Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Responsive constraint architecture

An update on progress,
I have had a couple good critiques the last week or so and have moved onto developing a building out of this thing I like to call Architecture. Still working with environmental constraints and the human element I have begun to develop the interior space, defined by the architecture as well as some pretty intense R&D (mainly research).
For the spaces I am using an open plan theory, with main space defined by patterns and visual barriers defined by the ceiling.... the obvious spacial differentiations will be there to define rooms, IE: floor level changes, large brick walls, interior vs exterior, but the main floor space will not be divided by constructed walls, in order to promote sustainability and flexibility in design.
As for The R&D, I have developed an exterior skin for the structure using silicone casts and a joinery system based on connection nodes and memory members.

The silicone is a simple representation of a hexagonal cell that defines a double layer skin. these will continue to evolve until I run out out of rubber and will feature translucent panels.
The structure is still under development for material properties and fixation technique but I will document the progress and post some conceptual sketches/models shortly.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Spring Break Reflections

It is spring break, and I have just come out of a slumber induced by way too much research.
Still working on the same project, I decided that in order to create an architecture that is sensitive to the user and the environment, all the while being "generative" to those constraints of the project, it would need to be responsive. This responsive design can be used in describing the exterior skin as well as the interior space.
I have begun diagramming the spacial qualities of the program, as well as designing a responsive skin. The program is a work in progress, and I will post some images shortly.
I am truly excited about this project, I get to create a dynamic skin and an interior to match.
Pulled off, this will be the most intelligent of my designs to date, it is comprised of a lot of documentation and to the right audience should be a step in the right direction to defining a new language not only for myself but for those impacted by the design.

Design by concept alone is dead,
Without reason and a bit of nuts,
The design is dead before it hits paper.