MENGQI YU M4

Module 4Mengqi Yu Student Number:

Semester (1/2012) Group 8

Chapter 1: Ideation

Chapter 1: Ideation

Cloud is composed by a mass of millions of small droplets of water or ice crys-tals suspended in the air. It is simply formed by the cooling of water vapour to liquid.

Sun provides heat to the ground, which contains water vapour, and makes it rise above to the sky. A condensation happened to the rising warm air parcel while meeting the cool temperature on the higher sky. Then a cloud is formed when huge numbers of water droplets are composed.

Natural Process: Cloud Formation

Evaopration and condensation are two major processes in cloud formation. In order to produce evaporation and codensation for water, it requires heat and cool. The changing temperation between heat and cold modify the form of water vapour.

The whole process of cloud for-mation is implicit, which no body can see. However, it is amazing that the results created by the invisible process are diverse. My design proposal is to visualise the invisible but powerful process by using the key elements of wa-ter, evaporation, condensation, heat and cool.

Chapter 1: Ideation

Key Design Proposals: Idea Generation

Proposal 1

Proposal 1:Small water-drop-let-like tail, which is the start of evapo-ration.

Light from the mid-dle of the cloud adds heat to the water-droplet-like tail. Then evapora-tion happened, which is expressed by the curly shape connecting the top and the end.

The top part sym-bolized the cloud formed.

Proposal 2:Inspiring from the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, which is formed due to the increased atmospheric instability. The anvil formed on the top is like a big platform supported by a column of narrower clouds. It is very stylis-tic based on a trapezium shape. I used curly lines to express the atmospheric instability. I skewed its based trapezium shape to make it more abstract. It can be worn as a bracelet.

Proposal 2

Proposal 3In proposal 3, I captured the movement of a cirrus cloud blowing by wind. The direction of the wind is from left. The time-lapse drawing changs its shape and finally ended with an object with sharp stripes. The reason why I designed this is that I want to test the transformation between a soft object to a geometric one. However, this des ign lost the purpose of showing the formation process.

Chapter 1: IdeationChapter 1: IdeationChapter 1: IdeationChapter 1: IdeationChapter 1: Ideation

Key Design Proposals: Idea Generation

By observing the satellite images of cloud, the special condition of cloud formation is created by the unsteady separation of flow of a fluid over bluff bodies. This formation is known as the “vortex streets”.

The “vortex street” cloud here involves the concept of “fluid”. A fluid form can describe a “going on” process of movement. Therefore, it can be used in further design.

Vortex Street Cloud

Proposal 4: Inspiring from the "Vortex street" cloud. The "fluid" concept is applied onto this design. The vortices formed during the process are maintained in order to create a more complex and styl ish affect. However, the over complex form does not very relevant the cloud formation process. It shows a fluid movement, but without showing any evaporation or condensation process.

Proposal 5

Proposal 5:During the exploration of design ideas, I have pursued too much irrelevant complexity and styles through the way. It is essentional t o g o b a c k t o t h e c h o s e n natural process and initial design proposal, which is visualizing evaporation and condensation.

From the investigation of Vortex Street Cloud, it is found that fluid form is the best way of expressing on-going movement. My initial deign proposal has a close link to those format ion process . Therefore, I combined these two concepts and create a new proposal, which is simple but clearly defines my chosen natural process.

flow

Chapter 1: Ideation

Taichung Metropolitan Opera House by Zaha Hadid (2006)

The opera house designed by Zaha Hadid shows the concept of “flow”. One side of the house bends an implicit curve inside and the other side naturally flows away to the distance. The hollowed out parts allow the light to selectively highlight the beautiful silhouette of the building in the darkness. This prece-dent remind me to think of the position of the light, which is the origin of “heat”, which causes evaporation during the cloud formation process.

Voussoir Cloud by LwamotoScott

This architectural installation is created by architect, LwamotoScott. The way he visu-alised cloud is using arched shape struc-ture panelled with triangle-like patterns. The entire shape of the installation is nar-rower below and gradually becomes wider up to the ceiling, which shows the process of “growing”. Inspiring from Lwanmoto-scott, I intend to change the curvature of the surfaces of my design along the major fluid line.

Precedents

Chapter 2: Digitalization


Digitalization:Countouring & Lofting

Right

Top Initial Lofted model

The contouring method I used for digitalization is tracing referencing pictures (top and right views). Initially, I lofted the model with both front and back point. How-ever, it does not allow further panelling.

In order to allow further panelling for the model, I use “extract/ socurve” command to create cross sections along the model. Then I lofted it the cross sections without either point at the front or back.

Extract/ socurve


Experimentation: Panelling ToolPanel 2D Grid: Angel Box

Panel 2D Grid: Wave

Panel 3D Grid: Wedge

Panel 3D Grid: Pyramid 1

Panel 2D Grid: Tribasic

Point Light

Top 2: Removing panels along the curve to create different light effect.

In the initial experimentation, I panelled the entire surface with both 2D and 3D panel grids in Rhino. By trying different panels, I gained the basic ideas of how to create my own panels.

Panels in Rhino 5

Exploring Custom PanelsAfter experimenting on the default panels in Rhino 5, I started to create custom panels inspired from the natural process.


Exploring Custom Panels

As the main element of cloud is water, I researched some patterns of water texture and clouds. It is observed that water surfaces are basically either irregular polygons or ripples, while water droplets are circular. Through combining the fluid form and irregular water texture together, a movement of water is expressed (evaporation is actually the movement of water mole-cule). I considered adding curve lines in the panel. How-ever, the curve lines in each panel will make it extremely hard for the real model making.

PrededentsNational Library in Astana, Kazakhstan / BIGI paid attention to the patterns used for panelling. Even though the structure of the building is a circular spiral shape, the single panel used is in a straight-lined geometric form. They created a few similar patterns to panel the curve. Ac-cording to the precedents analysis, I intended to modify the curve lines in my panel to straight lines.


Ryuji Nakamura’s Paper Works corn-field (Installation at the National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo, 2010): Different view, amazing structure and details

As the precedents above, the curly surface of the instal-lation is constructed by straight lines as well. The transi-tional density of the installation shows the movement and change. This inspired me to use “offset face boarders” with different edge distance in rhino to change the distribution of holes for the panels.

Experimentation:Folding & Lightening“One way to give a sheet of paper or a flat textile three dimensions is to fold it. Another way is to work at the edge, making fringe that flutters, wiggles, and curls,” ---Emily White

According to the videos dem-onstrated by Paul Jackson and produced by Laurence King Publishing. These are some basic folding tech-niques, which helps me be fa-miliar with the texture of paper and its light effects.

Basic Concepts: Dividing the Paper

Folding Techniques: Basic Pleats

V-Pleats

Spans and Parab-olas: X-Form Spans


Above: By changing the light source direction of the object, there is a different light ef-fect and shadow projected by the object. The light can be either diverged or converged. Moreover, by slicing the object, a beautiful free form shadow can be created.

Cutting the traditional Japanese Masu Box. Creat-ing V shape light effect.

Removing triangular panels along diagonal to create dif-ferent light effect.


Cutting Parts

Square Base

Dividing Points Curve: Lines are similar to curve when divided into more parts

Triangle components

Pattern in Rhino

This is the extending idea of water texture and refined the curve lines in the pat-tern. The cutting parts are for lighets to go through and projected various shadows. Moreover, by using the “offset faces bor-ders” command, the triangular surfaces can be hollowed out in various ways.

Exploring Custom Panels

Tesing light effect for panels with different numbers of holes. The gradual chang-ing density of the light is very clear.

fig. 1

fig. 2

fig. 3

Delete

Point meets point while panelling. It will be a problem of connecting panels in fabrication process.

This is a further exploration of custom panel. More triangular faces are extrud-ed to points and create pyramids. How-ever, this model contains 500 surfaces,1000 curves and 300 polysurfaces, which is hard to be unrolled and made within 2 weeks. Moreover, the sharp angles of pyramids express an aggressive feeling, which is not suitable for the “shy” prop-erty of evaporation.


Exploring Costum Panels

Initially, I fixed the “point to point con-necting” problem by getting rid of the top left pyramid and adding a larger triangular surface with more edges connected with each part of the panels.

Furthermore, the panel are simplified to a 2D pattern, as 2D pattern is more appropriate to visualise the implicit evaporation and condensation pro-cesses.

Final Model - Orthographic View(Scale: 1:1)

Pespective


I offset more face borders in a distance of 0.5 on its tail. Then the numbers of face boarders be offset are reduced and the holes dig are smaller. Then more suffi-cient light can be created on the tail, which symbolized evaporat-ed water vapour. Then the grad-ual decreasing of hole densities with less sufficient light symbolize the process of condensation.

Chapter 3: Fabrication

Unfolding Model

I manually drew the surfaces at the front to close the “mouth” of the lantern in order to leave some space for batteries and switch.

Before

After

Unfolding surfaces into strips horizontally .Colours symbolize different layers.

Chapter 3:Fabrication

PrecedentsShenzhen International Energy Mansion by BIG ArchitectThis is the model of Shenzhen Interna-tional Energy Mansion designed by BIG Architect. The light illustration of the model creates a soft and misty atmosphere. This gentle feeling is very suitable to apply on my model.

The Three Baskets Of Knowledge By David Trubridge

David Trubridge, industrial designer from New Zealand displayed a light installation as part of

Milan Design Week.

In this lightening installation, the bottom part is hollowed out and the body part is translucent.

Light shines through the bottom projects clear patterns of

shadows. The combination of transparent and translucent effects shows a gradual change from

blury to clear.



Fabrication:Nesting & Protyping

Nesting strips:-Using Grasshopper to create tags and folds- Material chosen: 5 White Ivory Paper- Using black cut lines and red score lines

Prototype:Inspiring from the precedents above, I chose tracing paper to add some variation to my light effect. The reason that I chose it is that tracing paper is translucent, which dims the light and makes it like the model of Shenzhen International Energy Mansion. However, I still leave some holes to project clear shadow patterns, which allows stronger lights shining out. Stronger light symbolizes more heat.

translucent, soft, hazy

hole, trans-parent

clear pro-jected light

Prototype:Aluminium wire is used to to support the front structure.

Precedents Santa Monica Parking Structures by Cliff Garten StudioIn 2009 Cliff Garten Studio completed the lighting for Santa Monica parking structures. It was done in collaboration with Pugh + Scarpa Architects and the City of Santa Monica Public Art Program, Cultural Affairs Division.

This changing colour of light inspired me to organize the position of trac-ing paper on my model. The brighter light can indicate “heat” with more energy, while the dimming light can indicate “cold” with less energy. Look-ing back to the rule of cloud formation, warm air arises and meets cold air, then condensation happened to form the clouds. I decided to dim more light on the big front of my model by adding tracing papers.



Cut from white ivory card Fold score lines

putting wires to support structure

Join 2 strips

Connecting two major parts together

Fabrication:Process

Light installation

Final Model - Light Effect



Final Model

Reflection

Reflection:

From the subject of Virtual Environments, I went through a whole design process from ideation, digitalization to real fabrication. Collin (2008) explores that design requires self critiquing. Through the development of initial idea, it is important to link back to the design proposal. Otherwise, the exploration of idea might fall off the track and become unrelated to the chosen natural process. Each further exploration needs to be a refinement of the previous design, but not just adding complexity.

The virtual world developed by computer has become a “replacing place” of the real world (Mitchell 1969). The application of software has become one of the essential skills in design field. The use of Rhino breaks the limitation of hand drawing and helps to achieve above the sketching design proposal. The paneling process is exciting, as even a simple pattern and be paneled into an amazing effect. Digitalization also enables the transformation from 3D model to 2D patterns. The unrolling and nesting process provides accurate model templates for future paper cutting. Digitalization founded the base of fabrication process.

In the fabrication process, there are lots of limitations of materiality. The quality of ivory card is not hard enough to support my 1:1 scale model; therefore, I need to use wire to construct an internal structure. Even though hand making is not accurate enough, due to the accurate machine cut on paper, a desired outcome can still be achieved.

Overall, my model has satisfied my design proposal from both of its scale and form. The fluid form with smooth 2D panels express an implicit invisible cloud formation process. The scale of the model is 1:1, with 1.1m length and 0.5m width, symbolized the large size of clouds. The different densities of holes on the panel create a changing density of light. Strong light on the tail shows the source of the heat. The gradual dimming of the light shows the energy changing from hot to cold, which involves the processes from evaporation to condensation.

Learning Virtual Environments is very beneficial for future study. I understood that design is not only creating aesthetic project. It is also a process involving logical thinking, self critiquing, problems solving and aesthetical creativity. The designed outcome has a form of meaning and functions. To become a good designer in the future, we need to become a “super thinking” and always inject passions into your design.

Reference:Colin, W 2008, 'Creative Meta-seeing', in Visual Thinking for Design – for Design, Elsevier (eds), pp. 147-164.Mitchel, WJ 1969, ' Replacing Place', in The Digital Dialectic, P. Lunenfeld (ed.), MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, p. 112-127

MENGQI YU M4

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