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AN ARCHITECTURE OF EPHEMERALITYRC2, Bartlett GADBook 2 University College London

Cindy Charisa Rukmani Thangam

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CONTENTS

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FORM AND MATERIALITY

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Texture experiments with wax

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Texture experiments with wax

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Digital texture experiments

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Texture and form experiments with wax

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EXPERIMENTS WITH ICE

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Polarization pattern simulation experiments by melting of coloured ice

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Sequence of images showing polarization pattern simulation experiments by melting of coloured ice

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DESIGN PROCESS

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Initial design component ideas and development of petal shaped component conceived on the idea of blossoming architecture

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Texturising and deform-ing the designed petal components using the grasshopper definition and with respect to different amounts of light

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Models of petal configurations deformed by polarization using different amount of light

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DIGITAL DESIGN EXPLORATION

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Conceptual design sketch focusing on the idea of a winter garden, allowing the architecture to take on an organic wild form.

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Conceptual design sketch focusing on the idea of a winter garden, and other design areas that would interact and change with change in climate

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Design models showing the early design ideas of the winter garden

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Design models showing the early design ideas of the moving parts in the restaurant

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Graphic information extracted from the polarization patterns formed suring creation and melting of ice on the river St Lawrence used to study and predict possible melting paths and hence used in the design for structural stability and temporal modification of architecture

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Using the graphic information extracted from the polarization patterns formed suring creation and melting of ice on the river St Lawrence used to study a possible configuration of a foundation was derived that would contradict or support where neccessary the melting of surface ice with increased stability.

This foundation is made of a material called Pykrete, which is a combination of wood pulp and ice and has been found to be as strong as reinforced concrete.

This material forms the main part of the underground landscape and supports the neccessary structure for the architecture.

Pykrete foundation

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Working models for the study of possible movement mechanisms.

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THE DESIGN

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Entrance to the museum

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Rear view of the museum showing winter garden, restaurant and gallery

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Exhibition gallery in winter

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DESIGN, MATERIALITY AND EPHEMERALITY PROGRESS

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Study model of exhibition gallery by the use of wood as a structural material and fabric as the main design material on which the ice is made to form.

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Study model of exhibition gallery by the use of wood as a structural material and fabric as the main design material on which the ice is made to form.

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Study model of exhibition gallery by the use of wood as a structural material and fabric as the main design material on which the ice is made to form.

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FINAL DESIGN MATERIALITY AND EPHEMERALITY

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Final model of exhibition gallery by the use of wood as a structural material and fabric as the main design material on which the ice is made to form.

The fabric is designed to increase inherent movement and facilitate increased formation of ice on the surfaces

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The fabric is designed to increase inherent movement and facilitate increased formation of ice on the surfaces

The design on the fabric is reminiscent of the veinous patterns on leaves that help in easy transmission of water to all parts and all the structural ingenuity of dragonfly wings

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Final model of exhibition gallery by the use of wood as a structural material and fabric as the main design material on which the ice is made to form.

The fabric is designed to increase inherent movement and facilitate increased formation of ice on the surfaces

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ARCHITECTURE OF EPHEMERALITY

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Physical model of the museum

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Physical model of the museum: entrance and view of exhibition gallery

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Physical model of the museum: view of exhibition gallery

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MATERIALITY TEST: HEATSHRINK EXPERIMENTS

Progressive decrease in the surface area of the heatshrink material to about 50% of its original area on heatingWhile the material shrinks it adapts to the geometry of the existing structure within it.

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Progressive field change of a composition of heatshrink tubes with modification limited in areas as a result of the interaction of individual tubes with one another. The change is composition relative of each other is similar to the effect found in the ‘Inclusions’ installation with paper and ice. The change in texture is found similar to the effect of digital polarization on surfaces

Initial composition of heatshrink tubes After 10 minutes of heating After 30 minutes of heating

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Final render of the entrance to the museum in winter

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Axonometric exploded view of the museum

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Restaurant

Restaurant and bar

Kitchen

Exhibition gallery

Exhibition gallery

Public Winter garden

Public Winter garden

Interaction space

Shop

Exit

Entrance

River St Lawrence

5m grid referenceMASTER PLAN

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Museum in the summer - the architecture is open(blossoming) and free of ice

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Museum in the winter - the architecture is closed in(budded) and completely frozen over

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Sequence of images showing change in the character of architecture due to climate change. the presence of fabric also results it inherent organic movement and realignment of itself between the stages of freezing and melting

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View of the entrance to the museum in winter

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Exhibition gallery in winter

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Exhibition gallery in winter