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Part B Design Criteria

Studio Air Semester One 2015

Yichao Andy Li 584879

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B.1. Research Field - Tessellation

Understanding Tessellation may be understood as a method of generating planes that consist sets of homogenous base modules; arranged collective into layouts that produce heterogeneous properties and values. The differentiation between the base modules could be influenced by structural requirements as well as the demand of other performance specifications. From the examples provided by the course and other research, there appears to be a popularity towards the Delaunay and Voronoi tessellation.

Voronoi TessellationVoronoi calculation considers the space into a spread of points, and an area is generated by creating boundaries or cell around a point where the distance towards this point is closer than towards any other points (Fedrick). Voronoi fills up the entire space with such polygons or surfaces. The production of these polygons and surfaces are pre-determined by the way which the points are spread through the space. The higher the minimum exclusion distance given to the points of the region will produce more regulated Voronoi tessellations (H.X.Zhu).

Delaunay TessellationThe Delaunay tessellation is the process of joining all the adjacent points that would share the same edge in a Voronoi tessellation. In general cases, these planar surfaces generated by Delaunay tessel-lation are in default triangular.

FabricationThrough research many of the tessellation projects involved light weight materials. Some of these materials such as steel and wooden panels can be quite conveniently fabricated through laser cutting. Fabrications are relatively less com-plicated in terms that it is a process of making duplicated elements of the same set ups. However, after fabrication the base modules need to be set up and connected individually, involving a considerable amount of effort and delicacy.

InterestMy first experience with tessellation was actually unnoticed at the time. I created a structure using three types of triangles which connected through tabs to form a continuous shell structure, all manually by hand at the time. After the introduc-tion of what tessellation is and how it could be generated through algorithmic designing, I wanted to further explore the field of tessellation. Tessellation seems a great way to produce exoskeleton envelopes and facades. It is one of the most important design aspects that effects thermal performance of buildings, as well as the overall aesthetics.

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Dragon Skin - P. Tynkkynen, K. Crolla, S. Delargrange

Fabricating the same panel modules, but rolled to an different extent in relation to the placements on the arch. Dragon Skin Project

Stalac Tile - Students of Washington UniversityTessellation involving 6 modules of tiles, organised as a ceiling structure laid out with gradient in elevation

Discovering Examples...

Guangzhou Opera House - Zaha Hadid ArchitectsTriangular glass-fibre reinforced gypsum modules on both exterior and interior facade

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B2. Case Study 1.0

IT ERATIONS

S P E C I E S

Taking out large panels of surfaces Random patterns of anchor points Deforming line lengths

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Delaunay triangulated columns Domes instead of Columns Triangulated surface panels Excessing the number of panels

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Speculation

Pattern Listing Anchor Points

Deformation through line lengths

Delaunay column formation

Triangulating surface panels

When patterning anchor points through listing, it gains overall control and flexibility of the formal outcome. It can be used to shape the result-ing form and produce non-linear free floating resemblance.

Line length influences how extrusive or restrained each panel edges are. It is useful to demonstrate a sense of calm and peace or dynamism and energy through forms.

Instead of using voronoi columns, delaunay triangulations can produce a different type of column expression. How column centres (points) are patterned in relation to each other would lead to different column formal expressions.

Breaking away from the default of four-point panel surfaces. A triangu-lation of surface panels illustrates a simpler but interesting patterned way of breaking down a large surface into smaller panels. Eventually more interesting shapes could be produced.

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B3. Case Study 2.0

Cellular Tessellation Pavilion - Bond University

This pavilion was developed and assembled by the Bond University’s Architecture department involving students and teachers. It was designed for Sydney’s Vivid Light Festival.

The pavilion’s geometry is based on Voronoi cells created by a sphere packing technique over the general pavilion form. The cells boarders are optimised and projected onto curved plane, and offsetting those boarders to form 3D cells.

The structure is made of 380 individual cells, each of the cells allow the surface skin to curve in different directions to accom-modate the overall external skin of the pavilion. Alucobond were used to make the cell walls and HDPE plastic for the skin.

Cells are bolted together with plywood spacers involving ab-solute precision. There were 1200 individually shaped pieces and 3000 bolts.

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Reverse Engineering Case Study 2.0

Creating Voronoi cells based on an pavilion form

Obtaining boarder frame for cells

Trimming the 3D voronoi components to the surface

Creating plane surfaces with the boarders

Using the boarders as a base and creat-ing the closest set of planar curves and planes

Offset the panels

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Obtaining a second layer of skin

Offset the panels

Getting the 3D surfaces between panels

Final adjustments of skins

Creating a surface connection between the edges of each corresponding panel

Overlaying the edges of the top panels as exterior skin. Moving the interior pan-els within the connection surfaces

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Scripting Flow-Chart

Curves LoftPopulate Geometry

Voronoi 3D

Brep|Brep Control Points

Polylines Pull Points

Pull PointsPolylines

Boundary Surfaces

Boundary Surfaces

Loft

Polylines

Polylines

A simplified demonstration of initial reverse engineering technique. Kangaroo physics is later on incorporated to resolve a few issues with this technique in terms of planarity.

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B4. Technical Development

Technical Variations

ITERATION S

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Speculations

Patterning Surface

Piping between connection surfaces

Form Finding with simulation

Using contours on surface panels

Patterning the surfaces can create specific functions in different pan-els. A collective layout of patterned panels can act as an individual section of the whole structure to achieve a certain performative purpose.

Piping can be used as a structural skeleton for the overall structure or for connections between panels. The uniquely connected pipes can have an interesting skeletal effect.

The overall form can be more specifically controlled through Kanga-roo simulations, giving flexibility to alternate the structure into a more desirable typology.

Using the contours of the surface panels and extracting certain points and lines from it to generate add-on structures to the base structure, can provide sheltering, patterning the panels to increase functionality of the structure.

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B5. Technique: Prototype

Designing Brief/Agenda: Generate a structure that corresponds to the landscape, providing shelter and interac-tive areas for the general population in selected site. The structure is to be operable 24/7.

Material Explorations

PlywoodPlywood sheets are easy to fabricate. It can be easily bolt fixed as flat panels but can only be glued on its edges because its thin edges are prone to splitting. It is a material that generates a relatively organic representation if used as panels.

High-Density Polyethylene HDPE sheets are very chemically and impact resistant. It is a good outdoor material to use in terms of durability and strength. It is also weldable making it easy to embrace thin connection panels. When used with LED lighting it can also glow in darkness, lit up spaces.

Tempered Glass Tempered glass is physical strong to withstand human weight, it can be used as a structurally functional panel where people can walk or sit on. It can also increase transparency across the building, increasing the visibility across the structure.

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Prototypes

Prototype OneThis model focuses on the typology of the cells intended to be used. The cells are generated from using Voronois. Using timber as the bottom panels and HDPE as top panels and in-between connec-tion surfaces. The combination of materials intends to incorporated organic natural experiences with plastic cells that can be lit up by LEDs to reveal itself as an colorful energetic structure that can be recognised after sunset. In terms of connection between cells, it is a still a challenge as with the current technique the connection panels are not parallel to each other.

Prototype Two Comparatively this prototype is more successful in terms of connec-tions, as tabs are made to connect panels. The tabs itself can also be used to anchor the structure to the ground, presenting itself as a continuous structure that floats over an area. Plywood panels can be used in conjunction with HDPE panels as well as glass panels to add transparency to the structure.

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Fabrication Methods

Creating Tabs

Unrolling panels with connection surfaces

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B6. Technique Proposal

Potential Site Selection

A curved hill in an area with good population density and direct view to Melbourne CBD high-rise buildings

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A pavilion that to provide interactive areas both above and underneath

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The overall form of the structure is found using kangaroo physics, specifying a selected list of anchor from a random population of points on the site morph. The panel typology is based on geometric boarders created utilising points populated over the area; currently being voronoi cells but subject to changes. The simulated outcome results in polylines outlining the overall structure form. Extracting the polylines and creating planar surfaces which resembles the original voronoi cell appearance. The surfaces are then transformed to form three-dimensional cells. The current proposal is important in showing the general concept applicable to a designated area. Nonetheless, the functionality of the pavilion would be enhanced in different parts of the pavilion to respond to acoustic, scenic and other performative parametres accordingly later on. The shown proposal did not incorporate tab connections as demonstrated in prototype two. Current cellular formation technique produces adjacent tabs that are not parallel in direction, which is still to be optimised.

Technic Summary & Speculation

Overall Visual Effect

Top Area Perspective view Bottom Area Perspective view

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B7. Learning Outcomes

Computational design skills had developed quite significantly over the past couple of weeks. Through stages of excessive technical variations, a better understanding of essential scripting logic in grass-hopper have started developing. Materials from reading were also considered whilst trying to experi-ment on different techniques, especially in variations of forms and typology. However, so far experi-mentations for this particular section had been quite limited to using kangaroo physics, delaunay and voronoi triangulations, other typologies should be attempted. Besides the tasks set within the course, a general perception to computational designed projects have grown, and engagement trying to un-derstand how things may be put together both computational and physically are actively considered occasionally.

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B8. Algorithmic Sketches

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