Final Research Proposal

Hypothesis:
Extracting the constructional basis (rules) out of radiolarian skeletons will benefit the architectural quality of a load bearing construction in architecture.

Research question:
How can I manipulate a micro structure of a radiolarian skeleton, in order to benefit a load bearing structure in architectural context?

• Which type of radiolarian will I take as a subject within this research?
  
• What are the constructional rules, this type of skeleton is based upon? And how will I apply those rules to architecture in the translation process.
  
• For that, I have to ask: Which (main) rule of micro-construction will I use as a basic manipulation (parametrisation) tool in G.C.? I.e. density-, lenght-, position- or number of elements.
  
• Did the translation process benefit the mechanical performance of the structure within architectural context? (Diana)

Methodology (plan):

• Research on the mechanical features of skeletons of radiolarians. Consulting drawings, literature & professors in maritime biology.
• Choose one type of radiolarian.
• Model the radiolaria as it is in G.C. to get hold of the programm. & Try to find the most essential rule, which underlies in the mechanical quality of the micro skeletons of radiolarians
• Test the radiolarian under is natural boundary conditions in Diana. Try to understand the logic of the construction. And try to find out the most essential RULE again.
  
• Test the same radiolarian structure again, but then in an architectural context. What are the weak spots??
• Model a tool in G.C . in order to translate the radiolarian structure into an architectural bearing structure (being aware of the basic principle(s) of the radiolarian skeletons!! use the RULE detected before)
• Test results in Diana (make different G.C-Diana-loops if possible)
  
• Evaluate results and link to hypothesis.
  

Research on radiolarians & GC sketching

Today I've decided on how to start my project. This concerns 1| deeper research on radiolarians and 2| practice modelling in Generative Components.

1| Research on radiolarians

I will be focussing on the growing process of radiolarians and the specific constructional aspects of their skeletons in order to decide on the input of my research.

• Inventory of different radiolarians. Which type has the most potential to be transformed into a building structure?
  
• Analysis of this specific structure. What is the exact shape? (modelling in G.C.)
  
• How did this skeleton grow? (link to production process of the architectural construction)
  
• What different functions do the features of the skeleton fulfil? (are these functions also to be applied on a building structure? what modifications have to be made?)

2| Studying G.C.
I will be trying to model a simple radiolarion structure in G.C. in order to get used to the software and get aware of the possibilities. Later on I will make a link to the structural capacities of the results with the help of Diana.


some other examples of radiolarians (art forms in nature (1898): E. Haeckel)

Comment of Andre

Comment of Andre via email:
"- are you interested in testing the translatability of specific radiolarian structures, or of categories/classes of radiolarians, or perhaps of some of their general characteristics?
- do you have a final scale and/or architectural role in mind for the translated structures? (e.g. single person/family dwelling, concert hall, airport terminal, etc.)"

Response:
- I thought of starting with one perticular radiolarian structure. And test how effictive the structure will work as a buiding structure in Diana (and also criticize the spatial qualities it can have).
Then try to make some sort of tool which "automatically" transforms the weak or not sufficients parts into well working structure which would be realistic to work for a building.
So, untill this point I am interested in testing the translatability of specific radiolarian structures.
- I quess that the first testing of the structure will end up in more knowledge about the possibilities. That's why I feel that I cannot yet define the outcome yet. Altough I would love to design a concert hall or palace in this way!

Some more explaination about my topic

Okay, today is the day of the presentations, which i could't join because of the wedding of my little sister! It was a beautiful day.. but I regret that I couldn't get feed back on my proposal of course.

I will give some more explaination to my proposal here>>

I strarted to make a quick overview of what kind of structures we can find in nature and in architecture. I've tried to link the types of structures to each other in order to find the most interesting structures to be used as input and output in my research.



I've decided, based on this schedule, to use bone structures as a starting point to do research about. Because, according to my opinion, they are the most suitable and interesting natural structures to be used as a basis for the translation process into an architectural load bearing structure.

Of course there exist a wide range of bone structures, I wanted to specify my research to one kind of bone srructure. In my search for literature I bumped, among other things into: biological structures, bone structures, molecular cell biology and micro biology. The micro biology intrigued me! Looking further into that, I discovered microscopic prints of silicium bone structures of radiolarians. These ar one cell organisms with mineral skeletons to protect them selves. This is a, by the humans eye, invisible world of beautiful structures, created by evolution with an exeptional wide range of variety.


This is a picture of only a few SEM scans of radiolarians.

Using this subject as foundation for my research, I stated the following main research question:

Is it possible to design a tool to translate input retreived from the silicium bone structure of radiolarians into an architectural load bearing structure?

points of attention are:

• What exactly are the differences between those two structures?

i.e. Architectural structures require resistancy against forces of gravity, wind loads, they need to be made out of an other material and we need some sort of components to be able to build it.

• Do I need to simplify the input? And in which way?

3-d or 2-d, only the main structure? This part needs some more research about radiolarians!

• HOW can I get a usefull input? and: HOW could I make a tool?? Which software would be suitable??

• On which subjects will I criticize my output?
  

i.e. construction analysis, architectural/spatial quality, potential to apply it in a realistic way in architecture! Can it be build? What are the options and possibilities?


I also add a scheme I've made about te cicle of research I want to go on during this course.

This is an interesting reference project of P.L. Nervi. He based the design of the Palazetto dello Sport in Rome on a crustacean (schaaldier).

Presentation of Research Proposal

Dear Students and Teachers,

I posted my presentation about the following subject on blackboard at Groups - File exchange.

"Is it possible to translate a micro structure into an architectural (bearing) structure, using a designed tool"

I'm looking forward to a discussion about my topic later this week and am open to all suggestions or critics.
Tomorrow I will update this blog according to my presentation.

Best,
Maria Vera

week 1

My focus of interest is:

The potential of natural structures within building design concepts and construction systems.

Research proposal:



Plan:

1| literature research on natural structures (cell structures & flora phenomena)
2| analyze the structures and formulate (new) hypothesis
3| design scripts in GC to apply on digital units
4| build an architectural structure using the script
5| test the results according to the hypothesis
6| try another structure and repeat cycle from step 2.