Princess Fwy Western Gateway - Studio Air

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ABPL30048 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO_ // AIR

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The goal of the project as outlined in the expression of interest document issued by the City of Wyndham is to create an exciting, eye catching installation to act as gateway into the municipality for city-bound traffic on the Princess Freeway.

It is to inspire and enrich the municipality, contributing to the on-going undertaking to upgrade the condition and aesthetics its streetscapes, open spaces and parks.

Other key goals/traits identified within the EOI documents which the proposed intervention must achieve/display include:

// Iconic feature; create a focal point of iconic scale to the point of becoming a new identifier for the municipality.// Have presences and encourage a sense of pride within the local community.// Original and engaging in form; propose new, inspiring and brave ideas.// Consideration of how the installation integrates with and/or sits in the immediate and surrounding landscape.// To enhance the physical environment through the introduction of a visual arts component - encouraging ongoing interest in the Western Interchange by encouraging further reflection about the installation beyond a first glance.

Key considerations to take into consideration during the design process include:

// The topography of the area; the site is very flat offering high level of visibility to the intervention.// The size of the site; the area is large and open - this should be considered when determining scale.// Being situated about a freeway, the users are travelling at a high speed - the intervention must be able to communicate with its audience.// The intervention must take into consideration its surroundings; an imposing service centre and its associated signage.// Daytime and night time viewing.// Adherence to the regulations imposed by VicRoads in relation to siting, view lines, setbacks, materials, colours, etc.

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“WORKS OF ARCHITECTURE FRAME OUR LIVES; WE INHABIT THEM; THEY DEFINE MOVEMENT THROUGH CITIES; THEY MORALISE AND DISCIPLINE, OR ATTEMPT TO.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL MEANS BY WHICH THE PUBLIC REALM IS MATERIALLY REPRESENTED AND FOR THAT REASON, THEY ARE OF HUGE SOCIAL IMPORTANCE.”

- RICHARD WILLIAMS

ABPL30048 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDGATEWAY PROJECT_ // OUTLINE

WYNDHAM CITY

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week 1_EOI: Case for Innovation:Architecture as a DiscourseDIO // AIR

ORIENTE STATIONLOCATION// Lisbon // PortugalCLIENT// City of LisbonARCHITECTS// Santiago Calatrava // SANTIAGO CALATRAVA LLCYEAR OF COMPLETION// 1998

PROJECT OUTLINEConstructed in 1998, the Oriente Station in Lisbon, Portugal act as a major hub for a number of connecting modes of transport; buses, long-haul trains, taxis and the underground rail system. The structure consists of three self-contained elements using a palette of materials including the extensive use of raw concrete, glass and steel.

The roof structure providing shelter to the upper-storey rail platforms consists of a twenty-five metre high, steel and glass folded canopy which is reminiscent of the interconnecting fronds of palm trees in dense groves. The glass elements within the canopy allow sunlight to pass through the structure projecting shadows into the space below; in contrast, the lower level is dominated by an ornate system of concrete arches. The mass of the arches communicates a sense of strength, reliability and comfort, much like a natural cave structure.

RELEVENCE TO THE GATEWAY PROJECTThe interest in the structure and relationship with the gateway project stems from how the architect (Santiago Calatrava) uses the structural elements as ornamentation to such an extent that they are the main driver of the emotional responses to the spaces within. This approach is efficient in that resolves the structural requirements whilst providing a level of ornamentation – an excellent example of how hard-engineering components can be things of beauty.

From this, it is proposed one of the characteristics of the gateway intervention is a level of aesthetic beauty through a self-supporting structure – it is hoped that by putting the structural members and their associated connections on-show, the intervention will have a sense of simplicity/efficiency.

That is not to say that the structure is to be basic in its configuration or form, rather an elegant use of materials. It is felt that this is of importance as motorists travelling at speed along the Princess Freeway have a very limited window of opportunity to take in the intervention; the thought is that if the structure is clean and simple it will allow its audience to absorb it quickly without getting distracted by (possibly) unnecessary decoration.

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ABPL30048 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDWhen analysing the project’s concept, the goals outlined within the EOI must act as the backbone to the decision-making process. The following themes or goals were deemed to be critical to effectively respond to Wyndham City’s brief:

1 To connect with the on-going aim of upgrading the condition and aesthetics of the region’s streetscapes, open spaces and parks – using the ‘Seeds of Change’ project as a point of reference it is proposed the gateway project intervention tie back to flora or fauna which is indigenous to the region.

Research of flora and fauna of the region resulted in the selection of the ‘little whip’ snake as a basis for the proposed intervention – the rounded organic form of a snake coupled with the patterning of its scales point towards a self-supporting cellular structure which parametric modelling is well suited to produce.

This idea feeds back into the example of parametric modelling on the following page (Esplanade Theatre) in which the durian fruit acts as the initial point of inspiration. The concept of biomimicry generally refers to the application of solutions to mechanical/artificial problems via observations (and analysis) of how similar problems are solved within nature, but the term can also be extended to using nature or natural forms as a basis within design – within this document the term ‘biomimicry’ will be referring to the latter.

The fact that the intervention is to be based on an indigenous species of snake reinforces the idea that the structure not only belongs to the region but it is the intention of the concept to instil a sense of pride and ownership in the local community.

At this point it is worth noting the following extract from Wyndham City’s EOI document:

“The installation need not be literal or didactic in its references, as it may capture a more abstract, aspirational

intent and feeling. However, it should aim to be accessible to a wide public and should

explore place-making aspects and qualities.”

From this, it is obvious that a concept which aims to deliver a literal representation of a snake would be going directly against Wyndham City’s vision for the space - as such (and the fact that a giant snake next to the freeway would be both conceptually banal and very tacky) it is strongly noted that the form of a little whip snake is merely a springboard for inspiration of a modern and abstract form.

GATEWAY PROJECT_ // CONCEPT

Little Whip Snake & Scale Pattern[Indigenous Fauna to Wyndham]

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PROCESS OF DISCOVERY, WHICH GENERATES INSIGHTS INTO THE PROBLEM THAT WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY KNOWN.

THE MAIN SKILLS EMPLOYED BY DESIGNERS FOLLOWING THIS PARADIGN ARE, THEREFORE, SYNETHIC - THE ABILITY TO COMPOSE GIVEN PARTS INTO NEW, UNIQUE WHOLES”

- YEHUDA E. KALAY

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ESPLANADE THEATRE_LOCATION// SingaporeAREA// 80,500 sqm.CLIENT// Ministry of Information, Communication & The ArtsARCHITECTS// Michael Wilford & Partners // DP Architects Pte LtdYEAR OF COMPLETION// 2002

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1_ Photo of one of the ‘durian’ inspired shell // http://yaymicro.com/stock-image/esplanade--singapore-opera-and-concert-hall-at-dusk/5033172_ Rough sketch of a durian fruit - the spikey exterior acting to protect the soft inner flesh.3_ Simple 3d render of the surface of a durian fruit // http://wofflings.wofflehouse.com/?cat=4&paged=84_ Close-up of the spikey outer shell of the Esplanade Theatre // http://www.juice.ph/writesomejuice/en-tries/show?eid=1481

PROJECT OUTLINEAlthough the overall composition of the Esplanade Theatre may not seem that exciting, the function and source of inspiration for the spikey outer shell of the structure is quite interesting. The shell comprises of a large number of folding, triangular louvers (manufactured from aluminium) which gradually transform in shape and orientation depending on the time of day - tracking the suns angle and position in order to keep the internal structure as cool as possible. The complex geometry of the shell and it’s function as a climate control mechanism were modelled via parametric design - the suns path was used as a model input from which the triangular louver’s optimal action was calculated.

In relation to the natural form which inspired the design; the architect’s description of a durian fruit “the thorny durian exterior protects interior flesh and seeds from predators... Seeds are safe on the inside as individual units.” seems quite fitting as a basis to use the fruit’s natural form for the exterior shell of a building.

RELEVENCE TO THE GATEWAY PROJECTThe key points of interest in the Esplanade Theatre project are the use of a set geometry, patterned across the building’s structure, its apparent simplicity and the use of natural forms as a point of inspiration (biomimicry).

One of the design intents of the gateway project was identified as creating a connection between the proposed intervention and its location by representing (an abstraction of) flora or fauna which are indigenous to the region.

EOI: Case for Innovation:Computation in Architectureweek 2_DIO // AIR

Therefore, the use of patterning was identified as relevant to the gateway project as the creation of a structure which has a sense of uniformity was attractive, particularly as the initial design interest revolved around the concept of biomimicry.

With the use of a geometric pattern it is possible to replicate a gamut of textures and aesthetic properties which exist within the natural environment; from analysing naturally occurring structures at a cellular level to the hides of large mammals like elephants.

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2 To produce a structure which is exciting, engaging and inspiring yet have a high level of simplicity – as the users are travelling at high speed it is important to be able to communicate with them efficiently and effectively.

Simplicity in form was deemed to have a high-degree of importance for a number of reasons; firstly (as previously stated) the intervention must communicate with its audience with a high degree of efficiency has they will be passing it at high speed.

Secondly, the ease, and associated minimisation of cost of fabrication of the structure was seen as an important aspect of the design, although the budget described in the EOI document does not pertain to this project it was felt that costs should at least be considered.

Finally, as the project was undertaken by an individual (rather than a group) it was necessary to produce a concept which entailed a work-flow which was manageable for one person – rather than produce a highly ornate intervention which would be impossible to refine/produce within the time constraints, an approach which gravitated towards simplicity had to be adopted.

3 The intervention is to span across more than one of the three possible sites outlined in the project brief; namely locations A and B.

The intention is to create a stronger connection between the proposed intervention and its surrounds - by utilising location B there is the opportunity to create a link between the service centre and the gateway structure.

ABPL30048 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDGATEWAY PROJECT_ // CONCEPT

SERVICECENTRE

SITE ASITE A

SITE BSITE B

SITE CSITE C

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“THE DIFFICULTY AND UNRELIABILITY OF THE DESIGN PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SETTING GOALS/CONSTRAINTS AND DEVISING POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF IRRITATION - AND DELIGHT - TO ARCHITECTS FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF MILLENIA”

- YEHUDA E. KALAY

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AQUA BUILDING_LOCATION// Chicago // USACLIENT// Magellan Development LLCARCHITECTS// Studio Gang & AssociatesYEAR OF COMPLETION// 2010

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1_ Snap-shot of the undulating façade // http://www.fotopedia.com/items/flickr-40560329592_ Breakdown of the building’s form // http://www.studiogang.net/work/2004/aqua3_ A series of images depicting the conceptual design stage // http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Sl3r26HUBRE

PROJECT OUTLINEThe Aqua building could have easily been designed as another generic tower housing offices, a hotel and residential dwellings and not look out-of-place within the Chicago cityscape. Instead the architects adopted a form which waxes and wanes along the vertical length of the building, constructed using concrete, each floor of the building is slightly different creating cross-sections which (when taken as a total form) give the building its unique shape.

The building’s form has been described as waves or ripples across water or topography which has been translated from a lateral to a vertical plane.

Parametric modelling was applied to the building via a number of different avenues, mainly through responding to a number of different sources of data such as the path of the sun in relation to surrounding buildings, points of view which are of interest, etc.

The aim of the non-uniform shape of the tower was two-fold:

1 To offer glimpses of the building from locations at street-level via the strategic placement of the ‘bludging’ elements of the building’s structure.

2 To provide key views of the surrounding cityscape and Lake Michigan to the users the building – as the building’s main functions are of a domestic nature, these views are considered an asset with regards to the liveability of what is essentially a high-rise tower.

RELEVENCE TO THE GATEWAY PROJECTThe Aqua building contributes to the design process via its parametric nature - the method applied to create a building based on a number of data inputs which results in a form which performs specific tasks. Within the gateway project these tasks could include manipulation of shadows/play of light, the orientation of the proposed intervention with regards to both in-and-outbound traffic, etc.

In addition, the project makes a contribution to the gateway project through the simplicity of construction/fabrication – the cross-sectional composition meant that it could be constructed using standard methods (pouring the concrete slabs into rudimentary formwork) – this simplicity can be directly translated to model fabrication of the gateway.

architecture as a discourse EOI: Case for Innovation:Computation in Architectureweek 2_DIO // AIR

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4 The intervention must sit well within the surroundings of the site; taking into consideration the large service centre adjacent and the site topography, to be of sufficient scale to be in context with the site and be clearly visible by passing motorists.

It is proposed the structure consists of two tubular sections which are situated on two of the three possible locations on the site (locations A and B) and are of scale sufficient to complete with the adjacent service centre and be clearly visible by users of the freeway.

As per the Flux Installation outlined on the following page, it is proposed the interven-tion swells and contracts along the lateral axis whilst climbing and falling on the vertical axis.

The distinction between the two elements comes from the tubular form expanding or exploding towards the northern end of location B - being the largest section of the structure and the closest in proximity to the service centre, it is hoped that it helps frame the intervention.

The decision behind the expanding end-point being came from the concept of funnelling the immense scale of the service centre down to the narrow, elongated structure of the intervention, it is also an abstract representation of the snake dislocating its jaw to swallow the service centre.


CONCEPTUAL FORM OF STRUCTURE //LOCATION A

CONCEPTUAL FORM OF STRUCTURE //LOCATION B

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“WE PURSURE THE PARAMETRIC DESIGN PARADIGM ALL THE WAY, PENETRATING INTO ALL CORNERS OF THE DISCIPLINE.

SYSTEMATIC, ADAPTIVE VARIANT, CONTINUOUS DIFFERENTIATION, AND THE DYNAMIC, PARAMETRIC FIGURATION CONCERNS ALL DESIGN TASKS FROM URBANISM TO THE LEVEL OF TECTONIC DETAIL, INTERIOR FURNISHINGS AND THE WORLD OF PRODUCTS.”

- PATRIK SCHUMACHER

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THE FLUX INSTALLATION_LOCATION// California College of the Arts // San FranciscoARCHITECTS// CCA MEDIAlabYEAR OF COMPLETION// 2009

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PROJECT OUTLINEThe FLUX installation formed the spine of an exhibition by CCA Architecture & MEDIAlab in 2009, the installation - an tunnel which undulates in both plan and section giving the impression of expansion and contraction along its length.

Along the installation, a series of thematic categories were set up in order to show-case a number of differ-ent digital practises including: Stacked Aggregates, Modular Assemblages, Pixelated Fields, Cellular Clusters, Serial Iterations, Woven Meshes, Material Systems, and Emergent Environments.

The use of parametric modelling within the installation was paramount in order to address all the design criteria from the thickness of the internal ribs to the contortion and perforation of the outer skin.

The design was controlled via a set of relationships which are constrained by formal, performative and fabrication practises - fabrication was a important point as it took a new CNC router’s capabilities into consideration. These constraints were defined via a custom set of scripts plugged into a parametric model.

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1_ The FLUX installation // http://matsysdesign.com/2009/06/25/flux-archi-tecture-in-a-parametric-landscape/2_ Grasshopper list for model // http://matsysdesign.com/2009/06/25/flux-architecture-in-a-parametric-landscape/3_ Internal space of installation depicting the geometric perforations in the outer skin // http://matsysdesign.com/2009/06/25/flux-architecture-in-a-parametric-landscape/4_ Internal space of installation depicting the contortion of the rib structure - Illuminated // http://matsysdesign.com/2009/06/25/flux-architecture-in-a-parametric-landscape/

RELEVENCE TO THE GATEWAY PROJECTThe Flux Installation has reference to the gateway project for a number of reasons ranging from the composition of the structure to the parametric model-ling methods applied.

As the installation rotates and expands and contracts through its length it would be incredibly difficult (or even impossible) to manually design such a structure – it is hoped that this level of complex geometry can be achieved within the gateway project outcome.

As mentioned previously, the tubular structure proposed for the gateway intervention expands and contracts along the lateral axis whilst undulating up and down on the vertical axis, in some respects similar to the form of the Flux Installation.

Segments of the outer shell are also of interest and relate directly to the gateway concept, particularly the cellular, imperfect hexagon mesh which lines one entry point into the installation – it is proposed that a similar shell configuration is to be applied to the outer shell of the tubular structure, imitating natural forms such as the scales of a snake.

week 3_EOI: Case for Innovation: Parametric Design

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“PATAMETRICISM OR NOT, CLEARLY WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF AN EXTRAORDINARY SHIFT IN CREATIVE POTENTIAL AND PRIORITIES AND WITH IT ARCHITECTURAL PRACTISE”

- MARK BURRY

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DIPLOID_B LAMP & VORONOI MORPHOLOGIESLOCATION// Oakland // USAARCHITECTS// Matsys DesignYEAR OF COMPLETION// 2010 [diploid_b lamp] // 2006 [voronoi volumetric forms]

2PROJECT OUTLINEThe Diploid_B lamp is an updated version of a previous design and is comprised of almost 1000 individual paper parts with inter-locking tabs resulting in the fabrication requiring no adhesives.

The design is based on a number of different naturally occurring patterns including scales, barnacles and honeycomb.

The lamp was designed using the combination of scripting and a para-metric model, enabling efficient refinement of geometry. As this was an updated version of a previous series of lamps; the orgininal scripting was quickly revised to meet the new set of parameters outlined by the designer.

Fabrication was assisted by porting the existing digital (parametric) model to digital frabrication software in order to lasercut the paper elements with a highly degree of accuracy.

Matsys are heavily involved in researching new methods of intergrating parametric modelling into design, another project focused on ‘voronoi mor-phologies’ which rely on an algorithm which has many real-world applications (satellite navigation, habitat mapping, etc.).

In this instance, the algorithm was used to translate point-based data into volumetric forms - this process allowed them to produce structures with a high degree of differentiation.

A field of data points was produced with their orientation determining regions of space (or cells) within the volumetric form, as these cells were not fixed to a geometric topology, the cell properties could be manipulated with more freedom than that of a traditional hexagonal/polygon cell arragement.

RELEVENCE TO THE GATEWAY PROJECTThe vonoroi based models are deemed to be relevant to the gateway project as it is projected a similar method will be applied to the proposed intervention; creating a mesh of imperfect hexagons with an internal offset and filleted corners defining the cut outs. Further experimentation of the process is to be undertaken in order to determine whether the method will be applicable to the gateway’s surface and how cells are localised as individual components within the mesh.

Fabrication using this method might also be a sticking point, particularly as the voronoi cells will be projected onto a curved surface, further research and experimentation is necessary in order to determine how to ensure each cell remains a flat surface with the form’s curved shape coming from the connections between the cells rather than the cells themselves.

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1_ The Dipoid Lamp’s structure // http://matsysdesign.com/category/projects/diploid-lamp/2_ Digital line work for the Dipoid Lamp // http://matsysdesign.com/category/projects/diploid-lamp/3_ The Diploid_B Lamp - Illuminated // http://matsysdesign.com/category/projects/diploid-lamp/4_ Prototype of Voronoi alogorithm // http://matsysdesign.com/2009/06/18/voronoi-morphologies/5_ 2.5D Surface Voronoi FDM //http://matsysdesign.com/2009/06/18/voronoi-morphologies/


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“PATAMETRICISM OR NOT, CLEARLY WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF AN EXTRAORDINARY SHIFT IN CREATIVE POTENTIAL AND PRIORITIES AND WITH IT ARCHITECTURAL PRACTISE”

- MARK BURRY

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TAIPEI 2.0.2LOCATION// Taipei // TaiwanARCHITECTS// Trevor PattYEAR OF COMPLETION// [Theoretical Design]

2PROJECT OUTLINEThe Taipei 2.0.2 project my Trevor Patt uses computational design in order to not only identify emerging growth corridors within Taipei’s city limits but attempts to model town clusters within these corridors. The data set which provides a base for the modelling relies on the connectivity of regions within the city fed by the MRT (rapid transit train network) and the time it takes to walk to these major transport hubs. From this a voronoi analysis of the network can be undertaken in order to evaluate the collection area of the MRT network, with the addition of static features within the city such as rivers and major buildings and dynamic features such as projected land prices and zoning it is possible for the parametric model to not only determine urban projection and realign-ment but the most efficient composition and orientation of high-rise ‘town’ clusters.

RELEVENCE TO THE GATEWAY PROJECTAlthough the advanced scripting and modelling techniques adopted within the Taipei 2.0.2 project are above and beyond the scope of both the gateway project and the learning objectives of this subject it is still a very interesting process.

It also raises the question of what could be achieved if there was an option to delve deeper into the computational analysis of the site; analysing traf-fic patterns, the sun’s path and the shadows which are projected on to the intervention, etc. 4


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1_ Mapping of population ground over time // http://http://pliplicplex.blogspot.com.au2_ Mapping of networks surrounding the MRT // http://http://pliplicplex.blogspot.com.au3_ Analysis of collection areas into the MRT // http://http://pliplicplex.blogspot.com.au4_ Analysis of distance to an MRT hub // http://pliplicplex.blogspot.com.au5_ Proposed town cluster // http://http://pliplicplex.blogspot.com.au

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Via manipulation of the pre-set inputs, associations and outputs experimentation was undertaken in order to determine which combinations created practical and meaningful combinations.

In order to gain an understanding of the effect of the various parameters, within the first round of experimentation geometries were limited to circles.

Results were interesting and a knowledge base was built around the experimenta-tion process but no useful combinations were identified.

With regards to the gateway project - none of the combinations tested were deemed to comply with the set of criteria outlined previously.

From this point it was evident that further, more rigorous experimentation with the parameters provided needed to be undertaken in order to find a combination which satisfied the design concept.

In order to pursue the desired outcome, experimentation would also have to extend to the base geometries on which the parameters were to be applied.

The ‘cut’ process as a whole was a great learning experience (if initially frustrating); it allowed you to not only identify which associations fitted within your concept for the project but also gave you the opportunity to reverse engineer solutions later down the project path.

The complete associations provided meant that it was possible to break the process of how they worked down into different points along the definition tree, providing a key source to actually understanding HOW they work . This ended up being a highly valuable skill as it allowed us to break down problems within our own designs and provide a systematic and practical system to solve them.

Without the associations to act as a base I am sure I would have been lost through the grasshopper design process - grasshopper seems so flexible and adaptable that it is very difficult to gain an initial understanding of how to approach problems - in fact parametric modelling as a whole is quite daunting to someone such as myself who comes from a strictly CAD/Solidworks background.

ABPL30048 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN GATEWAY PROJECT_ // CUT

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week 4_EOI: Research ProjectCUT: Develop

INPUT// surface normalsASSOCIATION// attractor point OUTPUT// extrude

GRASSHOPPER MATRIX - INITIAL EXPERIMENTATION

INPUT// surface normalsASSOCIATION// image samplingOUTPUT// extrude

INPUT// surface normalsASSOCIATION// maths functions OUTPUT// extrude

INPUT// surface normalsASSOCIATION// multiple functionsOUTPUT// extrude

INPUT// surface normalsASSOCIATION// streaming textOUTPUT// extrude

INPUT// surface normalsASSOCIATION// using setsOUTPUT// extrude

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ABPL30048 ARCHITECTURE DESIGN

INPUT// overlapping patternsASSOCIATION// maths functions OUTPUT// data driven rotation & extrude

INPUT// boolean patterningASSOCIATION// image samplingOUTPUT// extrude

Within the second round of experimentation other parameters were tested in various combinations with the addition of trying different starting geometries from hexagon grids to curves and splines. The introduction of a loft element also created some more interesting poly surfaces once baked.

Although some interesting geometries were the result of further experimentation, there was still a lack of a coherent output which satisfied the conceptual design criterion.

GATEWAY PROJECT_ // CUT

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INPUT// overlapping patternsASSOCIATION// data drivenOUTPUT// extrude & loft

GRASSHOPPER MATRIX - FURTHER EXPERIMENTATION

INPUT// overlapping patternsASSOCIATION// data drivenOUTPUT// extrude & loft

INPUT// overlapping patternsASSOCIATION// image samplingOUTPUT// data driven rotation & extrude

INPUT// surface gridASSOCIATION// image samplerOUTPUT// data driven components

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GATEWAY PROJECT_ // CUTAt this point, the voronoi triangulation method was tested to see whether practical results could be achieved in combination with other set parameters.

It was known that vornoi triangulation should output a semi-hexagonal mesh which is cellular in appearance, a result which loosely met the design requirements outlined previously.

On inspection, when the voronoi was based on point data derived from a hexagonal mesh the results were great, if a little bland.

Through further experimentation, it was identified that the addition of attractor points which affected the raw points extracted from the hexagonal mesh caused the cells created as part of the voronoi process to malform and vary in size - particularly towards the edge of the surface where the cells would break down all together. This degree of variation gave the surface more of an interesting appearance and once the cells were projected on to a bending/curved surface the results were even more reassuring.

With this combination as a practical base it was now possible to start to consider tweaking the cell’s geometry even further via creating an offset and softening the corners via a fillet element.

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INPUT// hexagonal gridASSOCIATION// attractor point & voronoiOUTPUT// extrude

GRASSHOPPER MATRIX - RESOLUTION

INPUT// hexagonal gridASSOCIATION// attractor point & voronoiOUTPUT// extrude & projection on to a surface


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GATEWAY PROJECT_ // INITIAL DESIGNFrom the experimentation of inputs, associations and outputs it was found the use of a uniform hexagon grid which is manipulated into irregular cells via voronoi and attractor point associates was best suited to represent the concept of a snake-life form along the roadside.

From this point it was a matter of experimenting in how these associations could be applied to complex geometries whilst maintaining a level of simplicity in order to facilitate the fabrication process.

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EOI: Research Project// FABRICATE

Offset and filleted voronoi pattern projected onto a double curved surface

One of the issues created by offsetting and filleting the voronoi pattern - solved via identifying points of self-intersection, evaluating line lengths and discarding the smaller of the two - the curves were then evaluated for whether they were complete (closed) cells, if not, lines between end points were created and joined to their parent cells.

Major issue and stopping point for the initial design - creating planar elements from the voroni cells was deemed either too difficult or impossible using the definition structure created which meant that fabrication was also impossible - although the concepts explored within the initial design suited the project the method was over-complicated. It was also deemed that creating two seperate structures was too time consuming and costly to fabricate. Using the concepts and skills gained within the initial design, a new design approach was adopted.

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GATEWAY PROJECT_ // FINAL DESIGN

DOUBLE CURVED SURFACE

PLANAR PANELS

Divide surface into planar panels

HEXAGONAL GRID

Extract points, project onto double

curved surface

PROJECTED HEXAGONAL POINTS

MODIFIEDHEXAGONAL POINTS

Manipulate projected points using point attractor method

Unroll planar panels to flattened strips

FLATTENED STRIPS

FLATTENED STRIPS WITH MODIFIED

HEXAGONAL POINTS

Redraw the modified hexagonal points onto flattened planar strips

Create malformed hexagons using the voronoi method

FLATTENED STRIPS WITH MALFORMED

HEXAGONS

Create rounded cellular patterns via an offset

and a fillet.

FLATTENED STRIPS WITH RAW CELLULAR

PATTERNING

Clean cellular pattern of self-intersecting curves,

trim and join.

FLATTENED STRIPS WITH FINAL CELLULAR

PATTERNING

// DEFINITION TREE

Bake, number and align strips, cull allvoronoi cells which

intersect with cut lines

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Applying the skills and concepts gained through the initial design phase, the final design was created with a focus on simplicity with regards to design and construction.

The first issue to tackle was how to convert the existing double curved surface into planar panels - this could later be flattened and unrolled to aide the fabrication process.

As mentioned previously, the main associations explored within the initial design were seen as good candidates to meet the project goals therefore they were retained (if in a slightly different form) within the final design - the main issue to solve was how to project the cellular patterns onto the unrolled surface.

This involved figuring out how to cull any cells which intersected with the ‘cut’ lines which formed the triangle boundaries whilst retaining those which didn’t. This is a perfect example of what I most enjoyed during the design phase of the project - hitting issues where the desired result was known but how to achieve it had to be worked through - problem solving was key to achieving goals.

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// DELIVERABLESKey goals/traits identified within the EOI documents which the proposed intervention must achieve/display include:

// Iconic: I feel that the project does deliver on this front. // Have presences/pride within the local community: Hard to determine whether it will instill a sense of pride.// Original and engaging in form: The form is original although the methods applied a tried and tested.// Installation integration: I feel there is no issue with the structure integrating with the surrounding landscape, sitting nicely within a grassed median.// To enhance the physical environment through the introduction of a visual arts component: I feel the project certainly delivers on this goal.

Key considerations to take into consideration during the design process include:

// The topography of the area: The structure would sit well within the flat landscape// The size of the site: The scale of the structure fits well within Site ‘A’// The intervention must be able to communicate with its audience: I feel that this has been achieved.

// Daytime and night time viewing: Applying light sources within the structure at night would look excellent.

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// SKILL DEVELOPMENTI feel as though I have learned many things through the set project, from the obvious parametric modelling - the basics anyway, the flexibility of grasshopper as a design tool certainly opened my eyes to new possiblities.

Aside from gaining an understanding of how parametric modelling works and a better understanding of Rhino, the project sharpened my problem solving skills and left me with a sense of accomplishment, particularly as I undertook the project alone. Other points of gained knowledge are tied back to the set readings and the self-teaching process associated with finding case studies - I found this investigative process most interesting as you would not only gain information about the particular structure but perhaps how other structures were designed.

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Princess Fwy Western Gateway - Studio Air

Documents

Transcript of Princess Fwy Western Gateway - Studio Air