Artist's impression: Lunar Mining, Colliers 1948
One of the great powers of architecture is that it is the physical manifestation of an idea. As architects we are artists of both the idea and the reality. We have come to a juncture in the studio where we must consider what it means to actually construct something physical. to understand the process and materials of making a physical reality that responds to our ideas and desires.
This process of construction will also alter our ideas and desires. We are not to force our ideas on a form, rather add another piece of the design puzzle into our considerations: that methods of construction and environmental needs have a significant impact on the form of what we are building. A building constructed of metals is quite different than one constructed with tensioned fabric, or one made of bricks, or one made of mud. We need to consider both the tectonic and material implications of our projects, as well as consider the physical requirements for the performance (thermal) of our design.
As we move from concept development and ideation (programming and planning) into design development and construction, we will prepare to go to NASA starting with thoughts on tectonics and performance. This round we will be working towards:
- investigative physical models,
- a tectonic wall section
- a performative wall section detail,
- a construction sequence (drawing in time)
Part I: Research (Due: Wed March 15)
You have all begun to investigate methods of construction for your projects. In teams relating to the method of your project. These include:
- Deployed (soft/inflatable): Jeremy, Sarah, KwanPo, Ana?
- Deployed (rigid): Gabe, Clara?, Victoria?, Jean?
- InSitu Printing: Eugene, Richard, KwanPo?
- InSitu Earthwork (mining and moving): Jenny, KwanPo?
Research your proposed method of construction. For Wednesday, present for a group discussion a brief collection of your findings including:
- the materials of construction,
- the methods of construction,
- the implications on form by considering relevant examples of similar methods (is it load-bearing masonry? post and beam? arches? tensile structures?)
- the possible performative aspects of these for responding to climate (is it insulating? etc), and
- the creation of apertures (including windows or doors),
- suggest a way of physical modeling.
Part II: Investigative Physical Modeling (Due: Wed March 23)
For your own design project, work on a series of scale physical models that represent your method of construction. More important than the development of a model that may be "accurate" to your design in drawing, use this opportunity to explore and investigate form and tectonics through a model making method that best reflects the actual method of construction. If something has rigid struts and flexible bladders, use an appropriate modeling material with similar properties. If something is 3D printed, perhaps 3D print it. If something is carved, consider milling. This is as much about structure as it is about form. Consider again the tectonic examples you've discovered through your research and how they translate into your design.
The objective of this is to learn through making perhaps more about how your design might ultimately look given this method of constructing. Allow the physical modeling to help you understand how something should be made rather than trying to make a fixed outcome.
Additionally you will be asked to show the application of tectonics to your project through a timeline: A construction sequence drawing showing how your design might be built or deployed over time.
Construction Sequence Drawing, ARUP Associates
Part III: Design Application (Due: Fri March 25)
We will have a brief pinup (10min each total) with guests from the Intelligent Workplaceto consider the thermal properties of your wall section. Consider this again, not as a detail that must be true to your design, but one which tells you more about how your design must adapt. You are asked to prepare:
Wall Section: 1' = 1/4" that shows some tectonic properties as well as spatial organization
Typical Wall Section Detail: 1' = 1" describing how it responds to the thermal conditions
Optional: Typical Wall Interface Detail: 1'=1" of an interface between a wall and an entrance, window, or aperture