MODULE THREE: QUEEN VICTORIA GARDEN PAVILION
Schuere & Stehling, 2011. Lost in Parametric Space. AD.
The process of Abstraction occurred within the design matrix between the form created by growth aggregation
to point attractors and the use of Pufferfish’s command ‘TweenTwoCurves’. By extracting facets of the original growth aggregation’s surface, I created planes between which more geometry could be abstracted. The same reference brep was maintained between the two processes, a diamond, to create an eventual abstraction of shape and detail that is incomprehensible from the first geometry.
The geometry was then further abstracted through the use of a radial waffle to give a smoother language to the geometry as well as making the pavilion design fabricatible. A radial waffle was chosen as opposed to a XY contour as it gave a better rhythmic flow and added to the evocative geometrical language of the pavilion design.
The design went through the process of Reduction during the translation between design to scale model, where the number of radials was altered from 45 to 30 and the radial disks scaled to allow for the material thickness difference.
The design further underwent Normalisation occurred in all phases beyond the radial waffle as panels of the abstracted geometry that did not attach to the structure were removed, panels that had an area lower than 3000mm.
Module Three Reflection Questions
The key concept explored through my design is the use of growth aggregation and point attractors to create evocative, angular geometry that juxtaposes the natural surroundings of the park landscape in which the pavilion is set.
The qualities of the space created are sheltered, intimate, evocative and exploratory, being developed by the raw materials: metal, wood and concrete as well as the layered geometry and sharp, angular panelling.
Threshold and circulation shaped the design through the creation of a central path with seating on either side - aided by the angular, faceted concrete base and the pointed geometric shelter overhead that creates a sense of intimacy and shaded protection.
The parametric design strategy deployed was from the Grasshopper extension ‘Pufferfish’ and its ‘TweenTwoSurfaces’ component as well as other strategies of growth aggregation to point attractors, radial waffles and other strategies to create the flat lay of components for fabrication templates and extrusion of surfaces to demonstrate the constructed model.
Isometric Drawing - Exploded
To create the isometric drawing, a North East Isometric View in Rhino was selected with the linework and scene silhouette extracted using Make2D. The drawing was then imported into Illustrator with the lightweight adjusted to 0.15mm and 0.3mm for the scene silhouette. The file was then imported as a PNG into Photoshop where the rendered image was overlayed on the linework with a simple concrete texture applied.
The key idea captured within the isometric is the separation of materials that create the overall pavilion structure and how each relates to the next to form the cladding, structure and base of the pavilion.
The key elements detailed are the notches of the radial waffle disks as well as the panels that make up the pavilion. They were chosen as they are the most complicated component of the structure, providing the overall structural integrity, and connecting to both the shading system and the ground.
The detailing of the notches and disks is important as the panels interconnect to the four disks.
Diagrams
CIRCULATION DIAGRAM
The circulation diagram is separated into the three components of structure, main circulation areas and circulation paths.
The circulation created forms a fork-like pattern where users congregate within the central space and disperse through the North and South entrances. There is a direct line of sight through the pavilion that frames the city view from the garden and shelters from East-West sun path.
The circulation is defined by the base platform, which raises along the West and
East boundaries to create seating elements and connectors from the base to the structure. The structure overhead also provides a threshold that defines the circulation path as it peaks in height toward the centre of the pavilion, arching downward along the East and West boundaries.
THRESHOLD DIAGRAM
The threshold diagram is separated into the three components of the pavilion structure that produce the circulation paths and areas identified in the circulation diagram.
The metal cladding provides a visual threshold, shielding from the elements and blocking the visual sightline into the pavilion from the East and West, while creating an opening on the North-South axis.
The plywood structure creates thresholds of usable space through its sloping, angular form, creating allowances of space through height changes that provide seating and standing areas.
The concrete base provides a similar threshold of usable space through directing pedestrian walking paths, with seating elements on the borders and a central path through the pavilion’s Norrth-South axis.
Iteration Matrix
The process of arriving at the final design was dictated by a sequence of strategies: growth aggregation using point attractors, subtraction techniques using BooleanDifference, Pufferfish techniques using TweenTwoSurfaces, and creating radial waffles.
The key development stages occurred at the points in which a new technique
was introduced, e.g. moving from growth aggregations to BooleanDifference and Pufferfish to radial waffles as it provided new aspects into the design and solutions to problems that arose.
Problems tackled included: providing adequate space beneath the structure to shelter standing people, fabrication techniques, sheltering elements and the creation of a base structure.
Parametric strategies utilised within the design process included: growth aggregation using a custom geometry and point attractors to create a form, pufferfish to deconstruct surfaces of the created geometry to create a layering effect, and the creation of a radial waffle and the fabrication of its components through an extrusion and flat laying for laser cutting templates.
A conceptual idea factored into the creation of the pavilion design was using angular geometry to create an evocative form and juxtaposition of the landscape environment and the built structure.
Textures and Materials
The materials present in the pavilion design are sheet metal, wood and formwork concrete.
The materials were chosen as they create an industrial effect and when used in
their raw state, produce postmodernist rationality of structure and function, inspired by Le Corbusier’s later works.
They were distinguished in Rhino by separating the layers of each material and their corresponding forms, applying a custom material to each layer.
Other considerations of the material choices included the reflectivity of the cladding which had a 50% reflectivity as a matte chrome finish. The wood was chosen as it has a matte finish and minimal reflectivity, similar to the concrete which absorbs heat and light.
Render Gallery
These views were selected as they provide a 360-degree view of the pavilion both from above and eye-level. The final view was chosen as it best exhibits the angular plates of metal sheeting that form the dramatic appearance of the pavilion form.
The timing of 2 pm was chosen as it provided the most dramatic shadows onto the concrete beneath the structure. The camera angles were chosen to best highlight the metal cladding as well as the extending legs of the wooden structure. The framing of each image was done in accordance with the rule of thirds.
Post Processing
The post-processing workflow involved in capturing the images above involved increasing the hue of the images to enhance the yellow/brown aspects of the image and reducing the green to create a dryer, summer appearance.
The exposure was reduced to create more dramatic, dark shadows and decrease the appearance of the individual wood slates and draw the focus to the reflective, shiny metal cladding as the subject matter of the shot.
The contrast was also increased to add to the dramatising of the shadows cast.
A slight vignette was added to the image as well as a textured grain to add a retro, 60s aspect to capture the slight Archigram machine-age inspiration.
Isometric Model Drawing
To translate the design into a 1:25 scale model, the geometry was scaled down to 200 x 200 x 200 mm cube and put through the radial waffle grasshopper script with alterations being made to the disk size, and amount of radials.
The section was cut along the North-South axis of the pavilion, which has the main path of circulation and sightline through the structure’s entrance. It affected the structure as it did not have three points of balance, as one was now removed (East structure point).
The considerations when translating the design into a scale model included the thicknesses of materials, size of waffles and notches as well as the amount of radials that could be produced in accordance to material thickness.
Exploded Isometric Model Drawing
The material substitutions were as follows:
50mm wood panels -- 2.7mm plywood (laser cut)
15mm sheet metal -- 1mm white mountboard (laser cut)
concrete formwork -- 3mm mountboard (laser cut contours)
Compromises required to make the model fabricatible included making the metal sheeting into planar panels, reducing the number of radials in the model from 45 to 30 in response
to the material thickness ratio changing which affected the notching of the radial disks.
Component: Structure
The image above illustrates the laser cutting file with nested geometry and labels as well as an etched edge to ensure the cut pieces are not taped post-fabrication for transport.
Laser cutting was chosen as the fabrication method of the structure as it most effectively navigates the thin angular cuts that are required to be cut precisely.
The advantages of laser cutting are that more complex geometry is able to be produced and fabricated accurately to the design.
Plywood was chosen as it best represented the materiality of the pavilion design envisioned for the structure, having little to no reflectivity and a matte-absorbant finish.
Component: Shell Cladding
The image above illustrates the laser cutting file with nested geometry and labels as well as an etched edge to ensure the cut pieces are not taped post-fabrication for transport.
This method of fabrication was selected as it was best suited to the thin material thickness and acute angular lines of the geometry.
White mountboard was selected as a material to represent the metal cladding as it creates the desired semi-reflective appearance and light visual effect.
The image above illustrates the laser cutting file with nested geometry and labels as well as an etched edge to ensure the cut pieces are not taped post-fabrication for transport.
This method of fabrication was selected as it was simplest and created crisp contour edges. 3mm boxboard was selected to create the contours as it represents the concrete colour and texture in its reflectiveness and appearance.
