Thermochromatic Sustainability, Phosphorescent Fungi Gardens and Booze Belching Synthetic Biology

Posted by Charles Lee

Charles Lee has been working with  Moving Color Tile to help develop new thermochromatic tile that helps thermoregulate exterior facades and Thermal Mass.  Check out the latest animation.  

I have also given visual support from the Photobioreactor Sculpture Project for the IGEM 2009 synthetic biology team from Uppsalla Sweden and also Uppsalla Universities International student outreach program. I hope one day to be able to fill my photobioreactors with there biofuel producing wonders.

I would also like to thank Prof Dennis Jardin of SFSU for his consultation on a recent research project looking at the possibility of creating an underground glow in the dark mushroom garden.  Here is the most recent rendering

Disoriented Strands

posted by Chris Chalmers

This project is an exploration of Statics vs. Statistics. That is to say it is a refutation of the ideal “truss” structure, which is statically determinate, in favor of alternatives based on a logic of statistical probability. While the logic of the truss is very efficient, it is not necessarily the most effective for unpredictable load patterns. The statistical approach, in which material is allocated according to where stress is most likely to occur, is closer to the structural logic that has evolved in living systems.

Fiber structures are common in Nature. Monodirectional structures such as bones or tree trunks use oriented fibers to resist axial loads . Multidirectional structures, like those shown below, use fibers in a random pattern to resist multiple loads. They often act as membranes because they can deform without  breaking.  Their resiliency  is due, in part, to the redundancy of their overlapping members.

melon rind

type I collagen

felt

These structures are called statically indeterminate because it is  impossible to determine the load path using statics: the hand calculations that have been used by structural engineers since the 1800’s. Today we have computers and nonlinear analysis to solve for complex structures, but buildings are still designed and constructed in terms of  the old methods.  In the words of Karl Chu: “Architecture has still yet to incorporate the architecture of computation into the computation of architecture” *

The goal of this project is to create a building method that  relies on redundancy and statistical probablity as a structural  logic instead of efficiency and static determinacy.   I used  Grasshopper to create a randomized fiber membrane on a base surface in the following steps:

First, points are located on the surface using a probability algorithm in which areas of  higher curvature are more likely to be populated (surface is color-coded for gaussian curvature in these screenshots). This should yeild a higher density of material in those areas.

Next, the points are used as origins for randomly oriented strips of material based on “plank line” geometry (see earlier post), which conforms to the curvature of the surface but can be fabricated using perfectly straight strips of  material.

Finally, the length of the strips  is set to achieve the proper overlap. Individual strip lengths adjust to curvature as well: shorter pieces where curvature is more intense. Holes are placed at the intersections for attachment and the strips are unrolled for fabrication.

This project is designed to address structural requirements in a statistical manner rather than a determinant one. That is to say without exhaustive analysis of the stresses in each member. As in many living systems, more material is allocated where more stress is most likely to occur, and where more strength is needed to maintain the surface’s intended shape.

This method could be modified by adding structural analysis of the base surface instead of simple curvature analysis.  Finite element analysis programs like NASTRAN or ANSYS will analyze a simple shell and output a deformation map similar to the curvature map shown here. All that is needed is to apply the bitmap to the surface, then vary point density by color, rather than by the native curvature graph.

*For an insightful analysis of design/construction paradigms in flux,  see Karl Chu’s essay: “The Metaphysics of Genetic Archtecture” in Arquitecturas Geneticas-II

melon rind

Optical Illusions reveal our Biological Hardware and Software

Posted by Charles Lee.

I love optical Illusions.  I often think they can be sustainable.  Its an animated screen without using energy.  They perform from our living experience.  There animation is free energy.  As an architect I am always interested in the use of optical illusions to help emphasize and animate still images.  I feel like there is still deeply profound discoveries that can be made in this field.  My studies are not, but one day I hope they will evolve into something special.  How could this technique inform digital modeling techniques?    Here is a fun study in a series of explorations I have been toying with lately.

Explorations in 3d Printing

Posted by Charles Lee

I am really excited about my latest research into large format 3d printing.  I have been doing a research oriented project with Ideate Inc in San Francisco.  Using there Z-corp Zprinter 650 we have been printing a tower study I created a few months ago. The trouble shooting has been incredible helpful on both sides and I believe it is my most productive 3d printing exercise I have done to date.  If we can get it into the curing fluid in one piece it will be a tremendous success.  I have attached the latest build photos as well as a few past projects I have completed. 

Unrolling Surfaces in Grasshopper

posted by Chris Chalmers

This Grasshopper definition is proof of concept for a VB component that unrolls developable surfaces to the XY plane. To make the component, I’ve adapted a rhinoscript by Andrew Kudless (of Matsys) to run in VB, enlisting the help of CCA student Ripon DeLeon to write the code.This example uses the VB component to create unrolled surfaces from 4 curves that I have distorted using the cage edit command in rhino. To use the definition on your own projects, simply choose any 4 curves to loft between in sequential order.

The blocks of components are grouped somewhat clearly (I hope) so you can add more curves by copy-pasting more blocks and making the few required re-connections to make it work.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

download the definition here:unroll3.ghx
and the rhino base file here: unroll test.3dm

For the above definition, I’ve added tabs along the edges of the unrolled surfaces for ease of attachment. The benefit of using a WYSIWYG tool like Grasshopper for fabrication planning is that you can make quick decisions about parameters like tab spacing or sheet layout visually, as you design. If you use this definition for your own projects, send me a short description. I’d love to see what you make out of it!

The unrolled shape is about 96% accurate (judged by difference in surface area between unrolled and original surfaces). This seems to be fine for simple paper models, but would cause serious problems in more complex structures. I would appreciate feedback from any of you who care to take a look at the VB component and offer suggestions on how to make it more accurate.

Metamorphosis and Transfiguration

Posted by Charles Lee.

Transfigure:  The definition of which is to give a new and typically exalted or spiritual appearance to : transform outwardly and usually for the better.  It is part of a series of works that were inspired by my healing time spent in the Monarch Groves of Santa Cruz while physically and spiritually struggling with surgeries and chemotherapy for aggressive testicular cancer. Attached are a few examples of work that came from the series including a painting that was recently auctioned at a fundraiser for breast cancer.  Thank you for the generous support.

AIASF Parametric Canopy Install Photos

see more photos at our flickr site!

the cable mesh was designed using a grasshopper definition that Chris wrote to calculate resultant vectors for all the backstays, and output cable lengths to an excel spreadsheet.

volunteers used these laminated cards to arrange the cups on the canopy in an algorithmic pattern…

which actually worked out pretty well!

Installation Party, this Friday Sept. 11th!

Join BIOS Design Collective at our happy hour installation party, 4-8pm this Friday at the Stable Cafe, 2128 Folsom St. San Francisco

BIOS needs volunteers to help put the finishing touches on our parametric canopy,  installed at the Stable Cafe near 17th & Folsom St. in San Francisco (map). The canopy is part of the annual Architecture and the City festival being put on this fall by the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco chapter (SFAIA).    

We will be attaching over 2000 plastic cups to the canopy in Stable’s back courtyard (Cups were sustainably harvested from the SF Outside Lands Concert). The SFAIA’s  festival theme Everyday Design “celebrates the many smart, ingenious and unexpected ways design impacts our daily lives, unveiling the unseen hand of the designer in everything from civic and institutional works to landscaping and residential design.” It’s going to be a fun evening where our collective labor and celebration of architecture and design can earn beer, tapas, and prizes!

Please RSVP with Chris Chalmers
chris@biosarch.com

Parametric Inspiration in Nature

posted by Chris Chalmers

First off,  her are some photos of plant patterns. They have a clear logic of cellular aggregation that can be recognized in a lot of contemporary digital design. Whether surface subdivision or incremental accretion, the logic seems to be that each element repeats at a slight angle, scale and displacement from the last. Living forms are often thought to be the result of  a “bottom-up” process (each piece created according to local rules) but these examples still yield a regular pattern that could easily have been “top down” in the sense that each piece was arranged according to an over-arching plan or grid.  (not to suggest “intelligent design”! This a blog about architecture, not theology).

Next, the following are photos of rocks found along the bay shore in San Francisco. They are an example of  a pattern created by the  nonlinear process of sedimentation and erosion. Their pattern is free of the gridlike organization shown in the living patterns above, yet suggests a decipherable logic that could prove applicable to an algorithmic process. Notice the heirarchy of cells:  groups of similar size and shape organized by the layers of harder rock.

Fun with Revit

Posted by Charles Lee.

Here are some recent studies I have been working on in Revit 2010.  I am learning alot from these both the potential and the limitations.

Fiberous Tower Study and Revit Conceptual Mass Testing

Posted by Charles Lee.

In my ongoing quest to better myself in all things Autodesk I have done two studies one in 3D Studio Max 2010 and the Other in Revit 2010.  The first one is an exploration of a tower constructed of interweaving Fiber Bundles Wikipedia has a good description of the reasons I am interested in this

Fiber, also spelled fibre, is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread. They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together. Human uses for fibers are diverse. They can be spun into filaments, string or rope, used as a component of composite materials, or matted into sheets to make products such as paper or felt. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials.

Since last year when I presented at Acadia I have wanted to study Fiberous Buildings after hearing a great lecture on fibers by George Jeronimidis

The other exploration was using the new Conceptual massing tool in Revit 2010 for a tower study.  I used the photos of Ta Prohm as a formal strategy for the generation of complex geometry.  I was able to produce these in an evening. I really am enjoying using Revit!

Plank Lines

posted by Chris Chalmers

This is an exploration of  geodesic curves and their use in the  fabrication of free form shapes. For this study, I adapted a grasshopper definition by Lorenz Lachauer of  Eat-a-Bug. Geodesic curves are defined as the shortest path between two points along a curved surface. This has some connotations for structural efficiency, however the interesting thing for me is that when unrolled, the lines are perfectly straight. Linear components are beneficial in two ways: first, they can be nested efficiently on sheet material (see the strips laid out above). Second, you don’t need fancy CNC machinery to fabricate them. All you need to do it manually is a set of dimensions: lengths of strips and distances between their attachments.

download the grasshopper definition : TurtleTest5.ghx

Buckminster Fuller’s domes popularized  Geodesic geometry, but they are only half the story. More varied versions have been used by Frei Otto,  Shigeru Ban and HUT Wood Studio.

Variation:

The examples above use a large number of regularly placed start points. The example below, perhaps more interesting, used fewer start points but allowed the strips to wrap around the surface a few times. If we change the location of the start points and the angle of the strips, this could be used to concentrate material in key places, making  structure more responsive than a regularized mesh. Obviously lots more to explore here.

h

download the grasshoper definitionttp://green-ideas.com/BIOS/TurtleTest5.ghx

CNC friendly numbers in Rhino

posted by Chris Chalmers

Single-line fonts are the standard for laser cutting and CNC milling because they are more eficient to cut. Somebody correct me if I’m missing something here, but  it seems impossible to get a single-line font to appear in Rhino using the typical text tools. I’ve been doing quite a bit of CNC milling lately, so I used this technique to create single-line labels for my cut files by using pre-defined blocks instead of text.

The script is set up as a function so you can incorporate it into your scripts easily. To use it, you have to first import the rhino file with the text blocks into your file.  Then run the script and it will simply turn the text you want to use into the appropriate block and place it.

The beauty of this system is that you can make your own custom fonts! Just draw any shapes you want to represent your letters and numbers. Make them into blocks with the appropriate names (letterA, number 2 etc..), and the script will place them instead. Make sure they are 1 unit high in the current unit system (ie: 1 foot, 1 inch, 1 meter etc..)  for the sizing bit to work properly.

I’ve always thought that a system based on geometry like latin numerals or braile might  wok better than text for labeling parts. I’d love to see your experiments, please send them to me!

(remember to right-click and save-as)

numbers.3dm

numbers-function.rvb

Biotexture – Tsukiji fish market (築地市場, Tsukiji shijō?)

Posted by Charles Lee.

A few snapshots of Biotexture Cataloging.  Photos by Charles Lee

Next Stop Design – NaCi

Posted by Charles Lee.

Please help support my latest design entry NaCI  Bus Stop.   The sponsors describe the project as  part of a research project called “Crowdsourcing Public Participation in Transit Planning.” Traditionally, government agencies ask for public input on planning projects by holding open meetings and workshops. The purpose of this project is to get this public input in a different way: online.  Here are a few images from the project.

Inspirational Drawings

Posted by Charles Lee.

During my career as a designer I have had multiple comments about the need to show Hand Drawn Artwork. The scetches I have chosen to show are not of buildings or projects.   They deal with Biological patterning.  Human spirituality related to the body and mind construct. Explorations of cubisms broken planes.  A pictographic surrealist derive embedded in an emergent pattern logic.  A Chinese inpired Spirit Animal Dragon.  Some fantastical decorative work.  Abstract Geometry exploring the concept of structure. Etc.  Please feel free to comment if you have any questions etc.  All images are copyright 2009 Charles Lee.

Working with Found Objects

posted by Chris Chalmers

More often than not, new parametric component-based designs rely on custom fabricated pieces for their construction. Their form is allowed to be free-flowing only because the individual pieces vary dimensionally to accommodate. However, the use of re-used or recycled materials often means working with fixed dimensions.  Some of my current work  involves negotiating free-form designs using either found objects, or stock items which are available only in a finite number of sizes.

CupWall

This project uses translucent plastic cups, attached to a laser-cut cardboard substructure.

The mockup below was made with actual beer cups from a party (They have been washed).

The corrugated cardboard ribs have  attachment clips laser-cut into their profiles.

The cups are also held- together with the plastic clips used in the mockup, which are  laser-cut from acrylic sheet.

Tile Wall

This project attempts to create surface with variable texture using a fixed module. We began with FOA’s use of moon-shaped pavers in their South East coastal park project because they adapt well to the compound curvature of the surface. Our project  uses hexagons in order to accentuate the pattern formed between the tiles as their spacing is varied. As the spacing increases, a second system is introduced between the tiles: small square windows. The idea here is that the tiles could gradually dissapear as their spacing increases, giving way to more glass in an Escher-esque transformation.

CupWall

CupW

Paversall

Living Architecture in the Jungles of Cambodia

I travelled to Cambodia to document the temples of  Angkor Wat built by the Ancient Khmer Empire.   Some of the temples are deep in mature rainforest.   I visited the temples of  Ta Prohm (Khmer: ប្រាសាទតាព្រហ្ម)  near Angkor Thom.  This site has been made accesible but much of the mature vegetation has been left intact.  Two tree types have become intertwined with the stone ruins, the larger is either the silk-cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra) or thitpok Tetrameles nudiflora^[6], and the smaller is either the strangler fig (Ficus gibbosa).^[7] or Gold Apple (Diospyros decandra).   I love recent projects in contemporary architecture that speculate of a living spaces of architecture  grown from a formed trees and bushes such as FAB TREE HAB by Mitchell Joachim.  The concept inspired me to document what the real spaces of this type of architecture look like.  below I have posted a few of the interesting cases I found there.  I have heard of even better examples in the area but did not have time to investigate,  they have recently cleared most of the landmines in those new areas.

All Images Copyright 2009 Charles Lee. All Rights Reserved.

Solar Sheep

BIOS has been shortlisted in the Andes Sprouts Society design competition for its entry called Solar Sheep. See the short list on bustler.net

Thailand Inspired Boat Dock

Designed by Charles Lee.  As I research for my upcoming trip to Thailand, Cambodia, and Japan I have been inspired by the mystique of the far east and its relationship to dock communities.  In an ongoing group of studies I am using to develop my modelliing skills I produced this model of a sealife inspired boat dock.  I like the idea of communal gathering spaces in boat communities where trade and work can be done before retreating to the privacy of your quarters.  I can imagine it using some of the performative skins I have suggested in previous designs but also like the idea of a static canopy.