21/05/19

Today I had a laser cutting session booked for 10:00am. The night before I finished off my rhino file in which I implemented my bending application into my sleeping platform design. I decided to go with the third style of kerf as it allowed the material to bend easily in two different directions. I have included several photos of my rhino file and laser cutting process below.

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After a couple hours of waiting for the laser cutter to do it thing It was finally done. At first I was not sure what to expect and to be completely honest I wasn’t super confident in the bending ability actually working. However I was pleasantly surprised as when i picked it up out of the bed it instantly bent, much more than I expected!!

Unfortunately The frame in which I intended the kerf to bend around was much too small. The kerfed panels, although very flexible were unable to bend around the tight curves.

One possible solution could be to decrease the size of the cutout shape and make it more frequent. So for example it is 3 and a half deep, doubling that to 7 deep could help to make it bend more. Another possible solution could be to keep the current kerf panels and alter the frame to accommodate. This would be the quicker option in regards to laser cutting time, but I do feel as if this is a bit if a cop out.

Nevertheless I have booked another laser cutting session for Tuesday the 4th, hopefully I will have a new and improved version of my model to cut out by then!

In order for my model to achieve its fluid curved form it requires a flexible material. This got me thinking, rather than using corrugated card like I have previously in my hand made models I want to be able to use more realistic materials such as wood and glass. Is there a way to make wood bend? Short answer, yes. Okay good so now I know it’s possible, how do I go about doing it?

There are several different ways in which to make wood bend, it can be moulded and shaped or heated but the technique that i’m most interested in is “Kerf” cutting. This is the process of cutting a series of geometrics into a ridged sheet of wood or plastic in order to make it bend. There are several patterns and designs that are suited for difficult applications. To figure out what pattern is best suited for my design I had to do a series of test cuts.

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My finding’s reveal that each cut have a different amount of give in it. I have decided to go with the bottom left kerf, which consists of a pattern of diamonds, This was the most flexible and allowed the material to bend in both directions.

After experimenting with more curved forms I was interested in finding out more and what really could be achieved. Luckily enough I was scrolling through instagram one day and come across this beautiful interior designed by Koichi Takada Architects for the National Museum of Qatar.

This space truely makes the viewer feel as if they are inside a crevasse or among some sort of cave system. This is a beautiful space that flooded with warmth from the skylights high above.

I truly want to take inspiration from this design, i also feel that this material use is this way would be suited to my sleeping platform intervention idea.

After looking into Material Creatives – Lumino the dentists downtown space I really became intrigued by the curves. So going off on a complete tangent I decided to play with this idea. Using corrugated cardboard I made a quick model to explore its properties. Not sure at this stage what full scale material this would correlate to, I am thinking perforated wood could possibly work.

This sparked my interest, and I asked myself the question, how could I make this form into an inhabitable space. Intrigued decided to make another quick model, this time creating and curved platform/outline for the corrugated card to bend around. (Below are several images)

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This was definitely a step in the right direction and I was very pleased with the outcome. The continuations curve suggests and deeper feeling of space. I can imagine the dip being some sort of sunken sleeping space for one stranger and the risen another possible space. I really like the undulating surface that the corrugated card creates.

One idea I do have that could be interesting is to mirror another curved form above, creating a more defined space. I want to further explore this in more future development.

6.5.19 – Mon

Today in studio we were asked to bring a more refined version of our proposed sleeping platform for two strangers. This time making sure to work in the scale of 1:20 was much more important.

I decided to develop and continue on form my first model. This is what I came up with.

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Again taking elements from my previous model I attempted to develop them into a more substantial ideal. This model proposes two seperate sleeping spaces, one being elevated above the other. This was my first attempt at creating something more concrete. This space is elevated off the ground requiring a ladder to access the space. also to get onto the top platform one would have to clim over the others space, creating confrontation.

In class we had to present our models to our table groups and then decided on which one to be presented to a larger group. Mine was chosen, however I was not able to explain it, my group had to do it on my behalf.

During this explanation, one this that came up was the angled lower platform. This is a particular moment that everyone liked, and because of this I have decided to develop and expand this idea.

I have done some research on material creatives Lumino the dentists downtown space. This refurbished space really incorporates a-lot of curved forms and this is something that I would like to play with.

01.05.19 – Thu 10:30am

Today I had to go to the dentist 😦 However not just any dentist as I soon discovered. Being new to Auckland my regular dentist down in Wellington wasn’t an option, So I decided to go to Lumino. The downtown location has recently been re designed and the fit-out is very impressive. The whole space was very warm and welcoming and didn’t actually feel like a dentist at all, I felt like I was in a high end shop or cafe. This space reminded me of of our current studio project. The space seemed somewhat unconventional for a dentist practice, and we are required to design unconventional accommodation for two strangers so it links in this way.

After analysing and admiring the space I began to wonder who was responsible for its design. After a couple minutes of googling searching I figured out that it was Material Creative, they are a small Auckland based interior design firm that started up in 2009. They are responsible for many of the fit-outs of Aucklands favourite restaurants and shops .

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I particularly like the flet roof panels that are arranged in a wave like form. The space also includes these acrylic rods that also pay homage to this wave like form. This fitout by Material Creative really reminded me of my project 2 intervention where I designed a series of translucent curtains. I now have a greater insight into potential materials to make use of and also new ways in which to design my sleep space.

I think something that is particularly important is the design of the ceiling. When sleeping its one of the main things we look at so making sure that this has been taken into consideration is just as important as the other elements.

01.05.19 – Wed 9:01pm

Tonight I stumbled upon a Danish artist named Jeppe Hein. He’s widely known for his interactive sculptures and installations. In particular his “long modified bench” project quite fascinating. The installation was showcased back in 2011 at the Auckland Art Gallery.

The installation consists of a series of curved benches that snake around in a peculiar fashion. This unconventional design encourages people to interact differently, not only with the benches but with one another, creating new experiences.

I found Heins project particularly interesting as it relates perfectly back to our current studio project, in which we have to design a space for two strangers to sleep. The configuration of this space could draw on Heins bench concept and alter the way in which two strangers experience sleep.

The “bench” creates one fluid moment in time, as its twists and turns, this reminds me of my project 2 intervention where I decided to design a series of curtains into the gallery space. Heins’ installation is also in keeping with threshold of movement/stasis something that I would like to focus on again in project 3.

I believe now that this is permanently in place around the Auckland viaduct.

01.05.19 – Wed 9:00am

After being introduced to the project we were given the rest of the lesson to come up with some initial sketches of our sleeping platform design.

This is supposed to be a series of platforms that are suspended from the roof. Using the materials we had on hand we were asked to create quick models of our sketches, ideally trying to work in the scale of 1:20 because thats the required scale of our final proposal.

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This was my first concept model. Although somewhat resembling my initial drawing it is quite rough. the wire on top is to show and suggest that it is suspended from the ceiling.

01.05.19 – Wed 9:00am

Today we were introduced to our third and final project for our (Spatial Fabrication Studio 1) This project requires us to design unconventional accommodation for two strangers. Our proposal is to sit within the existing gallery building and must also take into account everyday rituals such as cooking, cleaning and changing.

The deliverable requirements of this project are as follows:

1. A site drawing putting your proposal into context, demonstrating its strong relation to place. 
2. A full set of floor plans, sections, and elevations (1:50 minimum) of the entire building showing all levels and spaces, and how the design comes together in relation to the existing building. 
3. A scale model (1:50) of your SLEEP / WAKE TWO PLACES TWO STRANGERS design.
4. A detailed model (1:20) showing how your ‘bed’ or ‘platform for sleeping’ is made and assembled. 
5. A series of interior views showing inhabitation and use of the proposal, and how it changes over time. 
6. Blog
7. Design report that documents your design process through images and reflective writing (Project 1-3).