGON
The fabrication of the hexagons started with cutting bamboo into 50cm pieces, with 120 degrees angle on both sides. Then holes were drilled for string to tie them together, depend on whether the joint is fixed or flexible, the number of holes and joint methods vary. Also there are bamboo pieces for the guide rope to run through.
THE BASKET
The baskets were woven by thin bamboo strips using traditional Thai weaving techniques. Some of the strips were soaked in red food dye. With different weaving techniques and different colours it created a variety of patterns.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
THE BIRD NEST
The canopy provides a lot of possible spots for birds to nest on, there are small baskets attached to the bamboo, and also when the canopy is closed, the fabric becomes pocket for nesting. Birds can find coconut fibres on the canopy as their nesting material.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
24 HEXAGON JOINTS
Colour red indicates the joints that allow movement to one direction, and the colour blue indicates the fixed joints.
When the canopy moves it only allow it to do the folding action without unwanted movements.
24 THE JOINTS WORK AS A SYSTEM
When a number of hexagons combined together, with the flexible joint and the guide rope, it becomes one system that can be controlled by pulling the rope to perform the fold/unfold action.
By pulling the control rope, the movable joint will start to fold towards the pulling force and the fixed joints maintain the shape.
24 UNFOLD AND FOLD CANOPY
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP
When the birds eat the seed, the protective memberine will be digested, and become ready to germinate.
When the seed pods rest on the canopy, the sunlight will cause them to open.
The birds will bring the seeds with them, and spread to more ideal locations for the seeds to germinate.
FUTURE NATURAL CHIANG MAI DESIGN AND FABRICATION WORKSHOP