September 18, 2009 School of Architecture College of Architecture Arts and Humanities Clemson University ARCH 251 L – Architectural Foundations I Fall 2009, all sections
Interpretation part 3_ threshold Due on Monday at the beginning of class
[re]generative landscapes B. Constructing threshold: Create a mesh in Sketchup using the ‘from scratch’ sandbox tool. The mesh dimensions will be 32’ x 32’ and have a 1’ grid spacing. Import each image and place on separate layers.
The gradient of grayscale values in your images will dictate the height of the corresponding mesh quadrants. The maximum range for your height field is +/-4’. This means (if an image contains both solid black and white squares) you will have an 8’ range in your landscape from top to bottom. To accurately check the value of a particular square, use the ‘Info’ dialog box in Photoshop. The % of black for any given pixel is indicated by the ‘K’ value. 100% = pure black (raise mesh +4’) and 0% = pure white (lower mesh -4’). 50% gray, for example, would indicate no change in elevation.
‘Twist’
‘Ripple’
‘Shear’
C. Investigating threshold: Your three meshes each represent information captured from your action-space foil diagrams. Now explore the relationship between your diagrams by combining them into sets. By simple permutation, you have three possible combinations to explore: Diagram 1 + Diagram 2 Diagram 2 + Diagram 3 Diagram 1 + Diagram 3 Combine diagrams by overlaying them in the same 32’ field from the last exercise. Select both sets and use the ‘intersect’ tool in sketchup (edit>intersect>intersect with selected only) to trace the overlapping parts.
‘Ripple-Shear’ overlay
‘Ripple-Shear’ overlay (plan view)
Now delete all overlapping parts to reveal the intersections, diagrammatic thresholds between a pairing of actions. Stitch together the ends to complete the solid with the ‘line’ tool.
‘Ripple-Shear’ threshold model
Section through ‘Ripple-Shear’ threshold model