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V i r t u a l E n v i r o n m e n t sD a r c y Z e l e n k oM o d u l e 2 - D e s i g n , w e e k 4

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V i r t u a l E n v i r o n m e n t sD a r c y Z e l e n k oM o d u l e 2 - D e s i g n , w e e k 4

From the last tute I attempted to digitise the model I created. However, my model fell apart in transit and no longer existed. I thought that I might be able bring it back from the dead by using the orthographic images I had taken. In Rhino I used the PictureFrame tool to enable me to trace the contours of every single component that made up my model.After tracing each one, labelling them and aligning them I wanted to use the Surface From a Curve Net-work tool to turn them all into individual surfaces before connecting and trimming them to achieve the desired clustering effect illustrated in my clay model.

After watching tutorial videos on the Surface From a Curve Network tool I realised that it wouldn’t work and that it would be best to start from scratch.

Although I wouldn’t be starting from scratch. After watching Dr Alex Selenitsch’s lecture I was in-spired to carry out an imporivsational modelling session. I had a block of modelling clay, my original pattern and a plan of what i’d like to achieve drawn on the paper bag from a pork roll I got to work.

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I was really (and still am) facinated with the temporal nature of the BZ reaction. Without viewing a video, animation or the reaction in real time you don’t get the full experience. The other point I mention is that we were working from im-ages of natural patterns, not the actual one. So we’ve been working off a two-dimensional image, yet we are to design a lantern which has three.

With these thoughts floating around in the back of my head I took to the modelling clay with the intention of taking the Bz-reaction, and substiuting a z-axis for time.

Essentially I would be extrapolating growth of the pattern from it’s spiracal and clustered beginnings along the z-axis bringing it to life.

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Using the base point from my pattern as a starting points I extrapolated them upwards using thick strands of clay. I then clustered them together to create bundle that stood under it’s own weight.I then wanted to apply some of the principles of the Bz-reac-tion to my created form.I dissassembled my strands and began to roll them out; thick at the bottom and thin at the top, which gave more manoeuvrability when it came to altering their form more-so. I put the strands back together then compressed and twisted them to emulate the clustering and spirality which are some of the main concepts that make up the Bz-reaction

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L-R: Front, Left, Right and Back orthographic images

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Top View

When it came to digitising my model I decided that Method 3 of the guide would be most appropriate. Along the way I found out that if you put modelling clay in the fridge to harden (because your freezer isn’t big enough), it ac-tually does the opposite. What I took out resembled something between a hokkien noo-dle and a strand of gnocchi dough. I took advantage of this and further clustered the individual parts of my model together.

When it came to cutting the individual sections that would make up my contours the materiality of my clay dictated that I had to cut thicker pieces or it would all smoosh together

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Contours created by cutting and traacing sectional images

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Thomas Heatherwick’s TED talk was quite informative in dis-cussing how optimising a design solution can have many ben-efits such as affordability increased spatial capacity ulimately leading to the best-possible final product.

An example of this was his proposed Teesside Power Station. Heatherwick was comissioned to design a new biomass-fueled powerstation that bordered an existing township.

Biomass powerstations are usually designed well-spread out with many different buildings housing different functions. They are also quite noisy at times. Heatherwick optimised his design to clump all the buildings togehter into one structure, saving materials and money. To overcome the problem of excess noise he partially covered the structure with soil which was excellent at absorbing the noise. He also created a number of green spaces to try and alleviate the publics view of the power station.

Heatherwick’s Bleigiessen, a sculpture that occupies the headquaters of The Welcome Trust in London is a great ex-ample of how different materialities can be employed during the ideation, design and protoyping of a project. It serves as inspiration in the design of the lantern as a similar process has been taken Heatherwick wanted to emulate the dynacism of water and capture it’s shape. He went about this by using the German art of Bleigießen, the act of pouring molten metal into water to create form. He did this over 400 times before finally arriving at his final prototype (pictured left). This was then digitised, so it could be replicated exactly using 142,000 glass spheres suspended along 27,000 steel wires.

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If you’re in a group out camping with only one flashlight, your night time activities will be fairly limited as in order to do the simplest things like sitting as a group, you need a wide ambi-ent light. A flashlight doesn’t really fit this criteria as it’s beam is too bright to illuminate a face and too narrow to light a group. It’s quite a selfish thing.

However, this can be changed with the addition of two sim-ple things: a full water jug and duct tape.Attatching a flashlight to the water jug (as pictured left) will create a lantern that can be used to illuminate a group of people.

With relative ease you’ve created a pretty decent lantern mimicing a campfire and harnessing the sense of community that comes with it.

I want my lantern to have a similar process behind it. That is, my lantern isn’t meant to be held my one person for an extended period of time. It should be able to be shifted from one position to another with relative ease with a sturdy base on which to sit.

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Digitised Model

After tracing my contours and aligning them I was pre-sented with a set of contours that needed quite a lot of scaling done to them to come up with a workable model.To be able to scale each direction differently I used a Scale NU componeant in Grasshopper to do this quickly and accurately.

While the unscaled version is a more accurate model of my clay creation, I think it needs a lot of tweaking in order to turn it into a developable surface that can me then made into a lantern

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After having a bit of trouble creating a model that could be digitised properly I think I’ve got something that can be devel-oped further before panelling.

I need to play around with the panelling grid a little further but it’s well on the way to becoming ready to accept a customised panelling