EPITHELIUM
EPITHELIUM Studio: Fall 2008
PRATT Institute School of Architecture
Philip Beesley and Richard Sarrach, Professors
Che-Wei Wang, Studio Technician
The Epithelium Studio offers a specialized design laboratory examining responsive architectural envelopes. Epithelium, a cellular boundary layer in organic physiology, will be used as an analogy defining qualities of hybrid interactive building systems. A design method based on cycles of accretion and synthesis will be used to organize the work of the term, moving from individual design explorations to collective production of a publication and gallery installation. The work focuses on four key design products: lightweight structural scaffolds, functional devices providing environmental exchanges populating the structure; kinetic mechanisms that integrate physical movement within the system, and integrated control systems employing microprocessors, sensors and actuators. These elements will be developed in pursuit of innovative responsive qualities that include basic life support functions, emotive and iconographic qualities for architecture.
A practical focus will include design and craft of flexible lightweight structural skeletons, membrane skin systems, and envelope component operators. A parallel cultural focus will consider relational paradigms, attempting a synthesis of instrumental and iconographic qualities in contemporary architecture. Practical and theoretical approaches will be integrated in studio and seminar meetings, and the material produced in both will be synthesized in a final book production accompanying the installation. This publication will include individual design explorations along with theoretical reviews that explore cultural contexts of contemporary ‘responsive’ architecture.
The design development method for this studio will involve iterative cycles of visualization and drawing, modeling and simulation, prototyping, integration within systems, and performance testing. Mechatronics and behavior coding will be included as enabling technologies. Simple precedent patterns and devices will be provided for inclusion within design systems authored by studio participants. Physical fabrication is a fundament within the studio, both as a design strategy employing individual experimental prototypes, and as a production and presentation approach The sequence of the term will move from individual exploration and development of components toward collaborative refinement in evolving cycles. A common scaffold system will be developed that reconciles individual approaches. Organized cooperative production will be involved for later iterations of component systems and for the final installation.
A reading and graphics seminar will accompany the studio course, integrated within the progress of the term and administered as a distinct unit. The course begins with assigned case studies, examining a series of projects and readings contributing to cultural history and current technologies related to interactive ‘responsive’ architecture. Individual essays will be produced during the term that examine organicist and biomimetic design traditions, including specialized probes of physiology, perception, and empathy and encouraging development of paradigms for interactivity within architectural design. A series of projections and simulations, using computational modeling and digital imaging, will extend this study. The class will be asked to integrate the final products of the seminar into a book that employs a unified design format.
Specialized assemblies and materials will be provided to each student, for reimbursement at cost.
Studio Sequence:
1. Workshop: component assemblies
2. Devices: individual development of prototype units
functional kinetic components, scaffold, accretive constraint, standard control systems integrated
3. Accretion: systems design, function and geometry
4. Scaffold: universal and specialized support skeletons
5. Manifold: internal syncretic colony systems, external interfaces
6. Colony: collective installation, resolved and evolving component arrays
• hybrid architectural envelope functions
• flexible lightweight actuated scaffold
• populated with colonies of specialized mechanisms
• interacting with occupants
• internal communications and control systems, behaviour programming
Introduction:
• Envelope systems context: organicist and biomimetic design traditions, physiology, perception, empathy
• Systems taxonomy: scaffold, mechanics, controls
• Design methods: iterative/accretive strategies; prototyping, simulation, sampling
Reading and Publication Seminar
A. Case studies: produce library document, cultural history and current technologies
B. Envelope systems context: organicist and biomimetic design traditions, physiology, perception, empathy
C. Projections and simulations: the Other
D. Final book publication
• functional description
• cultural context: paradigms for interactivity, affective design
• technical components
• formal taxonomies
• aggregate systems
• projections
A. STUDIO
Tools:
• electronics-type soldering iron and stand, helping hands unit, solder and flux, electrical tape and marr connectors, wire strippers, power supplies, multitester
• general craft and utility tools: side-cutters, needle-nose pliers, hot glue gun, tin snips, miniature screw drivers, micrometer, utility cutting and measurement
• optional: Dremel, scroll cutter, pop riveter, specialty wire bending and forming
Assignments
1. Workshop: component assemblies
Duration: Thursday Sept. 4 evening continuous through Sunday Sept. 7 morning
Component Designer and Mechatronics Engineer visiting tutors
Prerequisite: tools and kit (provided at cost)
Produce: electronics and component assemblies, for interactive controls basic functions, emergent qualities demonstration and organic-source power demonstration
Evaluation: ungraded; skills-acquisition required for undertaking course
Guest Tutors: Hayley Isaacs, industrial design components
Jon Gammell, mechatronics
Kirsten Robinson, mechatronics
2. Devices: individual development of prototype units
Assigned: Thursday Sept. 4
Produce: individual functional kinetic components, scaffold fragments meeting, accretive constraint, integrated with standard controls system
Due: Thursday October 2
Present: working prototypes, accompanied by graphic document of evolved component systems and projected arrays
Evaluation: 20%
3. Accretion: systems design, function and geometry
Assigned: Thursday, Oct. 2
Produce: Arrayed components employing scaffold system populated by prototypes
Due: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Present: Arrayed sample prototype assembly, accompanied by graphic document of systems, ordinance, and projected tesselations
Evaluation: 10%
4. Scaffold: universal and specialized support skeletons
Assigned: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Produce: Group work, prototype skeleton system accommodating specialized components, including interlinkng fasteners, interface junctions for devices
Due: Thursday, Oct. 30
Present: Sample prototype assembly, accompanied by graphic document of structural system, materials estimate, cost and time review
Evaluation: 10%
5. Manifold: internal syncretic colony systems integrated with external interfaces
Assigned: Thursday Oct. 30
Produce: prototype samples of key sections of integrated interactive systems, devices, and structural scaffold, complete with mounts and interfaces, final options
Due: Thursday Nov. 13
Present: Sample assemblies, accompanied by graphic projection of accretive systems and by project-management plan for production
Evaluation: 10%
6. Colony: collective installation, resolved and evolving component arrays
Assigned: Thursday Nov. 13
Produce integrated full-scale prototype installation with
• hybrid architectural envelope functions
• flexible lightweight actuated scaffold
• populated with colonies of specialized mechanisms
• interacting with occupants
• internal communications and control systems, behaviour programming
Due: Thursday, Dec. 11
Present: exhibition configured and lit for public viewing, accompanied by book containing graphic and photographic documents
Evaluation: 50%
B. READING AND PUBLICATION SEMINAR
Assignments
Note: to suit publication at end of term, all assignments preceding final are to be produced at 8 1/2″ x 1″ illustrated reports in publication archive format: raw text, tagged images, complete with captions and notes.
A. Case studies: produce library document, cultural history and current technologies
Assigned: Friday, Sept. 5
Due: Friday Sept. 19
Produce: individual case studies on assigned topics
Present: 15 minute illustrated talks, seminar format
Evaluation: 15%
B. Envelope systems context: organicist and biomimetic design traditions, physiology, perception, empathy
Assigned: Friday, Sept. 19
Due: Friday, Oct. 24
Produce: individual review of literature and essay on specialized focus, paradigms for interactivity
Evaluation: 25%
C. Projections and simulations: the Other
Assigned: Friday Oct. 24
Due: Friday Nov. 21
Produce: advanced visualizations projecting accretive systems within environmental context
Evaluation: 20%
D. Final book publication
Assigned: Friday Nov. 21
Due: Thursday, Dec. 11
Produce: illustrated short-run bound book, common designed format, integrating components produced through term and including contents as follows:
• functional description, final installation
• cultural context: paradigms for interactivity, affective design
• technical components
• formal taxonomies
• aggregate systems
• projections
Evaluation: 40%
Popularity: 2% [?]
