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Protomorphs | Core Design Studio 1
“We are fascinated by the unit; only a unity seems rational to us. We scorn the senses, because their information reaches us in bursts. We scorn the groupings of the world, and we scorn those of our bodies. For us they seem to enjoy a bit of the status of Being only when they are subsumed beneath a unity. Disaggregation and aggregation, as such, and without contradiction, are repugnant to us. Multiplicity, according to Leibniz, is only a semi-being. A cartload of bricks isn’t a house. Unity dazzles on at least two counts: by its sum and by its division. That herd must be singular in its totality and it must also be made up of a given number of sheep or buffalo. We want principle, a system, an integration, we want elements, atoms, numbers. We want them, and we make them. A single God, and identifiable individuals. The aggregate as such is not a well-formed object; it seems irrational to us. The arithmetic of whole numbers remains a secret foundation of our understanding; we’re all Pythagorians. We think only in monadologies.”
- Michel Serres, Genesis
The Protomorphs core design studio taught by
Danielle Willems and
Ezio Blasseti, brings up the notion of joint in terms of generative operation. Through the construction of initial drawings (shown below), the studio began to understand the significances of various systems. Particularly, the exploration of Lindenmayer Systems (L-systems - image 3) offered us an opportunity to use it as a generative diagram, transcending the 2-dimensional implications it originally had and becoming the basis for a 3-dimensional generative protocol.
The next step was the creation of joints. Once we had a set of versatile pieces that could combine in various ways, the studio had to compile a set of rigorous catalogs as means of realizing possible variable and aggregation sets to be used within the L-systems.
Using these variables within our L-systems, we produced a wide range of results, varying in qualities from dense to aerated space – which later would be translated into enclosures.
My final model was grounded on the idea that this infinite possibility of growth within the L-systems presents implications of time. Using this idea, I was able to create joints that used railing systems on the interior that would thereby react to limits in my protocols, creating certain spatial thresholds that could be identified for different programmatic uses.
To diagram the spatial thresholds created, a series of four sections were taken at points of limit and transformation.
As a means of understanding the space, the studio was instructed to create spatial Narratives – cinematic films that would critically explore the architectural potential of our work from the vantage point of a human. It would later be considered as an exercise touching on the issues of site, planning, and circulation.
Of course, this "short" post can't seem to summarize the total investigations of this past semester. To see more of the work from past studios and my studio, follow links below:
http://cargocollective.com/protomorphshttp://blog.algorithmicdesign.net/protopatterns
Happy Holidays!
6 Comments
The work is beautiful - really nice drawings, photos.
Is this a grad studio - is there an architecture that has been designed? Architecture does not necessarily require a classical or a conservative resolution of a building, but there is little to evaluate regarding interior occupancy, spatial sequencing, scale.
Perhaps this is part of a longer chain in an undergrad non-professional program, which situates the work very well.
Really nice work regardless
Thank you! This work is actually from a first year first semester design studio - although I hear from my professors that some of the studios at GSAPP (Karl Chu in particular) are grounded on the same ideas.
Because of the focus on the basic elements in architecture (primary, secondary, tertiary systems) during first semester, some of the more practical issues weren't addressed. The narrative at the bottom was an attempt at identifying a site and scale, but those explorations weren't as rigorous as the other processes. So yes, in a way it is part of a whole introduction into architecture. Next semester will be focusing on landscapes.
ooh, pretty! Awesome drawings.
as i read the text and looked at the photos, i was totally amazed! it's so complex to me.
as i read the text and looked at the photos, i was totally amazed! it's so complex to me.
i think i would marry those sections...
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