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.

Vertebral Tower Study

Designed by Charles Lee.  Tower inspired by the aggregation of vertabrae to generate a spinal column.  Also inspired by the work of  fellow Bios member Jason Chang.  Congratulations are in order for his new job at Neil Denari Architects in Los Angeles.  We will miss him but we always knew he would establish a remote office.

Concourse Study

Study into modelling procedure and techniques in airport concourse design and testing.

Aortic Arc – Exhibition night!

posted by Chris Chalmers

Photos from the debut of the Aortic Arc at Opening night of CCA’s FLUX exhibition

(please see flickr archive of this project here)

Thanks to all of you who helped with the installation, this project would not have been possible without you!

Aortic Arc Final Installation

posted by Chris Chalmers

Dissipative System Study

Study into possible tectonics and materials for a new building.  Uses curved Cri-Regulite glass for light transmission regulation.  Dissipation fins help passively heat and cool the building.  Glazed ceramic cladding is used for interior and exterior of the shell. The cermamic has thermal color changing abilities.  Uses cellular component strategy for shell assembly.  Compacted earth floors are used on the interior of the building for temperature control and a biophilic connection to the earth.  The lamp in the interior is grown crystals on a mesh substrate.

Olavaquero

The Eco-Surf Resort Designed by Charles Lee has been completed.  There is a nice website to make reservations .  Here are a few images of the house and a few drawings I did last time I was in Mexico

Mosque Study

I love mosques.

Image by Charles Lee

Highly Commended in ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize: Migrant Community Center

posted by Chris Chalmers

Chris Chalmers and Jason Chang were recently given high commendation for their Migrant Community Center project,  described in more detail in this previous post.

ArtVenture is an international organization supporting human rights through art and design. Here is a description from their website:

“In all societies, the development of the arts has been a sign of culture and light. Yet not all governments provide citizens with the ‘freedom to create’ needed to foster innovation, commerce and prosperity. Some governments harass and impoverish their citizens, steal resources, stifle entrepreneurship and undermine human ingenuity and hope. In these societies, art can play an important role in giving a voice to those who are denied opportunity and resources. The ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize consists of three categories. The main prize is open to individuals or artistic groups in all creative fields including the visual and performance arts, music, crafts, design and literature. The winner of this award will receive US$ 50,000.This is not a typical art prize. It does not simply judge the skill of the artist but rather recognises how the artist has used their work to promote awareness and alert people to the plight of others. The inaugural prize will be a unique and significant award and will be judged by a panel of eminent artists, commentators and human rights experts.”

download a pdf of all the winners here

Phenotype Tower

posted by Chris Chalmers

I haven’t posted for awhile, but that means I’ve been hard at work on exciting stuff. This is some old work I thought I’d put up, just to fill the gap until I have more developed new work.

This advanced studio explored the use of parametric software and scripting in the design of a 300’ residential tower. The site is adjacent to an exit-ramp off the bay bridge and is located in San Francisco’s Transbay neighborhood, currently an area of intense urban development.

The name of the studio: “phenotype” references a phenomenon found in biological organisms in which individuals with almost identical genetic makeup (the “genotype”) exhibit different traits based on the specifics of their environment. Biological response is simulated in this project by setting a base typology for a residential unit (the “genotype”) and then writing a script that causes it to vary according to environmental parameters. Parameters include the unit’s height in the building, proximity to other units and orientation to pre-determined internal volumes or “vertical plazas”.

Structural integrity and mechanical systems are distributed throughout the building within individual units and by their attachment to each other. Thus the building maintains continuity without relying on a regularized structure, other than the vertical circulation cores.

Chair Designs for OFS Hotseat Competition

Here are some images from a current competition I have entered.  Visit the site to find out more about them.  HOTSEAT

NO Phycological Follies

I entered Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens 2009 garden competition.  I didn’t win but I still enjoyed the idea that it could be built and what great gifts they could have sold at the gift shop.

Cactaceae Tower

Cacti are distinctive and unusual plants, which are adapted to extremely arid and hot environments, showing a wide range of anatomical and physiological features which conserve water.  The design explores strategies for the skyscraper typology in the desert environment.  Uses different materials to passively ventilate and generate multiple thermal massing conditions within the interior of the building.

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Thiessen Polygon Table – Caesarstone Competition Entry

I recently entered a table design into the Dwell Magazine and Caesarstone Table competition.  All entries are available at Dwell.com .  In mathematics, a Voronoi diagramis a special kind of decomposition of a metric space determined by distances to a specified discrete set of objects in the space, e.g., by a discrete set of points.  Voronoi diagrams that are used in geophysics and meteorology to analyze spatially distributed data are called Thiessen polygons. My design worked on the notion that the table is a place where agents interact socially over geophysical space (Caesarstone).  As the conversation shifts so does the spatial influence of the participants on the table.  These are defined by a thiessen polygons.  The base of the table is a 3d path of travel from one thiessen polygon diagram to another extruded in the z direction.  The polygons are then subdivided and generate a structural lattice to support the cantilevered table top from the base.

Design and Images by Charles Lee

Mutations of the Student Body

I want to show a few images of a project I did last summer as a consultant with Mark Donohue and Americo Diaz-Obrigan of Visible Research Office for the California College of the Arts Student Services.  It isn’t biological in makeup but it has a life of its own.  They have installed the counter top which is a torqued chevron and also did a mock-up of the ropes that where to be strung in the space.  The client however refused to do the ropes and chose instead to put the computers on the walls instead of kiosks as in the original design which detracts from the ropes beauty of communicating the torqued ceiling and floor.  I am happy and sad of the state of this project.  Happy that many aspects are installed.  Sad that the space could not grow into its maturity and instead was stunted by a budget drought or worse yet a critic.  I would love to hear your thoughts.

Design by Mark Donohue , Charles Lee, Americo Diaz Obrigan

Photos by Americo

Modeling, Animation and Rendering by Charles Lee

ACADIA 2008 – Chemical Signaling

posted by Chris Chalmers

I’ve just returned from ACADIA in Mineapolis, where I had an amazing time. Click on the image above to see the slideshow I presented there. Sorry, I’ve only tested it on firefox, it may not work well on other browsers.

- Chris

Endothermic Manifold Animation

animation and design by Charles Lee