Week 11

Last Week

On Week 10, we have presented three variation in different material combinations.

Type 3 – Wooden panels with metal supports in static arrangement with addition of randomly arranged square holes in progressive hierarchical order (Big hole at top and progressively smaller holes near ground)

 

We have decided to use wood and metal as the material for the construction of the installation as it seems like the most economic, sustainable and feasible choice of building material out of the other two (Concrete and Polycarbonate).

Illustration depicting chosen conceptual form and interaction for installation

The following illustration depicts our chosen conceptual form and interaction for our installation that is inspired from fluidity and dynamism. The installation aims to provide students of NTU with both personal and public space within a singular sculpture.

Sketch Mock ups

At the beginning, we experimented making the curve with acrylic sheet using a hot air gun. To do so, we made a jig to secure the acrylic in shape.

Acrylic Bending test with jig and hot air gun

The process was quite tedious. We had to be attentive to the temperature and distance of the hot air gun to make sure we keep a safe distance so that the temperature is not too high. Ultimately, the experiment did not turn out as expected so we have discarded it. We realised that we would need more practice to ensure that the acrylic do not overheat but is heated enough to retain a shape.

In preparation for the final prototype scaled model, we moved on to working with plywood for a more accurate representation of the installation that we propose to construct with wooden panels. Uploading the dimensions at 1:50 scale, we laser cut numerous repeated panels and two identical cross-sectional profiles.

The two identical cross-sectional profiles are spray painted in metallic coating to represent the internal metal support structure. With the help of the bench saw, we made miniature grooves at each end of the laser-cut panels to allow the cross-sectional profiles to slot into the grooves to connect all the panels in a continuous curve.

Side Profile showing internal metal support sandwiched between two wooden panels. Contrasting elements – curvature in static arrangement vs rigid grids in random arrangement.
Close up on seat
Close up on roof
Back view with randomly arranged grids
User interaction

 

For the virtual 3D model, we have constructed each wooden panels with the dimensions 2500mm long, 120mm in width and 25mm thick. There are a total of 142 panels in total, about 70 panels on the inner wall and 72 panels on the outer wall. A continuous metal rod that serves as the supporting internal structure will be sandwiched between the outer and inner wall of wooden panels.

Click on the image above to watch the installation in movement.

We realised that the weight of the plywood is pretty heavy when arranged along the cross-sectional profile curve that is made similarly out of plywood. To remedy the heaviness of the roof, we have placed a transparent acrylic sheet at the overhang to hold the roof up.

 

Reflection

During our explorations with making small scale sketch mock ups, we are able to have a better understanding of the different materials to know what are feasible to work with. Through our trial and errors, we are able to have a better plan for the making of our final prototype through improvisations and practice.

 

Next week

For the following week, we aim to have a final rendition of the installation for a more finalised form with the details included.

Also, we will continue to work on the making of the final prototype model. We thought of using wire to make the cross-sectional profile curves instead of plywood for a stronger internal supporting structure to ensure that the weight of the roof will not alter the shape of the intended curve.

Week 6

Week 6

We decided to work on Concept 1 (lighter form) to further explore on mass and void in a fluid structure to be placed in a public space in NTU.

To be more specific with our selection of space in NTU, we thought of incorporating our installation within a natural space to achieve a balance between architectural installation and nature.

Also, we want to utilise the natural shading of the existing natural space in NTU for a cooler experience.

 

Defining Public and Private Space

User Experience Mind map

We drafted a mind map to develop the user journey which helps us define their experience in each stage of the journey.

Conceptual Mind map

Identifying the key words for the aesthetics and function of our concept.

Further exploration with Concept 1

Interaction with the Installation

We made a mock up of a continuous curvilinear structure that encompasses both public and private space in a seamless transition.

 

People in NTU (students, faculty members and visitors) can interact with the structure as shown in the image above.

Considerations of Materiality

To further develop our idea, we retain the material considerations from Concept 2, which were wooden grid structure, to build the curvilinear form of Concept 1 because we thought that a gridded structure presents a more open structure that gives the sculpture permeability, allowing the sculpture to ‘breathe’ and the user to connect with the outside while being on the inside.

In addition, the gridded structure can serve to convey a visual direction in our installation as the lines give a sense of order in the construction of the fluid form.

Metropol Parasol project in Seville by architectural team of J. Mayer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With reference to the Seville shelter, we would like to make use of a similar gridded structure for the construction of our installation.

The gridded structure can serve aesthetically as a porous membrane that balances void and mass. To add on, we imagined that the organised and controlled shadows casted by the gridded architecture of the installation under natural light can stimulate visual meditation, using the sense of sight to focus on one’s consciousness.

Perhaps glass planes can be held into place within the grids that serves as a rain shelter. Our choice of glass would be for its transparency into the natural environment, which allows people to look up at the sky and relax their eyes with the greenery surrounding the installation.

Juxtaposing a gridded structure with the natural environment was meant to achieve a sense of balance between man and nature whilst preserving man’s desire for order within chaos.

We intend to explore different smaller modules to be used in the construction of the overall dynamic form.

As part of our exploration on the construction of the wooden grid structure, we made some half lap joints with pine wood.

Half lap joints – diagonal, cross, T (from left to right)
Half lap joints – diagonal, cross, T (from left to right)

Perhaps the cross lap joints can be chamfered at different angle as they connect to form a dynamic curvilinear plane.

 

Week 1

Day-to-Day Data by George Perec

To begin, we will share our thoughts and brainstormed discussions on an extract by George Perec, titled “Day-to-Day Data” which we have read out in our first lesson on week one here.

We will choose a few contrasting adjectives to begin our conceptualising of the installation work, which we will talk more about in week 2.