DD M2 journal

Digital Design - Module 02 Semester 1, 2019 Ziyun Guo

962735 Joel Collins + Studio 21

Critical Reading: Kolerevic B. 2003. Architecture in the Digital Age

Kolerevic described three fundamental types of fabrication techniques in the reading. Outline the three techniques and discuss the potential of Computer Numeric Controlled fabrication with parametric modelling. (150 words max)

Kolerevic described three fundamental types of fabrication techniques, which are subtractive fabrication, additive fabrication and formative fabrication. Subtractive fabrication removes a specified volume of material from solids, using electro-, chemically, or mechanically reductive processes. Additive fabrication involves incremental forming by adding material in a layer-by-layer fashion. Formative fabrication is to reshape and deform by mechanical forces, restricting forces, heat or stream.

Parametric modelling allows complex geometries and production of non-developable and double curved surfaces although at a higher cost, for example, CNC-milled molds and CNC driven pin-beds.

For Bernard Cache, Computer Numeric Controlled fabrication is the modification of parametric design. It is often random and allows manufacture of different shapes in the same series. It helps with the mass costomization.

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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE

Surface Creation

Panels generator

Line selector

Choose edge

Choose point on edge

Surface generator Box generation Dispatch surfaces to use different breps on on surface.

Use point attractors to Change the size of grids

adjust offset points

The process of making surfaces includes making a cube, generating surfaces and creating panels on the surfaces. Surfaces are generated by lofting two lines, which created by points from the sides of the cube. Then the grids on the surfaces are offset and point attracted to form a trend. 2d and 3d geometries are created and imported as breps in the script. Heights of geometries and sizes of grids can also be varified and contributed to the design concept. Finally, through the morph 3d concept, the panelled surfaces are generated. In addition, the surface can be seperated to put different breps on by using ‘dispatch’ command.

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Design 1

Design 2

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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE

Surface Creation

I tried to fit the panels with the surfaces and show a trend along the curve with similar geometries or same geometries of different sizes.

In design1, I tried to use simple 3d geometries and 2d panels with different sizes of openings to show the concept of tearing. Large openings on one side allow more nature light to come in.

In design2, I created openings on 3d geometries and varify the sizes of grids and heights of panels. It may create a variation of light in number of beams and sizes.

In design3,  two curved surfaces make the middle interior space wide and tall. The entrance is thinner at the bottom and wider at the top, while the exit is wider at the bottom and thinner at the top. They together creates an interesting threshold.

Design 3

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Isometric View

The panels on the left surface show a trend along the surface, which are shorter at the bottom and taller and more sloping towards the top.

The panels on the right surface show an idea of tearing. As a result, the 3d panles are all sloping towards the middle and the 2d panels in the middle of the surface has larger openings in the centre.

The waffle structure shows the volume of interior space of the pavilion. It is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. The shapes of z contours transfer from quadrangle shape to triangle shape. The curving x fins show the rise and fall of the surfaces.

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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE

Laser Cutting

The process of creating a laser cut file includes adding taps to the unrolled panels and seperate lines to the ‘cut’ layer and ‘etch’ layer.

Cut layer is for the outlines of unrolled 3d panels and trimed 2d geometries. Etch layer is for the folded lines.

The laser cutting machine only cut half of the paper thickness. If a line is to be folded in another direction, dashed lines are used, so that it can be folded on both sides.

In addition, where the two lines are actually the same length and will be sticked together, only one tab is needed, Otherwise, it may be too thick.

What’s more, if the angle of the panel surfaces is small, the angle of the tabs should be smaller as well, otherwise the tabs cannot be hided inthe panels.

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In taskA matrix, I tried to use points attractors and line attractors to rearrange the offset grids from the originals surfaces. For the geometries, I tried to use 2d panels at first, and then more numbers of 3d panles and finally 2d shapes on 3d panles.

The variable parameters are different edges on the cube, different points on that edge, different position of attracting points or lines, offset distance, and different choice of geometries.

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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE

Matrix and Possibilities

Less panels on the top, which allows more natural light to come in.

The pyramids are leaning towards the openings in the middle, which allow people inside the pavilion to see the outside structure.

The roof is higher and higher as people walk in, and creates a nice threshold. The high interior space suggests large volume of occupation.

The Pyramids are attracted by the point on the top, which creates a sense of growing.

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SURFACE AND WAFFLE STRUCTURE

Photography of Model

The shadow created by the pyramid geometries interests me most. Because the pyramids are extremely leaning towards one direction, they always cast shadows on the geometries beside them. The curve of the surface are represent by the panels and emphasized by the shadows at the same time. In addition, the shape of the model is totally different from different view. If we rotate the model anticlockwise according to the curve shape, we can see the transition of the panel shapes. On the right panelled surface of the left picture, we can see a growing trend of the pyramids. They gradually become taller and more inclined when they are close to the top. However, we can see a contrast between 2d panels and 3d panels on the other panelled surface.

2d panels with large openings are put in the middle of the extremely inclined pyramids, which creates a visual impact.

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Visual Scripting of Parametric Model

The process includes listing the grids on the surfaces of the cube, using point attractors to adjust them, creating geometries on the centroids and finally boolean them with a 50x50 cube. In addition, the radius of the geometries can also be adjusted according to the distances between a certain point by ‘remap number’ command.

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SOLID AND VOID

Surface Creation

After booleaning, solids and voids can be captured from the small cubes. Natural light can come through the pavilion if the boolean geometries are cutting through the cube. The void spaces have different depth and volume due to varied boolean geometries. Solid parts cast interesting shadow on pavilion.

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Semi-open and isolated space

Lifted roof makes the structure look lighter.

Openings allow natural light to come through

Continuous space of different depth and sizes. Solid leaning walls divide inclined void space and create interesting

Outside open space with different heights of roof.

threshold

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SOLID AND VOID

Isometric view

The boolean geometries are the assembled rectangles. The widths arethe same, while the lengths are defined by the distance with an attracting point. The rectangles are then rotated according to different planes and joined to boolean with.

Certain part is chosen for further develop because it shows voids and solids. Depth can be seen and different void geometries create interesting threshold. The solids parts cast interesting shadows. DIfferent shapes, sizes and depths of openings allow various beams of light to come through.

This space can be a parkour space, because it has many sloping grounds at different degrees, different heights of ceilings as well as leaning walls. Some spaces are connected and some are isolated and creates sense of privacy.

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Task B Matrix I choose 3.2 to further develop. I tried to rotate the cubes in different direction to make them intersecting and make larger continuous space and create different threshold.

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Design1

Design2

In design1, the structure has a large cantilever. It makes the whole structure looks light. The curve underneath suggest large volume of space. There are two curved benches under the cantilever, which can be good places to chat and rest.

In design 2, there are many holes and layers. All the openings are facing a corner of the structure. As a result, it can be a lecture room or a theatre.

Design 3 can be a small meeting room, because it is a semi-closed space. The roof always cast shadow underneath, The two circle openings can frame beautiful view outside.

Design3

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SOLID AND VOID

Photography of Model The booleaned geometries are intersecting rotated cuboids, so different depths of space can be seen in the structure. The middle interior deep space is dark and creates a sense of mystery and interesting threshold. The spaces near the sides of the structures have large openings, which facilitates the interior lighting.

All the spaces, except for the small cubic space on the top left part of the bottom right picture, are connected with each other. It looks like that there is a big world in the structure.

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Appendix

Process

Fins

Trim fins

Laser cutting set up

x contour

z contour

Waffle generating process

Panel unrolling process Divide panels to different layers and apply different color.

Unroll them seperately on certain layers. Label the panel number on the laser cut sheet.

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Appendix Process

Surface design I further developed design2, because the two surfaces suggest tall and wide interior space and create interesting threshold.

Design3

Design4

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Appendix

Concept

Panelled surface generating idea The whole pavilion can be a monumental space, for example the war memorial.

I want to create a feeling that a wound is being teared and I tried to make contrast between 2d and 3d panels. The 2d panels with openings represent the wound. The horizontal lines on them follow the direction of tearing force, which is like that the thin skin is still connecting. The surrounding pannels are dense and leaning towards the opening, which represents the teared skin. The only opengings for this pavilion is the light from the ‘wound’ and little gap from the ceiling.

As a result, people may feel solemn when they come in and attracted by the view outside. They may cherish the world seen through the window framed by the outline of the leaning pyramids.

The other surface is like a wing with feather, which represents peace. It has a trend that the ‘feather’ is growing towards the top, which makes the whole pavilion look light.

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Appendix Photos

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Appendix

Photos

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Appendix Photos

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Appendix

Pysical model making

Laser cutting board

Use clips to fix the sticky

After making a row of mod-

place after applying glue

els, stick them together

A panelled surface is

Assembled waffle

Sticking 2d panels to

completed

structure

3d panels

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Appendix Process

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Appendix

Process

Makerbot 3D print First export the stl file seperately and put them on one plate. Add supporters. Orient them to make lesser supporters used. Change the support angle to 20 degree and support density to 20%. The estimated time is totally 9.5 hours.

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Appendix Scale 1:200

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Appendix Scale 1:50

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Appendix

Circulation and threshold

Circulation Possible occupation Circulation