Final Submission

After my interim submission I was able to gain some constructive criticism in the areas that I can improve in my project by my tutor and my fellow class mates. The main comment was made in regards to the actual motion of my proposed facade and that it was impractical for the panels to twist and grow in size which took away from how realistic my facade would actually function in the real world.

After establishing and understanding the above comment, I have decided to keep my concept but opt for a more realistic and simplified approach to how my facade should look like and function. I decided to create circular panels that are constructed out of stretchable fabric which are mounted on to a motorised rig that simply expand and contract based on the hot temperatures detected by the heat flux sensor mounted on the roof of the building. The panels will be at their largest radius possible when the heat flux sensors are detecting cool temperatures thus allowing excellent cross ventilation and are at their smallest possible radius once hot temperatures are detected thus providing more shade to the building.

Below is a screenshot of my script in GrassHopper that I put together for my final facade.

Above is a screenshot of my final script in GrassHopper

Below is a short animation that I have prepared which conveys the motion of my final facade.

Below is my final poster for this project conveying my final design that I'm proposing.

The above screenshot is of my final poster

All in all this project was rather informative but challenging at times. I believe that Architecture should be adaptive to its surroundings and conditions on a regular basis rather than provide a lifetime fixed solution. This particular project allowed me to explore how Architecture can be parametric and organic and how it can change based on specific conditions and factors.

I have also gained a greater understanding of GrassHopper and I have further added to my skillset which I can surely utilise in upcoming projects.

GrassHopper File
Rhino File
Poster File

Interim Submission Week 5

The first task of this week's studio was to find a partner with a similar environmental factor and record notes to answer the following questions:

1. Does the design proposal fulfill the basic requirements of the brief? 

Both mine and my partner's design proposal fulfills the design brief by proposing a system that dynamically adapts to the sun position and orientation and provides shade and protection to our building. 

2. Is the design proposal a thoughtful and well-thought-out response to the brief? 

The design proposal uses a shade structure that keeps the sun away from the building by using a heat flux sensor that triggers a motor once it detects hot temperatures thus lowering the shade structure automatically to block out the hot sun.  

3. What strengths and weaknesses can you identify of each other’s proposals? 

Each of our proposals does a great job in serving for its purpose but both proposals are lacking aesthetically and more work is required on the aesthetic side of the design to create an all round excellent design proposal. 

4. Compare the design proposal to the examples shown in last week’s lecture. Are there similarities? Are there difference? Are these differences significant enough such that it is not an imitation? Is the design proposal innovative? 

My proposal has similar features to some of the designs shown in last week's lecture in terms of being innovative and dynamic. Some of the designs shown were almost organic in the way they reacted to the sun and I believe that my proposal and with better aesthetic appeal would be similar in quality.

The next step was to export my current GrassHopper script as an image. I have broken this project into 3 phases and the first phase which is conveyed in the script below is of the main structure which has been programmed to fit my current building in terms of size and proportion. The second phase will be the aesthetic modelling which will then define the final shape and form of my shade structure. The final phase is the nuts and bolts of my proposal which is the most critical part to support my proposed matrix.

I then finalised my design using GrassHopper and recorded a small animation conveying the operation of my designed facade. My animation can be viewed below.

One of this week's tasks was to digitize our storyboard of our proposed matrix which we hand drew earlier in this project. We had the options of using image editing software to reproduce our sketched storyboard or we could achieve this task by creating a mock up. I decided to blend both of these options together and created a digitized storyboard of my proposed matrix using an image editing software and a mock up. A screen shot of my digitized storyboard can be seen below.

Refined design brief: Upon answering the questions listed in step 1 of this week's studio tasks, I have come to the conclusion that even though my proposal is solid in some area, it lacks in other areas. I believe that I have laid the foundations to a good proposal through my matrix and initial sketches and mock ups. I have also succeeded into transitioning my ideas into the software required for this project to build my parametric and dynamic proposal but I believe that my proposal still needs attention in the aesthetics department which I will need to address as I begin to develop the final outcome for this project.

The relationship between my design and environmental factor is so organic so I highly believe that the form and feel of my design should also be inspired by organic forms which will better compliment my chosen environmental factor thus creating a well rounded design. Throughout this final week and before my interim submission I will be finalising my script in GrassHopper and focusing on achieving all the required deliverables but most importantly ensuring that I satisfy the brief that I have set for this project.

Outcome: After refining my brief and after establishing the weakness in my previously proposed design, I have redeveloped my proposal to serve for my selected matrix but I have now added aesthetic appeal to my design which looks and feels organic which is what I have set out to do upon refining my brief. I believe that the form of my final structure truly compliments my environmental factor and I'm overall happy with the outcome for this project. Below are a few screenshots of my final design.

The above screenshot is of my final refined structure

Another angle of my final structure and facade

The above screenshots captures my facade in motion

The above screenshot is of my final script in GrassHopper.

This is one of the renders that I completed using Rhino

Above is another angle of my design

Above is a short animation of my design

The above screenshot is of my poster as part of my submission for project 2.

 All in all this project has been very informative and interesting. I have personally developed my skills further in terms of designing and modelling but I have also been introduced to what I think is an essential tool in the design of dynamic models which is GrassHopper. My skills with GrassHopper have not yet fully developed but I believe with time and practice in future projects I will be able to produce better quality models and have the ability to interpret my designs better using GrassHopper. 

GrassHopper File

Rhino File

Poster File

Project 2 week 1

The first part of this week's studio was to develop a matrix which included 3 environmental factors, (sun, wind and rain). A screenshot of my matrix and a brief description to each of the interactive methods that were toggle switch, incremental slider and infinitesimal slider.

The above screen shot conveys m matrix with a brief explanation on each method of toggle for sun, wind and rain.

The next part of this week's tutorial was then to choose 3 of the above proposals and and hand sketch a story board for each one showing the before, during and after sequences. Below are my 3 proposals.

"A stretchable fabric which changes its size to cover more surface area when heavy rain fills a bucket that is connected to each corner of the fabric that dynamically stretches the fabric as it gets heavier."

"A series of metal sheet that become fully interlocked to create a strong wind deflector as the wind speed rises "

"A fabric structure that is mounted at a specific angle to allow for sunlight and breeze to enter the building at all times. A heat flux sensor is mounted to the roof which then triggers a motor to automatically lower the shading panel once a certain temperature is detected."

The next task of this week's tutorial required us to complete a series of tasks using GrassHopper. Below are some screenshots of my attempt in GrassHopper.

Sun Path

Facade

As part of our individual study we had to create our model from assignment 1 which was created using SketchUp to Rhino. I went ahead and exported my model and imported it into rhino. A screenshot of my model in Rhino can be viewed below.

The above model is of my exported model which I then imported into rhino.

We then had to select one of our concepts to further develop using Rhino and GrassHopper. I have chosen the following concept, "A fabric structure that is mounted at a specific angle to allow for sunlight and breeze to enter the building at all times. A heat flux sensor is mounted to the roof which then triggers a motor to automatically lower the shading panel once a certain temperature is detected."

I then put together a mock up of my concept in Rhino. Below are some of the screen shots.

The above screenshot conveys my shade structure in the raised position which is the position that it is in when the heat flux sensor is only detecting cool temperatures from the sun
.

The above screenshot shows the shade structure partially closed due to the flux sensor detecting mild hot temperature which then triggers the motor to lower the shade structure to that position.

The final position for the shade structure is as shown above in the mock up developed using Rhino. The shade structure is fully lowered by the motor once the flux sensor detects extremely hot temperatures which then triggers the motor to lower the shade structure to the above position thus blocking out the hot sun from the facade of the building.  

I believe that my skills in using Rhino and GrassHopper will be thoroughly tested throughout this project to try to accurately model my theory and create a parametric and adaptable system that fulfills my concept.