Part B Interim Submission Presentation

Overview

Field: Sectioning- ‘to divide’ Location: Dights falls Method: Create a parametric skin that responds to landscape, then section in a way that encourages tactile interaction and activities. Why Sectioning? Lightweight, permeable, generates surface, strong, variable.

DIRECTION

SITE - Beautiful but little access - Visual and audio interaction only - Grass area nearby, used for picnics + splashing in the water - opportunity for the site to be realized as a new hub for activity and (more) easily accessible for users currently: - rocky, unnavigable - unsafe for children and adults alike - looks and feels ‘explorable’ - varying terrain + vegetation

PARAMETRIC DESIGN Parametric design is key to this project in 3 ways. 1. Adaptive and manipulative skin that wraps the landscape 2. The way the skin is sectioned and brought to the ground to allow for multiple functions 3. The ability to change and test for best outcome Parametric modelling with grasshopper is perfect for this because it can show multiple slight variations in many different aspects. i.e the skin, the sectioning, the scale of either, the undulation in multiple axes etc

Argument: Parametric design can be implemented in a way that allows for a large amount of spec-ulation and iterative testing. This is a hugely beneficial design process for the Merri Creek project. It will allow the landscape to be meticulously represented and yet at the same time will allow it to be manipulated and changed to achieve a outcome that will satisfy the brief requirements and the Merri Creek users. The generative nature will allow the project to cross scales and therefore impact multiple stakeholders. Sectioning is perfect for the Merri Creek Dights falls because it generates a surface as a re-sult of the profile sections. It remains permeable, lightweight yet can be undulating, struc-turally strong and aesthetically pleasing.

BRIEF 1. Living: Architectural intervention ONTO the landscape that activates the space, not destroys 2. Site/place: Zero emissions, passive structure. Sympathetic surrounding life.. 3. Stakeholders: Children from Collingwood Children’s Farm (nearby South) Patients from Thomas Embling Hospital (nearby North) School Groups Book readers/ wanderers Pets Wildlife(birds, insects, even fish)

4. Activity Playing Discovering Observing Reading Resting

5. Form- close fit, undulating. Representative but adaptive to function

6. Materiality: - timber (plywood) - Plastic - concert (in-situ- off form)

PRECEDENTS

This project by dECOi architects is a great example of a very well executed sectioning, parametric de-sign-driven outcome. The main focus of this project was allowing the space it inhabited to dictate the form and curvature of the surface. It is an extremely well executed design because of how continuous the surface has become, and also how it incorporates so many aspects including seating, columns, desks and even door handles in one area. The opportunities in this research field centre around the way a whole range of problems can be ad-dressed in a single surface or solution. This means the existing site or space is an opportunity to inform their design, not just inhibit it. Another great opportunity it the fabrication associated with such a system. The design is based around how it is made, which is from a series of coordinated 2d planes. This relationship of CAD-CAM has huge advantages in logistics as well as cost and time saving. The main concerns with this design is the lack of flair or potential to be ground breaking in the sense of contributing something new, and not just falling into the trap of creating a beautiful liquid looking surface without real substance.

Successful? - clean, continuous surface - relevant to brief and context Shortcomings? - no variation - predictable

Take away points

Moving forward... - more variation in same vein - greater ability to interact - accommodate multiple functions

One Main Street // dECOi ArchitectsBoston, MA, USA

Proof of Concept -reverse engineering

Sectioning Iterations

Reverse Engineered

The above iterations are experiments with the way in which a geometry can be sectioned or cut up. The biggest take away point from these is that the vertical or the waffle grid is the best outcome because it is fabricate-able and also because it allows for a smooth surface. However, the opportunity lies in the abili-ty to play with this consistency.

Sectioning Iterations

Reverse Engineered Process (adjusting to constraints)

These iterations use the same point attractors in a field, the only thing that changes is the mathemat-ical function with which the points are moved. This was a helpful exercise that can be used on the final skin generation to start with points determined by site, then adapting them to get usable results for the users.

Proof of Concept -iterating

Proof of Concept -Prototyping

PROCESS

WAFFLE GRID VARIATION

USER ENGAGEMENT

Assembly

Direction