Invasion
Periodic Space for Infinite Wander
Course: SCI 6338 Introduction to Computational Design
Instructor: Jose Luis
Collaborator: Ana Loayza, Haochen Zhang
Date: Oct., 2020
Greg Lynn’s idea of smoothness argues for heterogeneity integrated by curvilinearity: a result of operations that merge and blend different authenticities into a single crafted language.
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Our project seeks to integrate the heterogeneous quality of the cave with the smoothness of a complex Möbius strip. This infinite loop is attributed a character and personality of dual nature that formally changes over time and offers different set of experiences.
KEYWORDS:
Heterogeneity, Dual Nature, Mobius Strip, Periodic Space
OBJECTIVES
1. Find some inspiration, relate it to your field/s of interest: architecture, landscape, urbanism, product design, art, materials, mathematics, etc.
2. Start with a 2-dimensional surface of dimensions and scale of your choice: nanometers, millimeters, meters, kilometers, light years… you name it.
3. Choose (at least) one dimension of the surface and fold it somehow, to make it infinitely periodic.
4. Design a volumetric space inside or outside this surface by giving a special character to the perpendicular direction to the surface.
5. Design the logic that drives the geometry of the surface/volume inside within this infinite footprint.
6. Additional geometry can be created to drive the shape/logic of the space: attractor/repulsion points, curves, other surfaces/meshes, etc.
7. Create an object (or a collection of them) that inhabit the 2.5-dimensional space you are creating: a surface, a mesh, or a collection thereof.
8. Now, think of the objects that inhabit this space. What are they? What is their relation to the space? How do they relate to its infinity?
9. Design the logic that drives the shape of the objects, how they vary between them, and how they wander the space. Represent them in relation to the space.
Hacker level:
10. Turn your project into a 3.5-dimensional space by adding the dimension of time and representing how the elements may vary based on it. This can be represented using animations.
Inspiration
Invasion in Nature
Mars’ smooth surface and hole into a cave
A bump function
Cave in Australia
Characterization
This project explores the characterization of infinite surfaces through a shared interface between curated smoothness and organic formations. This duality is an imagination for optimized which will obtain dual qualities, offer different kind of experiences (if seen as space), and host different ecologies.
Smoothness
Implies the affect of softness and flow over a geometry endorsed curated operations. Water, dunes and reflecting materials are physical representations of smoothness. Related to functional geometry or nurb surface.
Organic Formation
The result of a natural process of aggregation or subtraction over a long period of time. The morphology of the cave is observed as inspiration for altering the smooth surface and add affects of autonomous organic life. A closer digital representation can be given through a discretized mesh.
Methodology
Two Fold World
Methodology
Algorithm Steps
1 Modeling of Mobius Strip
CREATE CIRCLE
CREATE POINT DIVISIONS
ASSIGN PLANES
CREATE SECTION LINES
LOFT LINES
2 Modeling Cave Morphology
CLOSEST POINTS TO SURFACE
DEFORM SURFACE
3 Color
ISOTRIM SURFACE
ASSIGN DOMAIN FOR COLOR GRADIENT
Experiment
Growth of 2.5D Ingredients
Experiment
A Cinematic Object
Experiment
Invasion Alphabet
The outcome is understood as an alien living entity that transfers affects of unification and aggressivity at a time. This formal result confuses the spectator on its reaction towards the object.
Discussions
1. The project conveys two opposite worlds into a single abstraction.
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2. From a ‘digital vs real’ perspective the surfaces is explored in regard of the minimum possible deformations to create the maximum effect of characterization.
3. The project does not intend a specific application but provocation of dual use and character of object or spaces.