Module 3 Amaya de Silva
583889
Semester 1/2012
Group 7
Module 2 Recap
As a recap from Module, 2, there were many changes that occurred between the two modules. From module 2, only the concept and ideas were kept, and a completely new model and paneling were made. The idea of a splash above and below the water was used however, and incorporated into the paneling. The dispersion of the water as someone dives into water was a main concept in Module 3.
Model Iterations
Final lofted model consist of middle, and two large ends, that constitute for the process of a splash. The large bottom is to illustrate the dispersion of the splash as a diver enters the water and continues that path. And because of this firstly, the clay model was done again. By changing the clay model, the orientation was also changed to be upright rather than lying down to integrate the natural process of a splash. After the Module 2 presentation a few iterations were made to the final model to incorporate the process more. To keep with the theme of a splash, but using the idea of a splash both above and below the surface of the water.
A cage edit was done to extort some of the areas of the model to create a more ragged look. I also wanted to make sure that the model had been transformed in some way to extend the top and bottom of the model to produce an enlargement to the idea of a splash as a process.
Final Model
The model was experimented with quite a lot. And the final paneling ideas came from the natural process of the splash. There are two different types of paneling that is used. This is to emphasize the idea that there Is two processes happening within one process in a splash. Above the water and below the water, there are two different different processes that stem from the same idea. Either above or below the water, there is a larger splash with a different spreading of water. The middle area of the model is to illustrate the surface of the water.
The only problem discovered in the design for this paneling was that there was a very thin area that could be problematic once fabricated. To overcome this, fin edges were used to thicken the joints of both of the two panels. This was aimed to provide stability for the model as well.
Unrolled/tabbed/nested Surfaces
Each of the panels were unrolled and laid out as seen in the Top view. They were each coloured, which corresponds to the colour on the model. The numbers on each of the panels corresponds to numbers on the Fab Lab submission sheet. Where there were similar pieces, care was taken to ensure that each of the colours were different, Grasshopper was used to create tabs on each of the panels. It proved much quicker than manually creating all of the tabs.
Fabrication Process - Initial Steps
One by one, the panels were taken out of the template, using a Stanley knife to cut off some of the area, where it was scored. This proved difficult in some area where the pieces were very thin. The FabLab ripped a few of the thinner pieces, and this was extremely annoying, as it had actually cut through the tabbing. This meant that it was messy when trying to put together, as they had to be glued together as well, causing weakness in the joints. As this piece was already very thin, this was very inconvenient, and I almost thought of redoing that piece.
Prototypes Â
Due to the delicacy of this piece, a prototype was made, just to make sure that it would be strong enough to hold together and not rip easily. I used Poster card that was scaled to the same size. As I cut it myself, there were no issues, but when given to the Fablab, there were some tears. So unfortunately the prototype was useless in this case.
One half prototype was made using the easiest part of the model to assemble, which was the top. I made this using the Poster paper as well and it was mainly to test the lighting. The lighting was quite difficult cause I had no previous knowledge of electronics and didn’t have access to a soldering iron etc. However, using the prototype as a aid, I placed the batteries taped to the led light inside and tested the effects of the back panels on each. By making the prototype, I decide to go ahead with using the four different types of material for the backing of each of the holes in the lantern. This proved a little more difficult in other rats
Fabrication Process - Pre-Construction Â
An order was established, as it resembled the model itself. It was in order of which the panels would sit on top of each other. As more pieces were added, the setting out became more complicated, as there were a few pieces that were very similar.
Fabrication Process - Lighting Â
Acetate Plastic Tracing paper
To test out different lighting paths and lighting effects using different paper and materials, the following materials were used. Acetate allowed the most light through, and as shown in order, the white paper bag let the least light through. I wanted to test the strength of the light I each case as well, and this was clearly evident from the result. The same light was used in each case for consistent results. This determined the order for the back paneling, as discussed below.
White paper bag
Fabrication Process - Back Panels Â
White paper bag
Tracing paper Plastic
From the middle outwards (using acetate as the middle) the idea that a splash is more intense at the point of impact and extends outwards is illustrated in the diagram. This concept is used in the back paneling using the different materials to emphasize this concept.
Acetate Plastic The four materials were divided up and assignment to certain area. This proved difficult in some areas where there were two different types of back paneling, and one single panel. Â
Tracing paper White paper bag
Fabrication Process - Back Panels  Tracing Paper
Paper bag
Acetate Plastic
Each of the four materials were used, cut out individually for each triangle of thpanels, glued on and then the next set of paneling
One of the materials, a plastic, was extremely thick and this meant that it was difficult to cut and stick to the very delicate pieces of Ivory Card.
Fabrication Process - Malfunctions
During the process of the building the structure, a few mishaps occurred. The first mishap was discussed previously with the rip in the panels. The second one occurred when a wrong panel had been coped from the unrolled surfaces to the actual fabrication sheet, by me. This meant that I had to go and redo the single panel myself. This is a very delicate piece and therefore was a little time-consuming. The final and most frustrating mishap was the fact that the planned “way� of joining the two halves together. This did not go to plan and I ended u removing a piece of the paneling. This could have been due to the smallness and the fragility of the pieces being used. This ruined the model completely, and I regret not having a back-up plan. Due to only making this one model, (only having time for one prototype), this problem could not be resolved until another submission was made to the Fablab.
Fabrication Process - Model
Final paneled, model. This could be subject to change depending on the assessment of the quality of the model. This may be treated as a prototype and another model may be made for the final submission, due to a few inconsistencies.
Fabrication Process - Lighting
I had a lot of difficult with the lighting process of the entire Lantern and it was hard to place It somewhere that would not be visible and to also create the effect that I wanted. I also had difficulty because I didn’t have the prior knowledge or supplies to do what the tutorials had asked of me, but hopefully I managed to produce what the criteria needed. I wanted to create the effect that as light disperses it will get thinner and hence I used the material that let the most light through at the middle to reiterate the idea that the most impact happened in the middle of the splash and goes outwards, both above and below the surface of the water. The led lights were of two different types to create two different temperatures of lighting for each side of the splash. The lights were a little difficult to take in and out of the model, so it is put inside only when needed, using a cable.
Precedents
Buddhist Vesak Lanterns
Vesak Is a Buddhist festival that celebrates the birthday of Buddha. It is the birth, enlightenment and passing way of Buddha all in one, which occurred this year last Saturday. The Vesak lanterns are of particular significance as it symbolizes the wisdom of Buddha. I found this of particular significance to my model because of the different types and thicknesses of the back paneling that I used. The different effects that specific lights have on the same material, depending on the thickness was quite interesting.
In the photo on the left, there are completely different temperatures of light coming through the paper, as the different thicknesses are tested. The delicacy of the material allows these beautiful colours to come through.
Precedents Louvre Abu Dhabi
C4 Façade This façade created by Niento Sobejano was made in Spain to integrate low resolution light and media façade a the same time. This idea of a dispersion of light is what I mainly looked at here. The spreading of the many different lights from one single origin is something I attempted to incorporate with the lights in m model but it roved somewhat difficult. The specific brightness’s of the light from each hole is also something I used in my idea that the splash get smaller future away from the impact point. The Louvre in Abu Dhabi has a domed roof that allows light to enter the building to create an internal environment. This was made with façade engineers and this idea of letting the light in when it is too hot or not economical to use lights. In the deserts of the Middle East, where cool indoors are welcomes, natural light is not hard to come by and this design by engineers, architects and the like, is more of a cultural thing, than anything else. I found this extremely interesting as it address a few of the ideas explored in my model. The idea that 3D paneling is too complicated and using simple 2D paneling to create effects that are simple yet momentous is a key idea. The way the light falls is also very noteworthy, as the larger panels obviously let in more light than the smaller panels. http://www.burohappold.com/about-us/how-wecollaborate/lighting-and-facades-a-natural-pairing/
http://www.enlightermagazine.com/projects/c4realitiesunited
Critical Analysis/ Reflection
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In this Module, there were many significantly problematic yet solvable reflections and conclusions that can be drawn. The first can be that the idea from Module 2 were very much needed, as I need to redo my entire model again, to ensure that I kept to the process and hopefully I did this time. By defining that the idea for my natural process was a dive by a diver that disperses into the water and takes the splash with them as they travel, allowed me to explore the geometrics of a splash even further to come up with the final design of the model. The prototypes that were made were useful in some ways and not useful in others I the way they were not exactly the same as what I had finally modeled and I prototyped sometimes the wrong thing. More care should have been taken to pick the sides of the model that I was going to prototype to ensure that it would actually aid me in the final model. The Fablab submission went to plan, until the submission actually took place, as it took a lot longer than I had anticipated for the submission to be completed. This meant that it proved very difficult to move on with any of the prototype. There were many things that could have been learnt from this last Module. It allowed me to really think about the lighting and the effect that lighting and different material scan play in the lanterns effect. I hopefully achieved some of what I was hoping for by the end of the Module 4 submission. The idea that mathematics and evolution and computer generated things can influence the way we live is something that I learned quite a lot over the last few weeks. Paul Loh’s idea that the inside and outside can be put together to create something that is so intricate, yet o simple inspired me to do most of the things I did in this Module. Evolution is also an idea that can be discussed within all of our processes, as each natural process is an evolution of some kind. The precedents and the lectures provided me with the perfect starting point for the constructing and fabrication of the model.