Reading #6

This week's reading is:

Calkins, Meg. "Evaluating the Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Materials." Materials for Sustainable Sites: a Complete Guide to the Evaluation, Selection, and Use of Sustainable Construction Materials. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2009. 53-76. Print.

Feature Project: Wave Pavilion by MacDowell.Tomova

http://www.archdaily.com/79693/wave-pavilion-macdowell-tomova/

Week 6 Desk Crit Schedule

Monday 7-8: Untitled Catenary (Salt, Ben, Steve)
Tuesday 7-8: Folded Floor (Hany, Stacey, Matt, Bob)
Tuesday Time?: UFO (Christine, Erin, Jason, David)
Wednesday 11-12: Honey Comb (Z, Grandi, Meredith) 

Awesome Forum

A website with scripts, and patterning techniques for Rhino and Grasshopper
http://www.code-collective.org/

Material Systems 02

The following is work from our second Material Systems assignment - week 5.

Honey Comb

UFO/Unique Forms of Continuity

Contraction Contraption

Folded Floor

Plan Diagram

-Gray Area shows where the material is folded up, beginning from the outer edges working inward. Therefore, it represents areas void of material.

- The design is repeated and flipped over the axis.

- The vertical aspect of the the design is dependant on existing site elements.

Folding Floorplan - Grasshopper

The grasshopper model for the folding floorplan consists of a series of points and lines arranged to construct a single rectangle. A second rectangle is then connected to the first in order to pivot/fold around it. An infinite number of rectangles can be connected to create a strip of rectangles. The rectangle size for each strip is controlled by a slider as well. (base folding model with two strips sized differently, figure1).

The angle of rotation for each rectangle can be controlled individually by sliders in grasshopper. The rectangles can be folded in such a way so that the entire strip and the entire series of strips respond to site conditions, create space, direct views or enhance circulation. (folding at different angles controlled by slider, figures 2 and 3). Basically, the rectangles, currently vertically and horizontally at controlled angles. (Functionality for twisting could be explored more deeply. A slider currently controls the twist in the model and is set to 1).

There is a problem with the angle of rotation on this model where each rectangle pivots around a virtual plane (flat rectangle) that sits perpendicular to the intersection of the preceding rectangle. The radius of the pivoting rectangle uses the plane of the virtual rectangle as its base for pivoting. An upper and lower limit is currently hard coded. But, the actual range of rotation should be dynamic according to angle where the previous rectangle sits. Currently, the model has a fixed range which narrows the pivot too much in many cases. But, giving a full 360 degree pivot would allow the rectangle to pivot greater than it should (it would be able to pivot through itself). We may try to limit each second through the last rectangle in the strip to a pivot range of 0 to 359.x pivot.

Reading #5

This weeks reading is:

Kolarevic, Branko, and Kevin R. Klinger. "Manufacturing/Material/Effects." Manufacturing
Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture. New York:
Routledge, 2008. 5-24. Print.

Menges, Achim. "Integral Formation and Materialization: Computational Form and Material
Gestalt." Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in
Architecture. Ed. Branko Kolarevic and Kevin R. Klinger. New York: Routledge,
2008. 195-209. Print.

Honey Clusters

Our system deals with folding and stacking. We found that by folding pieces of paper we were able to create many different hexagon forms. By stacking several hexagon shapes together, we were able to create a larger form resembling a honeycomb. Within this honeycomb structure, we found that the width of each hexagon must be the same in order for them to fit seamlessly, however, the height of the hexagons can vary. As the height of the sides change, the surface of the honey comb undulates, adding an element of momvement to the piece as a whole. Alternatively, separate honeycomb forms can be made to arc and curve differently by changing the widths of the top and bottom of the hexagon used. The difference in the width from the top of the hexagon to the bottom determines the angle at which the honeycomb turns in on itself. We can use these rules to manipulate the honeycomb structures into different undulating forms to suit different programs for the front of Blake Hall. For example, lower bending forms could create seating, while taller structures create walls, rooms, or overhead structures. Every cell in the honeycomb form can have its own characteristic depending on its location. Some could hold vegetation, while others could direct sunlight, provide artificial light, or contain translucent filters to change the color of light in certain areas.

Folding Floorplan

The goal of our design is to create a grand entrance leading into Blake Hall for Rutgers Day. Our system will manipulate the axis of a continuous material with a crease, causing the axis to change. This 2D materical will become dynamic and 3D after its transformation. The transformation responds to current surrounding conditions creating functional uses of space within the creases/folds. For example, if there is a tree in the middle of our "plot" the folds will morph around the tree, adapting the the environment. We hope to create overheads structure and seating out of this contiunous material. The rule of the project is to start with a grad and from there let nature influence design decisions.

Unique Forms of Continuity in Landscape

We are proposing a systematic design that seeks to enhance certain parts of the landscape around Blake. Starting with an initial mold, the tiles will change form when exposed to different landscape features such as something structural (stairs, benches, overhang) or organic (trees, perennials, grass).

From this starting point, there are two possible ways this structure can manifest. Option one would be to implement this system in an space around Blake that is "dead," under utilized, or awkward in order to revitalize it(a place that comes to mind would be the area around the truncated brick paving path). Option two would be to implement the system in an area that will presumeably have high traffic (the space in between the benches).

Depending on which option we will pursue, the function of the design will vary slightly. However, the basic intention of these moldings will be to direct people from Red Oak Lane into Blake Hall, and to create a wider variety of seating and spaces for people to congregate.

Lorraine

The design of the project will create an entrance way from the street and also serve as a gathering space within the structure on the way into Blake Hall. Bent strips of plastic of varying lengths will form an archway. Through theses overlapping strips of plastic the design will reflect different light patterns as the sun moves throughout the day allowing us to design different spaces of passive and active use. Lorraine uses a simple set of construction methods and materials to create a complex dynamic space that could change with each installment. Using a set number of strips (3-5) and a standard framework, we will create space based upon the existing conditions of the site. The strips will be milled 6 inches in width from sheets of ¼ inch (max) plastic. The strips will be dimensioned to produce a zero waste system. Lorraine will create space for gathering and walking through different shades of light. The brighter areas; areas with less overlapping strips, will be for gathering and invite people into them. The darker areas, ones with multiple layers of overlapping, will draw people through the space to the lighter areas. Lorraine will achieve the same aspect at night through lighting. The overlapping arches will invoke a need to move through these spaces where the areas with less overlap will invite people to stay longer.

Contraction Contraption

Contraction Contraption

whats your function?

The function of our design is to direct people into Blake while creating gallery spaces. The system is designed to pull people into the space through a series of forces which will be assigned to points based on decided rules and also dictated by student projects outside and inside of Blake Hall. The system is also designed to serve as a visual representation to the number of people entering and leaving our space.

The system rules are based off a series of points which are decided on spatial locations and physical properties. The entire space will be divided into a grid and each point will be assigned x,y,and z coordinates. Each point will be assigned a force value that attracts or detracts, which will then affect the radius of its correlating curve. Example: If point A is the entrance to our space and the point is located spatially in coordinates 2,4,10 and is given a light force than the curve will have more sag, on the other hand if it is given a stronger force then the curve will tighten. Simultaneously depending on the number of people in the space certain points will control the curve size. This will allow for the curve to shrink and grow.

At this moment the program will consist of direct and indirect affects. Direct affects include gallery space for student projects, a location for the student chapter, and a gathering space with seating. Indirect affects include guiding visitors into Blake Hall and visually representing the number of people in our space through the growth and shrinking of our contraption.

Project Specific Rhino Workshops - Schedule

Tuesday 6-7: Matt, Jason and Nick - "Loraine"
Wednesday 530-630: Hany, Salt and Z - "Contraction Contraption"
Wednesday 630-730: Christine, Erin and Steve - "UFO"
Wednesday 730-830: Ben, Meredith and Bob - "Honey Cluster"
Thursday 8-9: Stacey and David - "Folded Floor"

Material Systems 01

Some photos from our first Material Systems assignment in week 4.

Featured Project: Solar Pavilion 2 & 3

This week's featured project was recommended by Jason. Follow the link to the Situ Studio web page and look at everything, but in particular I suggest spending some time with their Solar Pavilion 2 & 3 projects. 


http://www.situstudio.com/design/index.html#works/


Saltarella, both of these projects use CNC milled plywood. Solar Pavilion 2 also includes some corn starch plastic parts. 

Thanks Jason.

Featured Project: Change-of-State

Again, we have had so much to do in class that I keep forgetting to show you at least one project each meeting.

Here is one to make up for last week, even though last week's lecture included images from many projects.

This project was completed as coursework in the College of Architecture at Georgia Tech for Professor Nader Tehrani. We are looking at the project from the website of Matter Design Studio and Wes McGee - who is now teaching at U. Michigan.

Stacey, the material on this project is polycarbonate.

Enjoy...

http://www.matterdesignstudio.com/projects/a-change-of-state_archive/

Reading #4

This weeks reading is:

Kolarevic, Branko. "Introduction." Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2005. 1-10. Print.

Kolarevic, Branko. "Digital Morphologies." Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2005. 11-28. Print.

Kolarevic, Branko. "Digital Production." Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2005. 29-54. Print.

Kolarevic, Branko. "Information Master Builders." Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2005. 55-62. Print.

Material Explorations

The following is photo documentation of the Material Explorations work from weeks 2 and 3.