DFL Curriculum

Human-Machine-Material

Image-driven design and fabrication processes for the 2015 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion

Contents

  • Background
  • Target
  • Output
  • Method/Schedule

Background

Images have been exploited throughout the history of architectural design fabrication, from hand drawn sketches to computer aided drawings. Image is an interface for developing concepts into realizable plans, or media for sharing architectural concepts with others. Drawings are visual representations of concepts. Once a concept is fixed and ready for presentation to a client, three-dimensional modeling and image processing software can be used as powerful tools for producing fascinating perspective images. During realization of the project on-site, detailed drawings are used as interfaces for systematically distributing ideas to builders, conveying mainly what to make and how to build it. Once construction is completed, photos of the building can be distributed via mass media or can be used for sketch training. In addition to two-dimensional images, 3-D printed architecture is now available. In recent years, the notions of both the image and the model have become blurred with regard to who/what makes use of the image in design and fabrication processes.

Target

Use a computational, image-driven design and fabrication process to enhance the interplay between humans (traditionally inherited technology), machine (cutting-edge digital fabrication tools), and materials (optimal use of material characteristics) to construct the 2015 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion as a prototypical application of imaging research.

Output

1st Semester: Learning through the construction of the 2015 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion

2nd Semester: Proposal of prototypical pavilion-like structure with an image-driven design and fabrication process/tool specifically developed to define and construct the proposed structure.

3rd Semester: 2015 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion Construction Proposal

Method/Schedule

1st Semester: Construction of 2015 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion

October – December (9 weeks)

Students execute the construction of the 2015 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion in accordance with the proposal developed by the second year students. The students will acquire a wide range of fabrication, construction, and computational knowledge through the project.

2nd Semester: Research on image-driven design and fabrication processes and pavilion design development

December – March (11 weeks)

Students will research imaging and implement an image-driven design and fabrication process/tool to propose a structure for the 2016 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion, a prototypical pavilion-like structure.

>1st Phase-A: Material/Tool Development workshop

Early December – Mid-December (2 weeks)

>1st Phase-B: Material/Tool Development

Mid January – Late January (3 weeks)

>2nd Phase: Team Design Development

Late January – Mid-March (6 weeks)

Create a design and fabrication proposal for the 2016 DFL Pavilion.

3rd Semester: 2016 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion Construction Proposal

Early April – Late August (21 weeks)

Team production of 2016 Digital Fabrication Lab Pavilion construction proposal.