Arch Design Studio 101Spring 2014

Learning Portfolio Final Submission

Cathy Makunga

Transforming a WallMy Inspiration & Research

• My initial inspiration was this image by Mariah Robertson 2010-from the exhibition entitled “What is a Photograph” I was attracted to the play and manipulation of colors.

• Note it is normally displayed in a horizontal fashion but I read it in this vertical format.

• For me the image told a story of transformation form day to night, young to old, novice to learned. I used this as my inspiration for the subsequent models.

Sectioning• Iteration 1

• Materials Used: Chipboard and Wire• My Approach: Using my inspiration image as a departure point I considered how the wall might be transformed

as a gathering place to sit and contemplate. The fold in the lower third of the image reminded me of a bench in a park and so I was playing with notion of bench or gathering place with perhaps a canopy or overhang above.

• Discoveries: Improvement of craft form first half of term. I utilized mixed mediums in this model. • Failures: This model does not demonstrate sectioning. Not enough repetition in any given direction resulting in

more of a frame expression vs. sectioning.

Sectioning• Iteration 2

• Materials Used: Chipboard • My Approach: Continued with notion of a bench from Iteration 1. Cut similar shapes from chipboard with a

slope/curvilinear top and a rectilinear lower portion. Dimensions for each were only slightly altered to connote the sense for progression or stairs perhaps.

• Discoveries: This representation of sectioning may have worked if I had added more items/slats to the model. The undulating quality that I was trying to represent needed more steps in order to reveal itself. Also more drastic change in size from beginning to end would have revealed the wave pattern or undulation I was seeking.

• Failures: This model comes closer to demonstrating sectioning. However, more repetition is necessary to be representative of true sectioning. Very little interest is created in the design choice because it does not evoke any new ideas, too simplistic an idea.

Folding• Materials Used: Single sheet of 8 ½” x 11”• My Approach: Continued with notion of a bench from Sectioning Iteration 1• Discoveries: Folding from a single sheet is highly technical. This approach is not one I

would utilize again in the future without more knowledge of folding techniques. • Failures: Could not approximate my design idea using this technique.

Inspiration -Coalescing the Group’s Ideas for Wall Transfiguration “Big Ideas” that emerged during group discussion

• An environment that is inspired by the magic of being underneath a canopy of trees or an array of umbrellas (Christo).

• A “folded assembly” in multiples that formed the notion of canopy or series of canopies and walls inspired as a group of clouds.

- Single assembly use in multiple ways- Diverse environment created by the

organization and placement

Fabric Structures• Materials Used: Chipboard, bamboo, & recycled material (reusable grocery bag cloth) • My Approach: I worked from the group’s ideas of umbrellas or canopy of trees inspired by the artist Christo. I created an

array of stands or trees that could be connected in some form by stretching and connecting fabric. My concept was to create an environment to walk through and, while under the “canopy”, to discover and play with the idea of shadow patterns from the cloth suspended above the courtyard on the tops of the stands.

• Discoveries: While building the model I discovered that due to the height of the bamboo trunks and depending on the angle of repose as it is attached to the base, stability of the forms would be a big issue to contend with. They had a tendency tosimply topple over.

• Failures: Incomplete formation of idea resulted in concept that could not be articulated well. Also, although idea provided a “place for gathering and discovery” concept did not respond to notion of transforming the wall and was not site specific in any way. As far as developed did not meet the concept of “fabric structure”.

Approaching an Idea for Group Build…• After much discussion the

group decided on Katie Sellergren’s concept of “Origami Cardboard”

• We deconstructed her design with instructions to build something based on a square folded to create an octagonal form.

My Contribution to the Ideas Pool

Materials Used: Chipboard & Wire

My Approach: Using Katie’s Origami form, I created a mobile structure by deconstructing her folds into four quadrants and reassembling them with wire. As the forms descended some were further disassembled to ¾ of the original fold or ¼ of the form. The whole concept was to have an array of 3-4 similar cascading constructions that could be hung together to transform the wall with “umbrellas” of sorts. I also considered how a chair or bench might be built using the same idea of a folded form.

Discoveries: In order to fold chipboard you must score top layer(s) of the paper. Continuous manipulation of the material resulted in failures and tears at the scored points. This consequence was what ultimately yielded my “deconstructed” origami design idea.

Failures: The concept had a “mobile” or ornamental effect and lacked the idea of architecture to create unique physical space. Also, my concept did not meet the requirement of being site specific.

Final Concept and Site Selected• We selected an amalgamation of 2

ideas from Monica & Jyothi

• We decided the corner of the courtyard would be the best location for the concept as it gave us 2 planes to work form.

• Prototype and Kit of PartsEach quadrant of the octagonal forms (stars) is made of 6 triangles as seen below. 4 sizes of stars were constructed. 6 4ft stars8 3ft stars10 2ft stars5 1ft stars

Single quadrant of an octagonal form

Prototypes – cont.

Discoveries: Testing of forms revealed that tension between the individual triangles would have to be held together somehow in the center and top of the form. The top or tip of the largest triangles needed tension in order to hold there shape. In the end our solution was to create notches in the tops of the large triangles of each quadrant and held together with a center square tied off with fishing line. All connection points were tied together with fishing line.

Each team member cut triangles at home to accomplish task. Over 600 pieces were cut.

• Assembly of octagonal forms proved to be extremely arduous delaying our timing to consider how installation would be assembled in the courtyard.

• A more thoughtful consideration and planning of how items would be hung in courtyard would have eased the stress of the unknown.

• We only had a vision for constructing the stars and not how we would mount them in relationship to one another.

• A finished octagonal origami form or “star”

• Connected with fishing line

• Upper tension to create the “point” of the star is held with insertion of square pressboard form at upper third of largest triangles.

• Initially it was unclear how we would hang the stars. Eventually we decided to use steal hardware from which to hang the largest stars.

• Steel cable was chosen to suspend the stars.

To envision how we would hang the installation, we laid a patchwork pattern of stars across the courtyard and tied them together with fishing line.

Just as the joints in each star are malleable, so are the connections between each star and the varying points.

We built a cantilever support arm off of the railing to suspend and support the array of stars. We painted the wood supports grey to emulate steel girders. We discovered as a result that it blended well with the concrete wall almost disappearing and becoming unnoticeable. Another accidental discovery was the support cantilever arm introduced yet another triangle coinciding with our theme and kit of parts

Inspired by the final installation piece, the courtyard and it’s surroundings, I wrote the following narrative entitled “A Wall Transfigured – The Gifts of Nature. The narrative came about as I reflected on what our initial goals were for the construction, the materials we used, and what experiences it evoked in my memories. Although in all honesty the narrative came about post production of the build, the ideas were being formulated as we wrestled with this project throughout the second half of the term.

Our Narrative - A Wall Transfigured - The Gifts of Nature

The most salient values we embraced for this project were 1) Sustainability & 2) Affordability. These were not necessarily our original

objectives but as our design unfolded we realized how well we could embrace these values in our choice of materials, simplicity in our

construction, and minimalism in the kit of parts. The use of press board greatly reduced our material cost and it can all be readily recycled,

reused or repurposed for composted or mulch. Additionally all the metal hardware in our rigging can be reused again and again.

The stimulus for our design are all around us as seen in nature’s rhythmic patterns and from the visionary minds of great mathematicians,

architects, and artists. As such we drew inspiration using the brilliance articulated by the likes of Fibonacci, Ron Resch, Shigeru Ban, M. C.

Escher and the art of Origami folding. This is how we arrived at the star or flower – simple folds from square – yet complex in their

possibilities, just as in nature.

However, beyond the individual pieces themselves we wanted to transform the wall by bringing in aspects that would highlight the natural gifts

of nature and be reminiscent of the 4 forces of the natural world: Earth, Wind, Water and Fire. Our use of an organic material, paper, is

representative of the Earth and the trees she yields. The effect of our stars streaming down the wall emulates a cascading water fall tumbling

down the face of a cliff. The fluid engineering of the joints and light construction must respond to the forces of the wind, introducing that

element into our architecture. Lastly, the use of metal and steel acknowledge the power of the fire element in the forging of the steel

hardware we have used. By including these 4 elements in our construction we are rooted our installation in nature’s wonders and brought

the natural world into and concrete manufactured landscape. Furthermore, most of our construction was done by hand, which truly required

a human, team effort. And although this may have resulted in minor inconsistencies, this human element added to the natural aesthetic of the

piece.

As we delve deeper into the notion of morphing the courtyard with elements of nature, more of mother earth’s wonders and topography

started to emerge. In this spatial journey one can imagine crawling into the earth’s bowels, a cavernous experience of jagged and faceted

geological protrusions or even imagine viewing the world from an insect’s perspective. Viewed from the outside one might also see a

mountain range and wonder how to make the visual journey to the highest peaks or see a forest with small plants or flowers at its base rising

to the canopy of leaves up above. Or, one might even imagine a Milky Way of distant stars twinkling in the night sky. Come, take a journey

through nature with us.

Our Project Expenses – Total Cost $396.10Date Location Amount Description of Items Team Member Action

22-AprBlick Art Materials $ 29.78 Chipboard (18- 22x28 30PLY sheets) Cathy Purchase

25-AprBlick Art Materials $ 73.16 Chipboard (25 - 28x44 30PLY sheets) Cathy Purchase

25-AprBlick Art Materials $ 18.62 Paint & Brushes Cathy Purchase

25-AprBlick Art Materials - no receipt $ 17.55 Chipboard (6 -28x44 30PLY sheets) - calculated at Blick price Monica Purchase

26-AprBlick Art Materials $ 29.27 Chipboard (10 -28x44 30PLY sheets) Jyothi Purchase

26-AprUnknown - no receipt $ 23.40 Chipboard (8 - 28x44 30PLY sheets )- estimated at Blick price Kayla Purchase

1-MayStaples $ 21.74 1 Gallon Elmers Glue Cathy Purchase

1-MayBig 5 Sporting Goods $ 15.25 Fishing Line (50LB - 275YD) Cathy Purchase

6-MayLowe's $ 94.30 Hardware Fasteners/Wire Rope (20ft) /Corner Framing Cathy Purchase

6-MayCole Fox Hardware $ 7.59 Fishing Line (30LB - 180YD) Kayla Purchase

7-MayDiscount Builders $ 10.76 Wire Rope (18ft)/Ferrules Cathy Purchase

8-MayBig 5 Sporting Goods $ 15.25 Fishing Line (20LB - 640YD) Cathy Purchase

12-MayHome Depot $ 17.59 Lumber & Hardware Fasteners Cathy Purchase

12-MayHome Depot $ 96.06 Hardware Fasteners/Wire Rope (32ft)/Pulleys Cathy Purchase

13-MayHome Depot $ 38.96 Hardware Fasteners Cathy Purchase

14-MayHome Depot $ (64.22) Hardware Fasteners Cathy Returns

14-MayLowe's $ (48.96) Hardware Fasteners/Corner Framing Cathy Returns

TOTAL $ 396.10

Divided by 8 $ 49.51 Each

I managed the budget and made a majority of the purchases and deliveries of our supplies. We came in 50% under our anticipated expenses.

Challenges/Discoveries/Opportunities• Challenges: The intensity of time and labor to cut and create the stars

proved to be our biggest obstacle. We also did not take the time and do the proper planning to know how these items would be hung together in the courtyard. This caused conflict in the group dynamic, added to loss in supplies purchased and delayed final installation time.

• Discoveries: We did not need to use wood to build an architectural installation and could do a sustainable construction. In fact wood would have been too heavy and we proved the ideas of Shigeru Ban. Not all architecture must be made out of wood and concrete. Although we only used paper, installation was still very heavy and the weight of the objects and the tensions between each distorted some of the stars.

• Opportunities: Take the time to really understand what you are trying to do for your given audience. Come up with a new name for our octagonal form/star. Continue to take such big risks and push new ideas.

Arch 101 Sp. 2014 Team Members: ChelseaCathyYoshiKaylaCarminaMonicaKatieShen