First Week!

Last week our studio focused on studying architects/designers/fabricators that took part in the MMFX conference held by Ball State University's Digital Fabrication Studio. I researched two architects and their firms, starting with Donald Bates of LAB architects, and Chris Sharples of SHoP architects. From these two architects I picked a project and found their "recipe" for the design, and then fabricated a variation of their design as well. For LAB architects, I chose Federation Plaza and for SHoP architects I selected the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse installation.

LAB's Federation Plaza recipe:
1. Use standard size panel of glass (4' x 8').

2. Divide the glass into different triangular shapes.

3. From these shapes, delete a triangle line to create a polygon shape.

4. Randomly choose different lines to have both triangles and polygons.

5. Create a glass facade thats dynamic, but has no waste of glass.

SHoP's Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse:

1. Take a square block used for visual privacy.

2. Contour the surface from top to bottom six inches.

3. From these individual horizontal surfaces, cut rectangular "holes" to allow visual access.

Variation of LAB's Federation Plaza recipe:

1. Use standard size panel of glass (4' x 8')

2. Divide the panel into different triangular shapes.

3. From these shapes, delete a line from triangle to create a polygon shape.

4. Symmetrically create a visual and dynamic pattern

Variation of SHoP's Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse:

1. Take a square block used for visual privacy.

2. Contour the surface from side to side six inches

3. From these individual vertical surfaces, visual access is minimized.

Also, our studio professor, Kevin Klinger, is currently writing a book with a collection of essays. Our class was given a draft copy of his part, which was quite interesting. Kevin talks about how the exchange of information is now becoming digital, from the architect to the fabricator. From this, Kevin talks about the importance of a "master model", and how important it is to have all the bits in order to have a well organized design process that "leads to decidedly informed form." This collaboration I feel is very interesting because the idea of the architect now sending 3D models and cut sheets to fabricators and workers that will actually be putting the building together creates a relationship that can help solve problems before they happen. Even more, people who are not designers or fabricators can still access information that will help set up delivery times and other factors that influence the building. Kevin talks about the idea of the master model also being a database with all the model information including laser positioning and material tracking to assist in the construction phase, providing clear precise date.