NEU*RAL SKY

install @ Beyond Wonderland

2010-03-27T02:25:00.001-07:00

install @ Beyond Wonderland

2010-03-27T02:19:00.000-07:00

spheres goin on

2010-03-16T00:15:00.001-07:00

fabric station

2010-03-16T00:14:00.000-07:00

strip lighting all prepped

2010-03-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

Lights

2010-03-14T23:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the camera flashes that we are installing into the spheres

Putting the Structure Together

2010-03-13T23:19:00.000-08:00

1/2 inch scale model

2010-03-13T23:17:00.000-08:00

We built a 1/2 inch scale model of the entire structural system to help us when we put together the full scale steel structure.

Node Template

2010-03-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

We 3d starch printed a template so we could more accurately mark where the nubs are to be welded to the spheres.

fabric-w-lights

2010-03-04T01:43:00.000-08:00

fabric movie

2010-03-04T01:40:00.000-08:00

Shell Progress

2010-02-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

Here is the shell CNCed from Plywood and assembled around a node. There were some issues with the CNCing, some of the notches were cut too deep, and others werent cut at all. That should be easily fixed though. The plywood material is not a good material to CNC, it splinters and break easily. I think we would be better off using MDF board instead. After some minor adjustments to the shell pieces we managed to fit it all together

Example with fabric wrapped around the shell

Digital model of the Shell

Rendering

2010-02-12T18:19:00.001-08:00

Video

2010-02-12T17:23:00.000-08:00

Progress Feb 12, 2010

2010-02-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

Node Shell - Ready for prototype

2010-02-10T21:51:00.001-08:00

Three DARK images by Victor - Still too Sparse

2010-02-10T21:44:00.001-08:00

Strobes and relays arrived

2010-02-09T22:57:00.001-08:00

Leg-Node-controller

2010-02-09T22:55:00.000-08:00

Revised Shell concept possibility

2010-02-09T22:48:00.000-08:00

This new shell idea utilizes all twelve points on the node and creates a star shape connection - Think of using 5-6?

Updated Digital Model

2010-02-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

This updated model is built using the standardized node. The tubes are connecting the spheres using the specific angles that the node allows for.

Clustering in Grasshopper

2010-01-30T20:12:00.000-08:00

What we need is basically a field
of nodes that are connected. The nodes should be three different sizes. And
the size of the nodes should be relative to the density (close together
nodes are small - distant ones are large)

This equation begins with a 3d grid (hexagonal or rectangular) of points
that serve as the centroids for the spherical nodes. The radius of each of the
spheres are determined by their distance to the nearest of 4 reaction points
(moveable referenced points in rhino). Then each sphere is moved
toward the reaction point that is nearest to a distance that is inversely
proportional to its radius (smaller spheres move greater distance aka closer
together).

Physical Node

2010-01-29T18:04:00.000-08:00

Great job to everyone who worked on making this prototype of the node. First Prototype built!

Lighting

2010-01-28T14:27:00.000-08:00

disposable camer flash $3.89 target, used to light up nodes through connection to low voltage power source and a relay switch.

Digital Model

2010-01-25T18:45:00.000-08:00

We need to create a rule for the connections:
for example:
-small nodes connect only to the medium nodes and the medium nodes only connect to the large nodes.
-One type of node is the parent and the parent connects to all of the "children" but the "children" do not have to connect to other "children"

Structural Node

2010-01-25T18:25:00.000-08:00

In order to be most economical in our design of the structural nodal system, we produced a universal node. This node is made up of two 1/8" steel plates notched together to form a cruciform shape. In order to increase the multipacity of use, the plates have anywhere between 16 and 18 2" diameter holes. The concept is that as you string your 1.5" diameter tube members through both plates in multiple directions the joint will stay strong.

Problems:
-will need +2in holes to accommodate a 1" pole
-wastes a lot of material
-Different angels require a different amount of clearance

Could be:
-instead of 2 plates there are 4 plates so the poles will only have to bridge 45 degrees instead of 90.

Inspiration for Structural Node

2010-01-25T18:03:00.000-08:00

Alexis Rochas: Still Robot

Mero Knoten

dodecahedron

The New Plan

2010-01-24T21:36:00.000-08:00

For everyone who could not make it to the meeting at 11 today we have made a few changes to the design.

The new idea:

This is an axonometric view of the new idea. We are still keeping the idea of the nodes and the structure will be very similar to what we were originally thinking.

There will be three different size nodes; each node is a spherical shape (could be any shape, does not have to be a sphere)
-the smaller nodes will cluster closer together and as the nodes get larger they become more spaced out.
-These nodes will be connected similarly to our original idea
-The frame for the nodes will be made out of a very rigid plastic so that it will be light but still rigid enough to hold its shape.

The fabric stretched between the nodes could expand and contract to create more shade when needed

The structure is very similar to before; we are still using a small node that is connected together by steel poles.

Things to work on:
Nodes team still needs to come up with a feasible way to connect the poles together

Physical team needs to make a model of this design to see how it will look and work

We need to consider the wind in our design; with such large shapes the wind could easily cause many problems. One idea is to make the “spheres” more permeable. Like in this picture from Fox’s Bubble installation, the fabric covering the spheres could be broken up into panels that can open and close to allow air to pass through.

One thing that would be very helpful is to come up with a cluster/module of these different sized nodes that can be replicated and fit together to make a larger sized project. Money will probably determine how many times we can replicate this module.

Another thing we could consider is how a person can walk through the space. If these nodes are spread out among the installation at varying heights, how can the person walk around them or can they walk under them?

The Plan

2010-01-24T21:27:00.001-08:00

At this moment we have our basic design for how we want it to look and we have ideas on how it will interact. Perhaps one thing that is missing is the reason why we have this design; what is it doing for the people at Coachella? Instead of having an interesting looking structure with some arbitrary movement (pulsating, contracting, etc) we could make it fit more into the context, give it a purpose. This does not mean we have to change the design completely. I think that we can still consider this without changing our entire design. In reality the project will most likely change as we figure out how these ideas physically work but that’s okay (as long as we don’t get carried away and cant finish it).

Here is a broken down list of the areas each group needs to start focusing on:

Interactive (Lighting and Kinetics):
Needs to come up with a concept, a reason for why the “sculpture” interacts and moves with the surrounding people and site.

Fabric:
Need to start testing fabrics
-how the fabrics wrap around different kinds of structures.
-the material properties; is it stretchy? How transparent is it? Is it porous; can wind pass through it? How durable is it? How can it be connected/sewed together?

Nodes/Base (Structure?)
Needs to start making prototypes of how the nodes and connections are going to work.
-should consider how easy it is to make, how much time it will take, the cost of the material and how much, how flexible it is to human error (which will always happen)
-should also consider different ideas of structure

Physical:
Need to start making models of the conceptual ideas.
-needs to collaborate with the other teams and build prototypes of

Digital:
Needs to start simulating these prototypes and ideas
Needs to figure out how the people are going to use and walk through the space
Needs to figure out the density of the project; where are the dense and less dense places
Needs come up with a size and figure out the complexity of the structure

*Every group needs to be in contact with each other one way or another. Interactive group needs to let the digital people know so they can start modeling, the physical people so they can start making mock-ups, and the other groups so they can work on their part accordingly. The production team needs to collaborate with the digital team so they can simulate the ideas. And once this process gets going it will continue to cycle over again. As one idea changes it affects other parts of the design. You get the idea.

Things to think about:

How does the structure interact/look in the Daytime with full occupancy?
-Nighttime with full occupancy
-Daytime with few people?
-Nighttime with few people?

-Interaction could respond to the sun
-Fabric could expand to provide shade in the daytime
-lights added to the fabric can show the effect of the expansion and contraction in the nighttime (Interaction with people?)

-“easy” construction
-elegant design
-one detail connection for the entire project

-Large volumes made with minimal materials
-easy/cheap connections

concept sketch

2010-01-19T15:40:00.000-08:00

Concept Render

2010-01-19T10:49:00.000-08:00

This gets the idea across fairly well in terms of volumes as structure and a network.
The light will be more filling up the volumes and moving very quickly rather than these lightening bolts

favorite-concept images

2010-01-19T10:47:00.000-08:00

network01 movie

2010-01-01T15:39:00.000-08:00

network movie

2010-01-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

vascular network

2010-01-01T15:24:00.001-08:00

neural network

2010-01-01T15:22:00.000-08:00

biological network

2010-01-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

biological precedent

2010-01-01T15:18:00.000-08:00

network of kinetic forms

2010-01-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

forms make a network

2010-01-01T15:14:00.000-08:00

volumes with ephemeral structure

2010-01-01T15:11:00.000-08:00

forms must be 3-d and volumetric

2010-01-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

single forms combine to make a seamless single form

2010-01-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

structure beneath to make natural forms

2010-01-01T14:53:00.000-08:00

using fabric that is taut and kinetic

2010-01-01T14:51:00.000-08:00

surround people and be tactile

2010-01-01T14:49:00.000-08:00

must come to the ground to make "environment"

2010-01-01T14:46:00.000-08:00

schmitzberger sketches - hard forms

2010-01-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

similar precedent small and large

2010-01-01T14:42:00.000-08:00

using the wind

2010-01-01T14:40:00.000-08:00

jelleyfish movement and luminescence

2010-01-01T13:37:00.000-08:00

N*E*U*R*A*L S*K*Y

install @ Beyond Wonderland

install @ Beyond Wonderland

spheres goin on

fabric station

strip lighting all prepped

Lights

Putting the Structure Together

1/2 inch scale model

Node Template

fabric-w-lights

fabric movie

Shell Progress

Rendering

Video

Progress Feb 12, 2010

Node Shell - Ready for prototype

Three DARK images by Victor - Still too Sparse

Strobes and relays arrived

Leg-Node-controller

Revised Shell concept possibility

Updated Digital Model

Clustering in Grasshopper

Physical Node

Lighting

Digital Model

Structural Node

Inspiration for Structural Node

The New Plan

The Plan

concept sketch

Concept Render

favorite-concept images

network01 movie

network movie

vascular network

neural network

biological network

biological precedent

network of kinetic forms

forms make a network

volumes with ephemeral structure

forms must be 3-d and volumetric

single forms combine to make a seamless single form

structure beneath to make natural forms

using fabric that is taut and kinetic

surround people and be tactile

must come to the ground to make "environment"

schmitzberger sketches - hard forms

similar precedent small and large

using the wind

jelleyfish movement and luminescence

NEU*RAL SKY