Dynamic Joints - study 2

Joints - Study #2

In order to focus on joints and begin to break down what joints I may want to create would consist of I found it fitting to construct some. I started simply by attaching very thin steel in various ways, and different amounts combined to create a static joint condition. After creating several versions of this the attachment material that I was using (thin wire) was allowing me to create the connection tight enough to hold the joint yet at the same time left enough movement between the wires so that the joint could be dynamic.

From the connections I've created I will now begin to catalogue the different arrangements and scenarios in working towards a sort of database that I can use to move and navigate through site conditions.

Over the weekend I plan to visit the area where my virus will be spreading in order to catalogue different points of attachment that can work cohesively with the potential joints that I've created.

Here are some of the joint conditions that I have created so far -

Joints study

To get an idea of what type of joint I might want to focus on since this topic is so wide and I don't want to get carried away on too many tangents I thought it would be useful to do a study on some items throughout my house. I basically drew some joints, some static some dynamic -

Institute for Lightweight Structures - starting point - JOINTS

I've been trying to get a handle on things by finding a specific focus that I can build on. To do this I started research into the Institute for Lightweight Structures, which is AMAZING! I checked out 4 volumes and flipped through them looking for inspiration that I could possibly find direction from, this resulted in my current fascination with joints, joinery, connectivity and components. This works well with the items that I was focusing on last semester because it will allow me to take and simple idea and develop it really in depth making small changes and tweaking the design. I really liked the experimentation aspect of the manufacturing of small components so this focus should lend nicely to that as well.

Some images that I was intrigued by from the ILS were as follows...(this will only be part...I will keep posting my finds as necessary!) -

I'm back!

Confusion set in...to say the least...

...I have been a bit stuck for a while but now I'm back on track. Model construction is well under way, new photos to come, research has led me in the direction of the Institute of Lightweight Structures (which I will also post some amazing photos of) & I have started a new little project this evening regarding connection points of rods. Reviews are this coming Friday and by then I hope to be well on my way with dealing with certain conditions that may be contained within my site as well as have the pieces of my model connected to one another forming the beginning of the substrate that will become more useful over the next few weeks!

Only a few weeks left in the semester so things should really get moving now!

Substrate support

The mid-section of this piece is shortened for the purpose of this drawing but keeping with the relationship between my body and the model the height of the support will be proportioned to my waist so that I can maneuver in the exploration that I create. The pieces to this component will hopefully be created tomorrow as I've finally got a good hold on my mock up version, I will construct 5 as a starting point.

Connection mock up

I made a quick mock up of the component that I'm working on designing for the supports of the substrate. I have only attached one of the rods but there would be three (as can be seen by the two empty sections) and I will need to use some hardware to secure the rod from slipping through the holes, similar to the issue that I had last semester with the foot detail, I will most likely use the same type of connection piece. I will be working out a few details this weekend before I begin to produce that parts.

research [inspiration] - Lebbeus Woods etc...

I've been looking a lot at different types of architecture trying to figure out where some of my ideas might fit into the scheme of what I'm trying to achieve and how I will interpret it architecturally. One person that I have been looking at in particular is Lebbeus Woods. There are a lot of similarities concerning form that is similar to his projects and the current state of my studio. I hope to take inspiration and direction from some of the following works.

mock up support component

Topography Assembly

Tripod Component

Progressing with the substrate design I have made the decision to take cues from my body to help me to make a lot of decisions along the way, as mentioned in my previous critique by Candace. This is logical considering where I was at the end of last semester in that 'the dance' between my machine and I became obvious and our movements according to one another were evident. Taking this as a starting point, the substrate will sit at my waist height so I can begin to walk through the course that I create for the machine/virus to interact with, therefore it has a relationship with both of us, and the machine and I remain connected. To raise the substrate I'm in the process of designing a kind of stilt system that will mimic the design of the legs of the walking machine, a sort of tripod design. Tomorrow I will begin the construction of a mock up model to work out any issues that may come up.

Topography cuts

topography planning

I have been working on a template that I will use to cut out the layers involved in the construction of the substrate topography. I have yet to decide if I will construct every step as the rest of the model is conceptual and making every step may not be necessary for getting an idea across as I will not be concerned with accuracy in a literal sense at other steps within my process, I will leave this decision for now.