MODULE THREE: FABRICATION MAHSA MOAYEDI

SEMESTER 1, 2013 VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS

IDEATION AND DESIGN REVIEW

In module one we analyzed natural patterns to get inspiration in

order to create a lantern. My chosen pattern was diamond and

I started from choosing one of the elements that I achieved

during the ideation process. As we are only allowed to position

the lantern on one arm, I thought of encompassing the arm with

lantern in first step.

Initial paper model 2D paneling prototype with Shadow effect Base element Emerged form

Clay modeling

PRECEDENT

Having the option of dash-lines made me think of a way of

using this feature for a more beautiful light effect. So by doing

some research, I found very interesting examples of using the

light with this type of design. The dash-lined ground is Walden

studios in California and the lamp shades are done a Polish

artist, Przemek. He was inspired by African gourds.

Abu Dhabi Yas hotel’s exterior

surface is designed as an

environmentally responsive

skin that by day reflects the

sky and surroundings and by

night is lit by a full color

changing LED lighting system

that incorporate video feeds

that are transmitted over the

entire surface of the building.

DIGITIZING PROCESS

Circles arrangements to achieve each curvature by using Loft command

Dividing the curvatures with Surface Domain Number command 10x10

Offset command with the distance of 2 cm to achieve the extrusions

Panel Custom 3D Variable command to avoid the intersection of extrusions in the core part

Offset Faces Border command to achieve the extrusions (pyramid)

But there was a problem of intersection in some parts…

PROTOTYPE

I used different colors for each layer, and in the cases when I faced overlapping, I made the parts

separately. So again I needed to use different color to recognize the parts better.

FABLAB FILE

As mentioned about the dash-line light effect, I decided to use the dash tabs for grasshopper.

I decided to use the Fablab as I have so many irregular angles in my prototype which makes it difficult to do it manually.

IVORY BLACK IVORY WHITE

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

It was quite difficult to find an easy way to label all the tabs and find their relation in each column as I

made my prototype by dividing into horizontal rows. There were also a few times in which I made a mistake

in gluing them and so the shape was forming different than my digital model.

I have two curvature which one is twisting around the other one. I prefer to choose two colors; black and

white, to make their difference more clear. After installing the lighting, I found out the black one is

absorbing the light much more than the light one and diffusing the light from the top. So it was a good

decision to distinguish the character of different lighting in one model.

LIGHTING: MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION

Electrical wire to be used for

circuit and create intervals

between LED segments

Scotch tape to help the wires

to bond together in some

parts

I chose LED strip instead of

individual ones because

they can stick to the model

by themselves from one side

and also they create more

diffused light instead of

concentrated

9 Volt Square battery as a

power source

Battery connector to attach

to the wires and provide the

required power for lighting

Soldering to connect the

LEDs to the wire to secure the

connection

Wire clipper to cut the wire

and remove the coating

Cutter for cutting the

segments of LEDs and wire

LIGHTING: MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION

Attachment process First two segments

Passing the wire through the lantern

Attaching three segments To be adjusted in the first curvature

Connecting all the segments together to be attached to the power source

LIGHTING EFFECT

I decided to connect them in parallel to minimize the use of the battery. It also makes it lighter and create a

unit organization to turn on-off the lights.