We are looking for a permanent home for our Amphorae concrete installation and we are hoping that you can help us find a spot! We have found a home for one of our projects which will permanently be on display at the AIA Center for Architecture in New York and we are hoping that other local institutions would be interested in our other work.



The project has been presented throughout North America and now we do not have space to store our vertical wall system. We have decided to donate it to any institution that would display it publicly and we can also help with planting the wall fro the summer season.



We currently have 32 bricks available and we can deliver them anywhere within close proximity to New York City. The blocks are reconfigurable and can fill a variety of spaces depending on the layout.



You can find more information about the project here: http://amphorae.wordpress.com/

E-mail me directly at Mark5136@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Thanks,
Mark

My class has finished the first week in their five week cycle of XS, S, M, L, XL and they have posted their vase scripts on our class blog. You can find our site here. Each of the vases were designed to fit in a standard 3D printer. Each of the students have also posted their code, so you can feel free to examine them more closely.

This week we are working on the S scale. We will be preparing a distance based lighting project that will be prepared on the laser cutter.

All of these exercises are building up to the students final installations which will be presented on Friday, December 12th.

Hello Everyone,
Tonight will be the first night of my class Parametric Realizations that I will be teaching at Columbia. Here is some information on the class.

Overview
Parametric modelers are commonly used in the development of digital architectural models, but they are rarely taken to the point of
becoming physical realities. This course will look at the process of
generating parametric algorithms then turning those models into
physical realities. Students will work in groups to design an
installation that will be the physical realization of their scripted
protocol.

Project
Students will work in groups to design an installation that will be
the physical realization of their scripted protocol. Groups will
develop mathematical algorithms using parametric modelers such as Rhino.script, Grasshopper and Generative Components. Concurrently students will be testing modeling techniques in order to create a prototype for their final physical system. Students will then take their digital models, rationalize them, and physically construct the system using a material process from their prototype.

Final Project
Students will prepare their installation for a presentation event on December 12th.

Tonight will be our first exercise in the XS,S,M,L,XL series for Parametric Realizations. Each week we will look at a scripting typology and an associated fabrication typology. This protocol will generate a series vases that can be 3D printed. You can find the complete script as well as the associated tutorials here. If you visit the site you will find a step-by-step tutorial that will help you understand the thought process behind the parametric vases. Here is the final scripted step:

Option Explicit
'Script written by mark.bearak
'Script copyrighted by dtls.Architecture
'Script version Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:08:31 PM

Call Main()
Sub Main()
Dim arrPlane, i, j, strCrv(), strInnerCrv(), strSrf1, strSrf2, arrLftSrf1, arrLftSrf2, arrLftSrf3
For j = 0 To 5
For i = 0 To 10
ReDim Preserve strCrv(i)
ReDim Preserve strInnerCrv(i)
arrPlane = Rhino.PlaneFromPoints (array(0,j*25,i*(j+1)), array(1,j*25,i*(j+1)), array(0,j*25+1,i*(j+1)))
If i < j+3 Then
strCrv(i) = Rhino.AddCircle (arrPlane, 10.0)
strInnerCrv(i) = Rhino.AddCircle (arrPlane, 9.0)
If i = 0 Then
Call rhino.MoveObject (strInnerCrv(i),array(0,0,0),array(0,0,1))
End If
Else
strCrv(i) = Rhino.AddCircle (arrPlane, 5.0)
strInnerCrv(i) = Rhino.AddCircle (arrPlane, 4.0)
End If
If i = 0 Then
strSrf1 = Rhino.AddPlanarSrf (strCrv)
strSrf2 = Rhino.AddPlanarSrf (strInnerCrv)
End If
If i = 10 Then
arrLftSrf1 = Rhino.AddLoftSrf (array(strCrv(i),strInnerCrv(i)))
End If
Next
arrLftSrf2 = Rhino.AddLoftSrf (strCrv,,,1)
arrLftSrf3 = Rhino.AddLoftSrf (strInnerCrv,,,1)
Call Rhino.JoinSurfaces (array(arrLftSrf1(0),arrLftSrf2(0),arrLftSrf3(0),strsrf1(0),strsrf2(0)),True)
Call Rhino.deleteobjects (strCrv)
Call Rhino.DeleteObjects (strInnerCrv)
Next
End Sub

Alumni Keynote: ECOGRAM: The Sustainability Question
Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 6:30 pm -8:30 pm

Wood Auditorium, Avery Hall

Daniel Wood (M.Arch 1992) and Amale Andraos
WORK Architecture Company, New York
Organized in collaboration with the Office of Development and Alumni in conjuction with the 2008 Alumni conference ECOGRAM: The Sustainability Question

--

ECOGRAM: The Sustainability Question
Organized in collaboration with the Office of Development and Alumni

Conference Chairs: Ioanna Theocharopoulou Ph.D. (MsAAD 1996; Ph.D. 2007) & Mitchell Joachim Ph.D. (M.Arch 1997)

7:44 - Work A C is going into depth to discuss their groundbreaking PF1 in Queens.

7:46 - They are stressing the importance of collaboration.

7:47 - Daniel is discussing the difficulty in creating a structural cardboard system.

7:48 - To solve the structural problems Work A C used gaya soil to reduce weight as well as test the new material. Daniel also states how the project is solar powered and that the plants were designed to bloom in sections throughout the systems.

7:50 - They were able to gather rainwater from adjacent structures and then recycle the water to irrigate the plants.

7:52 - They worked with collaborators from EyeBeam to create a system of solar panels. They also worked with rehabilitation subjects to become farmers.

7:53 - Daniel disclosed that they had not warned MoMa in advance that they were going to bring chickens to the site, but they used baby chicks to ease the situation.

As the world of architecture slowly becomes engaged in the discussion of Ecology. Columbia University has devoted the entire week to look at the problems that have led us to the situation that we are currently experiencing.

6:35 - There is a very large and diverse turnout in Wood Auditorium.

6:45 - I am currently sitting in the first event of the week long Ecogram Conference at Columbia GSAPP.

6:55 - After an introduction the first speaker to speak is Michelle D. Addington, Yale School of Architecture.

7:08 - She has focused on the amount of heat that is constantly being generated by the electrical equipment that is being used by buildings.

7:10 - Michelle displays a chart to explain the efficiency of our resources. For example coal wastes 90% of it's material to generate electricity.

7:12 - Michelle emphasizes the importance of heat transfer through another beautiful chart/image.

7:14 - Dickson D. Despommier, Public Health and Microbiology, Columbia University starts his presentation. He presents the way that a building might behave as a farm.

7:16 - Dickson references Cradle 2 Cradle as a cycle and not a linear path as a way to reference the way that nature works.

7:17 - The Millenium Development Project which has the primary goal of eliminating hunger throughout the globe.

7:19 - 80% of arable land is currently in use and most projections show that crop yields have actually leveled off in the last 10 years. Due to overuse of fertilizers and pesticides have stripped the land of its' natural use.

7:22 - He stresses the importance of Americans to have the ability to grow our own food. He is refering to fish, poultry and mollusks. Thus make it possible to farm inside of cities. The key to Eco-Urbanization.

7:25 - He shows references to a hydroponic project that was implemented in New Orleans after Katrina.

7:26 - Stresses the importance of incinerating our own feces. (90% efficiency)

7:29 - Cameron Sinclair, Architecture for Humanity is introduced.

7:31 - 1 billion people are living in "Anderson Cooper" poverty ($1 a day).
4 billion people are living in poverty (feuvela).
In the next ten years 1:3 people in living in poverty.
In the next 50 years the number of build structures on earth will double.

7:38 - Cameron discusses the importance of the "Architect" in the process of rebirth and renewal. He explains that their service matches architects with needy communities.

7:43 - Pauses to play a Frontline video on developmental growth on Tsunami stricken S.E. Asia. It follows a woman who moved to S.E. Asia to aid needy families.

7:55 - He discusses his recent trip to Wasilla, Alaska.

7:58 - Sadly I have to leave to cast more concrete for our installation which will be finished on Saturday. Follow our progress at here

Here is the information on the next event this week:

Alumni Keynote: ECOGRAM: The Sustainability Question

Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 6:30 pm -8:30 pm

Wood Auditorium, Avery Hall

Daniel Wood (M.Arch 1992) and Amale Andraos WORK Architecture Company, New York

Organized in collaboration with the Office of Development and Alumni in conjuction with the 2008 Alumni conference ECOGRAM: The Sustainability Question

See you all then!

Hello Everyone,
The Ecogram conference starts next week on Monday at 6:30 at Columbia University. Here is some information on Monday evening:

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20

PANEL: ECO-CRAFT: Design, Context + Innovation
Wood Auditorium, Avery Hall
6:30 PM

Michelle Addington >> - Professor, Yale School of Architecture
Dickson D. Despommier >> - Professor of Public Health and Microbiology, Columbia University
Cameron Sinclair >> - Architecture for Humanity
Matthias Schuler >> - Founder and Director of Transsolar

Moderators: Mitchell Joachim, Ph.D. >> - Terreform 1; Adjunct Professor of Architecture, GSAPP &
Ioanna Theocharopoulou, Ph.D. >> - Adjunct Professor of Architecture, GSAPP

Exhibition at the Ross Gallery:
Ecology Design Synergy, Behnisch Architekten + Transsolar Climate Engineering

Some of our latest Amphorae elements, pieces that we call the Wave, will be on display. The Wave block represents both structure and storage. The system is a reconfigurable block/cistern that will eventually be assembled as a vertical wall.

You can find more images here

Here are some pictures of the Waves.

Hello Everyone,

Here is our first wall installation for the Solid States Concrete Conference. Special thanks to LaFarge and Columbia University for all of your help! To see more of our work please visit: http://amphorae.wordpress.com/


The wall was 6' tall and 12' wide.


Each unit is 1" thick.


The reconfigurable bricks stack in 6 different configurations.


Special thanks to Mark Collins for the photographs.

Hello Everyone,
We have been hard at work casting concrete and we have two types in finished production mode. We have finished models of the Tabletop Planter and the Torso Block. We are also putting the finishing touches on the mold for a block that we call The Wave. We will post pictures as soon as it is ready. You can also follow our progress here

We have been working hard on our current casting project. You can chart our progress on our blog here:
http://amphorae.wordpress.com/



With the engineer Peter Calcetas arriving in a week we have set up a series of smaller quick molds that we can use to test Ductal. This unit will be used as a tabletop planter containing one cistern and one planter. It is slightly over two feet long and 7″ wide. The thickness of the unit is approximately 3/4″ and will have three pour holes on the bottom.

For my final semester I placed music videos on hold and devoted my time to physically testing digital models. Dora Kelle, Adam Mercier and I worked together to develop the Brise Block. Our Rhino model was deliberately kept simple so that we could focus on the fabrication process of the block. Of the fifteen weeks that we spent working on the project, only three or four days went into the design process. We spent the next two months testing concrete and making adjustments based on our failures. In the end we were able to complete 14 blocks and make a mock up for the end of the year show at Columbia. We also entered the 2007-08 ACSA/PCA CONCRETE THINKING FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD, International Student Design Competition – Building Element - Category II as representatives of Columbia and received third place! This has led to our next project which I mentioned in my previous post, called Amphorae. You can follow our progress on our blog here: http://amphorae.wordpress.com/

We will be working hard over the next two months to finish our new vision for a building block.




Here was our description:
In March our studio was lucky enough to take a trip to Brazil to research modern
architecture. Our focus was specifically in Brasilia where were analyzing the buildings of the pilot plan. The most significant thing we noticed not only in Brasilia, but throughout our trip to South America, was how ecologically sensitive the architecture was. Buildings such as the Hospital Sarah Kubitschek de Brasília were incredibly inspirational. The hospital was a constant interplay between the interior and exterior spaces and concrete was used to blur these boundaries. This was exhibited through perforated walls, brie soleil, covered patios and numerous indoor gardens. The Brie Block is the material realization of the notion of bringing the outside in. The module itself represents a series of countless iterations and adjustments to make a sustainable material system which is aesthetically dynamic, structurally sound and ecologically sensitive.
The Brie Block is a precast concrete element to be implemented as a brie soleil. While the brie soleil is a sustainable element because of its ability to control environmental conditions, the Brie Block is a single unit that can adapt to and control a wider range of conditions due to its reconfigurability. Six different configurations are possible, ranging from 33 – 73% porosity. Configurations can be recombined with one another to create a dynamic brie soleil. The blocks which are to be grouted in place once aligned via pins are able to aggregate in positions which mirror, interlock, flip as well as extend in two directions in plan. The intelligence built into the individual unit itself is what allows the dynamic walls to be produced with so many different options. Adapting to very specific site conditions the precast element is itself very specific but also quite generic. The reconfigurability of the block enables design changes through the life of the project not at just initiation of the design considering the long term issues which may arise as well. Achieving a versatile building system is many times very difficult considering the need to provide formwork for concrete. Complex forms many times need special formwork and if a variety of elements are desired much fabrication and detailing of many multiple custom formworks need to be designed. While CNC milling has allowed architects to create different modules at the same rate as mass produced modules, it also creates exponential amounts of waste. Placing all of the effort into the geometry itself allows a single mold typology to be 3 axis CNC milled which can be reused countless times allowing for minimal startup costs and waste of material. In the end we were able to generate a fully functional reusable mold and we’ve been able to cast dozens of bricks from the shell. The one distinct mold would create the complexity of multiple elements while only being a singular typology. The Brie Block relies very heavily on the properties of concrete to make its achievements. No other material could be cast with such great strength and at such a low cost. Its ability to be cast is also extremely important given concretes ability to take almost any form based on its formwork. Each block weighs only 36 pounds and spans a total of 42 inches (32 inch bond) with a height of 18 inches. The material economy of the block enables construction to be more environmentally friendly and easily installed. The blocks can easily be hand lifted and installed with only alignment pins and grout. Using polypropylene / polyethylene blended synthetic macro-fibers as reinforcement allowed replacement of structural steel and economized cross-sectional material. Reducing the amount of cover needed for steel reinforcement and producing a multidirectional system of tensional reinforcement allows the block to conform to minimal material and maximal formal potential. Saving material means less overall cost and a more sustainable way of building. After several iterations, the block can be fabricated with sections as thin as 1.5 inches at a material cost of only $5.