Module Three: Fabrication

Bronwyn Zhao|Kevin Adhitya|Christian OngModule 3: Fabrication

Virtual Environments 2013 | Semester 2Tutorial 6|Lyle Talbot

Design Development [Extraction of Ideas & Concepts]

Our group chose the umbrella to be our object of study for our second skin design because we shared an interest in how simple, yet complex an umbrella behaves in operation. From the hinges, to the way it embraces the concept of skin and bones, we were sure that taking aspects of an umbrella would give our design a certain disctinctiveness in terms of movement mechanics and aesthetics.

With regards to the skin and bones concept in umbrellas, we discovered how the skin and bones somehow rely on each other to allow an umbrella to function and maintain its form. In an umbrella, the bones force the skin to stretch and produces a unique geometry with the fabric. This prevents water or sunlight from passing through, and hence protecting the user from rain or the sun.


Bronwyn Zhao|Kevin Adhitya|Christian Ong

Design Development [Extraction of Ideas & Concepts]

Our group took apart umbrellas to get a more indepth look at how the hinges of an umbrella actually function. We discovered that there were numerous members in a single arm that work together when in operation. Different actions also cause certain members to be in tension while some are in compression.Furthermore, we also noted how the skin was attached to the skin at particular points, which produced dif-ferent geometries on the surface when the umbrella was in different staes.

Module 3: Fabrication


Design Development [Idea Generation]

Our group took the concept of hinges from the umbrella and experimented with little models. Responding to the design brief at the same time, we adhered to the design brief that called for an innovative design of a second skin; a wearable volume or surface that accommodates the body. This second skin has to explore, measure, and/or negotiate the boundary of personal space.

Below are the first two sketch models of our design. The one on the left was the first, incorporating the most basic concepts of volume, hinges, compression and tension. The one on the right is the second sketch model made, it added on from the first the ability to adjust the hinges for different reactions, and had a more aesthetically appealing outlook.


Design Development [Mapping Information]

Our group responded in particular to one of the readings given to us, which was by Sommer (1996), which suggested that our personal space is not sphrical, it extends unequally in all directions. Hence, our group carried out experiments to map out which parts of the hu-man body had larger extensions of personal space, and which parts had less.


We undertook experiments like poking a cer-tain person with different unknown objects, confrontation with another person whether friend or not.

The numbers on the human body indicate the amount of personal space required for that specific spot on the body, with 1 being the least, and 10 being the most.

Our design idea was to allocate the previ-ous components onto the body. With varying hinge-settings, they would react differently depending on which part of the body they are on, according to the map we made.


Refining & Prototyping [Problem Solving]1) Addition of little foot objects (An extra pin joint at the base) - In order to allow larger horizontal movement of column members, which in turn allows greater overall reactions of the arms and as a full component.


2) Curved edges for columns and arm structures - In order to decrease friction and avoid faillures while in operation.

3) Addition of rubberbands (Tied from arm structure to column structure) - Component needed an external force to ensure it returns to default position when relased, while on the body and without the aid of gravity.


Refining & Prototyping [Reading & Lecture Analysis]


Personal space is also described as a portable territory. It is evident to say that eye contact can be classified as an intrusion of personal space. Even if two people are 5 metres away from another, making eye contact with a stranger can sometime feel intimidating, and therefore one’s personal space is intruded. This idea is reiterated by (Sommer, R., 1969) who explains that people who take public transport often “lower their eyes” in order to “minimise unwanted social intercourse”. It is also evidenced by an experiment by Argyle and Dean which concluded that people will stand closer to a photograph of a man with his eyes closed, and further away from a photograph of a man with his eyes open.

Glen Mcbride who studies human spatial behaviour uses a system of measuring personal space by the Galvanic skin response (GSR) as an index of emotionality. It traces the changed in skin conductivity that relate to stress and emotional behaviour. The study concluded that when people are approached form the front, GSR is highest, and therefore their front is more sensitive than their sides or back.

Week 3 reading: Surfaces that can be built from paper/ In H.Pottmann, A.Asperl, M.Hofer, A.Killian (eds) Architectural Geometry, p534-561, Bentley Institute Press, 2007

A cylinder is formed by a sequence of parallel lines. A curve “p” is extruded in one direction by “r” and the lines on the surface are called its “rulings”. In order to create a three dimensional volume, it is necessary to understand the surface area and shape of the object, or the “un-folding of the prism”. (Pottman, 2007)

The prototype below was constructed with this idea in mind. The plan of the unfolding rectangular prisms were first drawn out and then as-sembled.




Week 4: Scheurer, F. and Stehling, H. 2011: Lost in Parameter space? AD: Architectural Design, Wiley, 81_4_July, pp. 70-79

Main ideas: abstraction and reductionAbstraction: reducing the amount of information/complexity of tan object, “Kolmogorov complexity” or “descriptive complexity”. Meshes can be used to define complex shapes. Reduction: Finding the best method to transport information. (Scheurer, F., 2011)

Week 2 lecture (Loh, 2013)

Material: the matter form, which a thing is or can be made.

System: a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network: a complex whole.

The lecture in week 2 explored the different types of material systems including the skin and bone system. The system is composed of two parts. Firstly is the bone section. This frames the structure and gives the object form, it is also an example of tension and compression force. While the Skin section is also known as the “Diaphragm” which produces lateral force. The design for our prototype similarly mimics this system. As a force pushes down the prototype, the skin material is moved in a horizontal direction, while the bone remains tense and compressed. The skin material is flexible and stretchable.




Our design is based on the movement of each individual piece of the second skin. In areas of the body that are most sensitive such as the facial area or the front of the body, the movement of the object would be more exaggerated. Whereas in the areas of the body that are least sensitive, the movement of the object would be less dramatic.

Speed of movement

Rapid movement (contracting)

Pulsating movement, contracting of coral & similarly, of a Puffer fish




Medium movement (reaction)

Nyctinastic and semimonastic movements: The Mimosa Plant (Mimosa pudica)

Nyctinastic movements: during the night time, the leaflets fold together and the whole leaf droops downward until the sun rises in the morning.

Seismonastic movements: Touching the leaves, shaking, warming of the leaves, or chemical/electrical stimuli, lack of water in the plant can lead the leaflets to fold together and droop downwards temporarily. (Ombrello, T, 2000)

Slow Movement (reaction)

Lotus flower


Refining & Prototyping [Precedents]

One of the most obvious precedents we could find were meccano sets.

In order to explore different magnitude reactions with different hinges, we needed numerous holes in the arms of our design component. Hence we looked to meccano sets, and adopted the concept of how they are vastly flexible and interchangible in a sense that you can create a few distinct objects with only one set of materials.



Refining & Prototyping [Measured Drawings]


Refining & Prototyping [Assembly Diagrams]


1

3 4

2



5 6

87



Completed component


Fabrication [Final Design Components]

Fabrication [Construction Process]


Fabrication [Different Reactions]


More sensitive reaction

Located mainly on the front of the body

Fabrication [Different Reaction]


Less sensitive reaction

Located mainly on the back of the body

Fabrication [Completed 2nd Skin]


Right Elevation Left Elevation



Front Back



How the 2nd skin reacts to human contact. The middle collapses and the arms extend outwards. Changing the overall geometry, which is an expression of personal space, and how our personal space reacts differ-ently every time stimulated.


Reference ListOmbrello, T. (2013) August 14 2013-last update, The Sensitive Plant [Homepage of UCC Biology Department], [Online]. Available: http://fac-ulty.ucc.edu/biology-ombrello/pow/sensitive_plant.htm [2013, September 1].

Pottmann, H., Asperl, A., Hofer, M. & Killan, A. (2007), Architectural Geometry, Bentley Institute Press.

Scheurer, F. and Stehling, H. (2011). Lost in Parameter Space? IAD: Architectural Design, Wiley, 81 _4_, July, pp. 70-79

Sommer, R. (1969). Personal space : the behavioral basis of design / Robert Sommer. Englewood Cliffs, N.J. : Prentice-Hall, c1969.

Module Three: Fabrication

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