RC4
Deep Substance Manuel Jimenez Garcia, Gilles Retsin
Students Zeeshan Ahmed, Maho Akita, Ornruja Boonyasit, Yichao Chen, Wenzhao Gao, Xuan Huang, Nan Jiang, Wei Liu, Syazwan Rusdi, Wonil Son, Yiwei Wang, Xin Wen, Yihuan (Tony) Xie, Kehan Zhang
The Bartlett School of Architecture 2014
Project teams Filamentrics Zeeshan Ahmed, Yichao Chen, Nan Jiang, Yiwei Wang MicroStrata Maho Akita, Ornruja Boonyasit, Syazwan Rusdi, Wonil Son ClayWare Wenzhao Gao, Xuan Huang, Wei Liu WeaveShake Xin Wen, Yihuan Xie, Kehan Zhang Report Tutor: Tom Trevatt Thanks to our critics and consultants: Stefan Bassing, William Bondin, Mario Carpo, Ermis Chalvatzis, Mollie Claypool, Marjan Colletti, Michail Desyllas, Benjamin Dillenburger, Tommaso Franzolini, Soomeen Hahm, John Harding, Xavier De Kestelier, Katya Larina, Guan Lee, Andy Lomas, Tim Lucas, Igor Pantic, Alan Penn, Davide Quayola, Mustafa El Sayed, Peter Scully, Vicente Soler, Theodore Spyropoulos, Rob Stuart-Smith, Sam Welham Special thanks to our field trip lecturers: Bot & Dolly, Mark Burry, Nataly Gattegno and Jason Kelly Johnson, Kreysler & Associates, Andrew Kudless, Greg Lynn and Julia Koerner, Oyler Wu Collaborative, Jonathan Proto & Brandon Kruysman, Jose Sanchez, Sci-Arc, Marcelo Spina 58
With an exponential increase in the possibilities of computation and computercontrolled fabrication, architecture faces a new challenge. As architects, we can design for infinite resolution and density of information, controlling the deposition of millions of material particles. Yet there is a lack of design methodology to harness the full potential of computational power and computercontrolled fabrication. When compared to historic architecture, for example the Gothic, computational experimentation is still not able to successfully generate the same level of fine detail, hierarchy and information density. RC4 researches computational design methodologies for large-scale 3D printing with industrial robots, taking logistical, structural and material constraints as opportunities to generate non-representational architectural spaces with extreme information density. The Cluster investigates the tectonic problems associated with the idea of 3D printing and makes them inherent to the design. Computational models develop as strategies to organise material in space, in response to specific structural and logistical inputs. Computational methodologies are tested on architectural chunks, questioning the spatial effects of the proposed fabrication methodology. Students are asked to situate their research in relation to fundamental structural paradigms and strategies such as space frames, lattices or vaults to then subsequently challenge the existing model. Finally, students are asked to 3D print a three-metre physical chunk model and design a speculative larger scale inhabitable chunk. Gothic Prosthesis During the first term, students were introduced to computational techniques, learning a variety of scripting and modelling tools such as Processing, Grasshopper and Zbrush. This newly acquired knowledge was tested on the design of a ‘gothic prosthesis’, a speculative intervention in a Gothic church were a scripted material organisation had to inherit qualities from the Gothic.
Auflösung A workshop with Benjamin Dillenburger introduced a computational interpretation of gothic ideas of hierarchy and recursion. Thesis Research Research was produced into a variety of large-scale robotic printing methods and design strategies, such as vectorial plastic extrusion and 3D printed sandstone in combination with cast aluminium. Other research investigated ceramics, engaging the material properties of clay. Strategies for printing were translated into computational models which organise complex toolpaths for robots. Prototypical architectural chunks were investigated, ranging from highly differentiated, heterogeneous space frames to finely articulated compressionoptimised domes. Students also successfully constructed their own tools, tweaking the industrial robots to become building-scale 3D printers.