Gothic Component Arrayed on the Site Path

The Gothic component has been successfully arrayed upon the building path within the site. There is but one remaining issue that I will remove after import into Maya. The long horizontal stalactites occur when the width of a voronoi cell side is shorter than that of the setting for the width of the Gothic pillar. I will just remove these sides after importation into Maya and replace with an appropriate enclosing piece of geometry.

PATH MAKING ALGORITHM

The path making algorithm has been fully implemented within a voronoi field. You can see 16 different paths run within the same voronoi field structure. Perspective shots of one example have been included below.

Single Cell Component Variation

In order to support more complex forms of pathways within the exoskeleton, the archway component needed to be rebuilt as a composition of two half arcs that meet up in the middle along the pathway.

The original formation of the curve network was an arch pathway starting from any chosen side of a voronoi going to any other side of the voronoi cell. In the case of a simple path, the cell side indexes could be split up into two basic types of forms, 2 openings, and 2 tracks to guide the perimeter of the lofted arches. In this case the left side of an arch was consistent in its placement along a particular track, and the right was equally consistent along the other track.

Once you introduce a third opening to create branching within the circulation network, a third track must emerge seamlessly from the single continuous surface defined by these perimeter curves. The arches were split in order to facilitate the branching within the circulation.

EXAMPLE 1


In the new component, a line is drawn from the cell origin at height to the top of each cell opening to create a series of points where the 1/2 arches can meet up.


Then the remaining perimeter lines of the voronoi cell on one side are similarly prepared to be the originating points of the first set of 1/2 arches.


Likewise, a track of an equal iteration of points is arrayed along the opposite side, regardless of the relative length of these constituent edge lines.


Finally, the half arches are arrayed only the three tracks to create the enclosure for this particular voronoi cell.

EXAMPLE 2

However, this system of cellular construction can not be used in the case when openings arise on adjacent edges of the voronoi cell.


Here there is no perimeter edge to array the track for this half of the circulation in this simple example.


Instead an arch is arrayed from the point between the two openings to the cell origin point at height.


As normal, tracking is laid on the other side.


And then half arches are arrayed in the same fashion as the previous example.

LIBRARY OF ALL POSSIBLE CONDITIONS WITHIN THE SAME CELL DEFINITIONS
I went on to create 7 different examples of opening/tracking array conditions upon the same voronoi cell base with six sides to take account of as many different ways the data would need to be handled in the parametric modeler.

1 openings - x_____
Here in this image you can see the cell with a simple opening and no other entry or exit to the space. Here you can see in plan that the smooth line of the two halves of the constiuent arches deviates on the back side of the cell as they get farther from the opening. This was necessary to accomodate the two halves of the tracking geometry. This smooth transition from continuous arches to a more bifurcated geometry may create opportunities for more complex geometric and circulatory relationships further on in the development.

2 openings - x_x___
This is the first example in the explanation above. Two openings separated by open tracks on both sides of the circulatory path.

2 openings - xx____
This is the second example from above with adjacent opening with no track on one side and an open track on the other.

3 openings - x_x_x_
Here is the first example containing 3 openings for which the original component reconstruction was required. In the middle of two sides of a simple pathway, a third side needs to emerge from the middle within the continuous framework of the exoskeleton to create branching.

3 openings - x_xx__
3 openings with both closed and open track conditions between openings.

3 openings - xxx___
3 openings with only closed track conditions between openings.

6 openings - xxxxxx
Al sides open and ready for connection to adjacent cells containing only closed track conditions between openings.

model fabrication plans

Here is the section of the partial parametric model that will be fabricated as a physical model. It gives a clear sense of the exoskeleton ribs fitting within the cellular structure of the site parsing. The model will be a dual surface construction of mylar over stiff bristol ribs beneath of somewhat diminished dimensions to give the exoskeleton structural form, yet still allow for dynamic movement.

parametric model process

This is the update to my progress on the parametric model. Most pathways have been resolved except for a few problem areas, creating a coral like lattice work of lobster inspired exoskeletons.

PARAMETRIC MODEL PROGRESS

Having gotten my feet wet and created a digital model of a prawn in GC using static data points, the task of the weekend was to rewrite the GC script based upon this geometry, but with the added sophistication of the internal relationships distilled into as few independent characteristics upon which all other forms could be determined via reference. I was able to reduce the complexity to 5 necessary defining parameters:


- the radius of the circumcircle to the poles of the main lateral axis of the exoskeleton where the dynamic and static enclosure/support systems meet
- the angle between those points and the circumcenter
- tail length
- head length
- head height

All other dimensions and forms can be related to these parameters through a derivation of proportion, orientation, location, etc. Interestingly though, in producing this logically concise version of the geometry, I noticed that the same two common proportions kept popping in the code necessary to generate the secondary forms. 1//7 and 1/11. As I have meticulously based both my physical and digital models on the forms found in nature, this is quite insightful and possibly might hold some potential for exploitation. They are both prime numbers and therefore can not be related harmonically. Is there some particular advantage to this unique condition, or perhaps any special utility in consistently relating elements by this general proportion within differing orders of magnitude in the same structure?

NEXT STEPS
Clearly the next step is to investigate the importance and possibilities of these derivative characteristics of the geometry through an improvisation of implementation as earlier conducted with the voronoi cell structure. To do this, I will need to polish up the script of my first draft of the parametric solution to make these proportions live, and to hunt down any other mathematically significant relationships not yet parsed.

Now that I have a fully parametric model, I can begin to place the geometry in differing partial compositions within a text voronoi field of cells to investigate the next step in translating these relationships from the natural world to the architectural one.

Third, it's time to get a retracting tail joing mocked up in GC.

OVERLAP INVESTIGATION

I started thinking of other mechanical systems that take advantage of overlap to create dynamically moving curved form for specific geometric intent.



In particular I started to look at mechanics of metal wrist watch bands. All dynamically change shape in order to fit smartly with the vast array of possible different wrists, and some even make use of springs to stretch in ways that may or may not be similar to the mechanics of the prawn exoskeleton.


My research turned up a collector's item very much valued within the community of time-piece enthusiasts from the 70s named the Omega Megasonic Lobster. Unlike the more common implementation of the watch band that weaves spokes between possibly several rows, but always more than one, the lobster watch band contains only one row and moves very similarly on one axis to the lobster prawn tail.

Of course I will never be able to afford the cost necessary to acquire one of the limited number remaining in circulation, but thankfully the internet is replete with images.

PHYSICAL MODEL, VERSION II

I redid my physical model in order to get a better handle on the workings of the exoskeleton that can both dynamically retract and statically remain unmoved in different parts of the same connected system.


This is accomplished in nature through modulating the thickness of the skeleton. In constructing my first first physical model I made note that layering in the fabrication of my model could achieve the same result possibly. In the same way, it might suggest an architectural assembly to be used in the final production.


I layered stiff pieces of paper under sheets of Mylar, and stuck them together with double sided tape. Where the exoskeleton needs to remain static, the two layers have the same perimeter shape. Where they skeleton needs to move or retract, the layers have different amounts of material to achieve the needed difference in thickness at any given point to achieve overlap.


Additionally he adhesive step allows for surface tension to be used to create a less planar shape.

Historic Evidence of Site Differences

At the very beginning of the semester when doing my site analysis, I noticed a smaller shoreline at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island in several historical maps. Unsure whether this was an error in hand drawn maps in an oft forgotten corner of the city or something more significant, I have been searching for photographic evidence that could give a conclusive date to these differences. Up to half of our project site could potentially sit on man-made land.

I found the image below that shows the smallpox hospital building, and current day ruin, sitting on the very edge of the island terrain. In the bottom right hand corner, the photo is identified with "Fairchild Aerial Surveys, INC., N.Y.C."

Doing some research on the company, it looks most likely like the photo was taken on August 4, 1921, when a large set of aerial photographs was taken of Manhattan to produce an aggregrate photographic reconstruction of the entire island that garnered some public notice shortly thereafter.

sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_Fairchild, http://www.papainternational.org/history.html

Voronoi Improvisation

At the recommendation of Hart during desk crit I made several attempts at intentional manipulation of the voronoi cell structure in order to gain a better intuitive understanding of how one might best implement the system within an architectural site. The development of my improvisation is detailed below:

FIRST ATTEMPT

I started with a simple line, and split the radian circle into 5 equal parts as starting organization.


I then went on to place points at the extremeties and at the intersection point in the center.


This results in a very simple voronoi cellular structure when closed within a unit square.



Aiming to find deeper complexity within this unitary ingredient, I proceeded to mirror the component across its 5 pairs of extremeties and now had six times as many points from which to generate the voronoi cellular structure.


The result produced and interesting and more complex honeycomb-like pentagon structure




I proceeded with three more rounds of the same pattern of mirroring the previous steps sub-structure at the 5 exterior bounds in order to investigate how this recursive pattern growth might behave the same or differently as it grew.


The new pattern contains the old pattern within the very structure of its makeup, yet also mirrors the old pattern in the aggregate as well.


This repeating aggregate nature can be seen when all 5 versions have been vertically aligned to the same orientation.


In essence, I have created a voronoi fractal. Interesting voids do emerge within the larger versions of the system, however they do so within a 5-sided regular honeycomb pattern. The symmetry seems less than perfectly well adapted to irregular site conditions and programmatic needs.

VARIATIONS





I first tried reducing the complexity of the original component to see if there might be unexpected complexity hidden within a milder base, but found that merely a true repeating honeycomb emerges.






I then tried a multiple of this base-3 system, and deviated to a base 6 fractal component, in the hopes that the two systems of equal factors might be able to fit in a conjoined interlocking manner in some future form. Again a simple honeycomb fractal of a different shape emerged.

MUTATION
Looking at the second set of investigation in the previous round, I noticed the artifact of the voids that appeared in base-6 that were not present in base-3. This was a side effect of the manner in which expedited the mirror process in production, where I failed to rigorously place a point at the end of each branch in the second step of mirroring that then propogated down the system with each round of sophistication.


I then looked into the idea of mutation through successive random removal through each recursive round of reflection in order to see what non-regular patterns might emerge from the now pseudo-fractal, but still rigorous voronoi pattern.





Each round I would remove just one more leg from the underlying pattern of lines used to derive points at the places of intersection.


While the overall shape shows variation and deviation, the pattern is still composed of a regular adherence to the 60 or 120 angled of the base origination.



Therefore I decided to attempt a different method of mutation through varying both the angles and lengths to the 6 sides of the base component, rather than removal.





The human eye seems to be able to recognize some sort of underlying pattern yet can't quite parst the total meaning. Several different areas of different size, composition and orientation emerge, perhaps ready for specialization according to site and programmatic needs.


Minor variation can produce substantial difference within an overarching grammar of forms when increased through recursive rounds of sophistication. The last round of mutation improvisation contained just two: angle and length modification. There were several different manners of change I did not yet attempt, but in differing orders of application through the rounds of recursive implementation, a wide range of different possible pattern structure would surely emerge.