It has been some time since my last decent blog post. It has been a very busy couple of weeks!
We decided to go with the dome concept, using triangular modules of different materials. This opened up a whole new area of research. We met up on a Saturday with cardboard triangles in an attempt to create a dome.
The result was thus: Obviously, things didn't go to plan, however, this led to some googling, which revealed a major flaw in the direction we were heading. It turns out that the geodesic dome is constructed of hexagons as wells as pentagons. We had thought that we could purely use the one triangle size, but we now have to use two, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Once we figured this out, we were able to create a template and create a paper dome.
I was quite a fan of the dome concept. I did some research on Buckminster Fuller, who is very well known for his use of geodesic dome construction. I found this video on Youtube which had different quotes and concepts brought forward by Fuller, which was rather interesting.
So, the time had come to work on our submission. We got our triangular pieces laser cut, thanks to the CAD template Terri had been working with. The pieces looked awesome, especially the ones with the transparent sheeting which were used to represent windows.
I was surprised as to how long it took to construct the model. The concept of the geodesic dome seems simple, but to put it into practice was freakishly difficult. We did it in the end, but I will admit that I wasn't completely happy with the finished product. We clearly didn't factor in the amount of time it would take to construct, meaning we didn't have enough time for those little embellishments which would have made the model pop. Having said all that, I get easily frustrated when I have an idea in my head and it doesn't turn out in practice. The dome was a great concept, and I still stand by our idea. I hope the people who view the model understand the concept behind where we were heading.
Then there was the video. For me this was a great medium to display our design process. I was able to incorporate the images of the final model taken by Patience + Munya, as well as the CAD images that Terri had supplied. I was a bit of a novice using the movie maker program, but it didn't take long to get into a groove. I created a storyboard so I knew what I had to incorporate into the video. Beginning with images of the finished model, I lead the viewer through the brief, then our concept, followed by images of the various triangular modules, then construction, as well as sustainable features, topped off with our process, ending with the final model again. The whole video was soundtracked with The Potbelleez "Are You With Me". To me, the song choice is just as important as the video itself. There were some lyrics that related to the project : "Together, together, we're stronger as one"; "From the inside, to the other side". I was very happy with the outcome of the video and I look forward to getting feedback from an international audience when it hits cyberspace.
"Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness."
- Frank Gehry
"A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight."
- Robertson Davies
"Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light."
- Le Corbousier
About Me
Name: Dallas Andrew Home: Australia About Me: 3rd Year Architecture student at Deakin.
Work part time at Jackman Design gaining some industry experience. See my complete profile
I think you will like this!
http://fwt.txdnl.com/4-10/r/a/randome/flat.randome.jpg