Module One: IdeationReflective Journal

Edward Kermode639119Semester 1, 2013Virtual EnvironmentsENVS1008

Chosen Pattern: PineconeThe pinecone was an interesting natural pattern for me due to its organic spiral pattern whilst having geometric movement through the hard-edged pieces. There is repetition in the layers of the little pine-cone pieces. Assymetrical balance is shown through the each spiraling column but also shows variety in the uneven sized pieces

1. Identify the dominant features in the object and simplify into a series of ilines.2.. Create form through enclosing space with the lines3. Emphasise particular forms and depth, in relationship to the object drawn, through variating line width and line movement.

Lecture #1 Response and Assigned Read-Analytical Drawing Kandisky’s 3 stage guide to Analytical Drawing encourages students to investigate the structural relationships among ob-jects. This is done through the abstract simplification and transformation of graphic characteristics of the object. This abstract form, or otherwise known as the essential form, acts as a representation of the constructive elements in an object. These drawings were emphasised through repetition, length, and the weight of the lines. The Cubist style in Kandisky’s drawings are evident as he suggests “how natural forms must be forcibly subordinated to constructive ends... “the independent realm of nature using basic elements”. The drawings train the student to discover both visible and hidden relationships that show correlation to the underlying natural principles; hidden connections could be created through dotted lines whereas visible were made through solid ones.Summary of Stages 1. Identify the dominant features in the object and simplify into a series of ilines. 2.. Create form through enclosing space with the lines 3. Emphasise particular forms and depth, in relationship to the object drawn, through variating line width and line movement.

Tooling The reading discusses algorithms that represent natural patterns and phenomenas. It presents a series of steps, called ‘reci-pes’, to prove these algorithms. There is a strong sense of geometry through the relationship between shapes and space and aims to to demonstrate how problematic algorithmic architecture is in establishing these recipes. The seven recipes shown in Toolinf include spiraling, packing, weaving, blending, cracking, flocking, and tiling. `

Lecture #2 - Reading question responseDescribed the formation process behind your found pattern/Are the any specific mo-ments of the transformation from your found pattern? The spiralling scales in my pattern occur is self-organised in the way that it is grown. External influences, such as wind and rain, create symmetry-breaking of this theo-ritical ‘unform’ system and perhaps separate these linear-aligned scales into a spiralling movement. The reading suggests that there is no ‘universal’ theory of pattern formation yet to be discovered in nature In my emerged form presents an ‘autocatalytic process’, which is shown in the repetition of the pinecone’s scales spiralling into smaller sized scales.

1.8 For my choice of precedent study, I chose the Sydney Opera House due to its similarites with the scales of my natural pattern as well as my emerging form. The triangular, organic shapes demonstrated in the building’s design are present in the spiralling scales of my form as well. The architect, Jorn Utzon, layered and scaled these shells over each other. I similarly tried to create this layering sense of depth through the spiralling in my form. The diffusion employed in my my transformed pattern created shows correlation with the opera house’s shells.

1.5Base Form: Using the spiralling motion of my Movement analytical drawing, I represented the scales in a triangular form. I curved the hypotenuse of scales to reinforce the spiralling motion. To emphasise a sense of depth within my form I reduce the scale for each scale down the spiral by a cen-timetre in width.

Free Form: I cut up strips of paper similarly to that of my base form. However, I drew each fold roughly 40 degrees to create a diffusion effect. I created seven pieces of these triangular prisms and glued them halfway down each other. As a result, it made a spiral sort of ‘staircase.