Updated: Annotated Bibliography

Hauer, Erwin. Erwin Hauer – Continua: Architectural Screens and Walls. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2007. Print.

The author, a prominent sculptor from the 50’s catalogues and describes his work in “Continuous surface” studies from biomorphic forms into modular structures. The reading provides insight into the process Hauer’s screens including where he gained inspiration for much of his sculptures. There are an abundant amount of images of screens and walls from the 1950-60 captured in carefully composed images. Provided at the beginning of each project is a short introduction into the design process that provides descriptive explanations of intents and discoveries. Through series of screens that play with luminosity, surfaces, and symmetry. The book provides a good in-depth visual documentation of work that seems to build upon one another.

Guzowski, Mary. “CARBON NEUTRAL DAYLIGHTING DESIGN.” Carbon Neutral Design Project: n. pag. Web. 24 May 2011.

The Article, an outline of strategies that designers can use for daylightng methods that can be used for Sustainable design provides a great starting point. the author systematically documents steps for a carbon-neutral approach to day lighting. With a lot of our lighting coming from artificial lights the use of actual sunlight is typical forgotten. As it relates to my project dealing with the dynamics of daylighting helped influence my application of my final installation. The shifting sun directions provide varying effects to my screen giving it a less static quality.

Iwamoto, Lisa. Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. Print.

The author, currently an assistant professor at the University of California Berkeley received her Maser of Architecture degree with Distinction from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in structural Engineering from the University of Colorado. She brings her expertise and knowledge of perceptual performance of material and digital fabrication to display the different types of techniques. The book is organized into the major categories’: sectioning, Tessellating folding, contouring, and forming. In each section she includes numerous examples of artists and designer that have implemented each of these fabrication techniques into small scale installations. The pages provide useful images and text that help explain the ideas and techniques used to accomplish the presented installations.

Leski, Kyna. The Making of Design Principles. Providence, RI: K. Leski, 2007. Print.

The author, a principal at 3SIXO Architecture and Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design provides a glimpse into the process of design, put into words and images through a series of projects. The publication chronicles three projects that were given three problems each that designers represented in various small scale studies. The projects offer a fresh view of traditional design process demonstrated as problems to solve such as “form and order” and “whole to the part to whole”.

Lilley, Brian, and Philip Beesley. Expanding Bodies: Art, Cities, Environment ; Proceedings of the Acadia 2007 Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 1-7, 2007. S.l.: Riverside Architectural Press and Tuns Press,2007. Print.

The publication, an organization formed in the 1980’s to create a line of communication and critical thinking that deal with the use of computers in architectural design and planning. The Book contains an array of conversations and studies involving the use of computers in design including parametric design a process that I am trying to understand through my design process and installation. One study in particular “The Smithsonian Courtyard Enclosure” provides a case study in the digital design process. The articles within the publication are intended for an audience interested in more than the end product including topics outlining design problems, solutions, intent, and logic encompassing digital design. In the case study involving the Courtyard enclosure the author provides a clear understanding of sketching with algorithms and its requirement to have a basic understanding of the design intent in order to write the correct parameters for the computer program to use in creating form.

Liu, Yudong. Demonstrating Digital Architecture. Basel: Birkhäuser, 2005. Print.

The publication, displays fifty of the best project designers from all over the world intended for an audience interested in the new age designs coming from the digital world of 3d modeling and its implementation into the built environment. Included are prominent designer such as Tadao Ando and Zaha Hadid. The book provides award winning examples of how 3d modeling was used in design along with detailed explanations of to describe the work. Also included are many examples of smaller scale projects that incorporate computer based modeling and fabrication. Similar to the Iwamoto’s “Digital Fabrication” the publication goes more into less known artist and becomes richer in detail explaining such things as programs used and reasons for materials used etc.

Marpillero, S, James Carpenter, and Kenneth Frampton.James Carpenter: Environmental Refractions. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2006. Print.

The Book, Provides a highly illustrated photographs and diagrams of projects that deal with manipulating light. Simple moves as Spandrel panel units such as the ones used in the & world trade center have phenomenal effects on the overall composition of a buildings skin and its perception on the ground floor. Included are very detailed diagrams that help explain the design intent in a visual format.

Stattmann, Petra Schmidt & Nicola. Unfolded. Basel: Birkhauser Verlag AG, 2009.

The publication, composed of highly graphical imagery presents multiple design projects that primarily deal with the numerous possibilities of paper for form making and design. Paper typically used for its two-dimensional qualities is described by the authors as an even greater median for three-dimensional design. Through the numerous projects revealed within the pages the book serves as a good starting point for getting inspired to use material in a new way to create form. The projects are briefly articulated with very descriptive introductions to the artist’s design intents that are very helpful for determining our own concepts and ideas.

Swirnoff, Lois. Dimensional Color. New York: W.W. Norton, 2003. Print.

The Book, a compilation of experiments with color and the visual changes that occur when surrounding elements are changed. Through a series of experiments with students the author provides meaningful insight into simple studies that produce varied results exploring the hue changes that occur when placed next to different colors. The chapters that were really captivating were on three-dimensional symmetry and how color used in a grid of dowels create different forms shaped by the color arrangement and their views at different angles. These studies are very compelling in formulating my miniature studies as I create three-dimensional screens out of two-dimensional objects.

Tanizaki, Junʼichirō. In Praise of Shadows. New Haven, Conn: Leete’s Island Books, 1977. Print.

The Book, provides a highly descriptive look into the qualities of shadow and the character of dimly lit environments . As we design building today daylight artificial light is typically used to reveal a space. The author compares the traditional way of lighting spaces that were mastered by the Japanese. The text provides great examples on how to explain light conditions and qualities in words.

Inspiration Presentation/Andrew Kudless

During the inspiration presentation from Mondays class we studied the work of Andrew Kudless. Throughout the quarter we have been exposed to many new digital fabrication techniques which rely heavily on computer programs and algorithms to generate and create forms. In my search for inspiration I wanted to learn how these techniques can be expanded on along with where such designers get their concepts from. Flipping through many of the digital fabrication from our reserved readings, Andrew Kudless’s name would come up many times. Kudless’s technique involved creating new fabrication techniques along with help from the computer to create intricate forms and skins attempting to resolve the inherent material properties. His work represented a technique that went further than the capabilities of the computer. Projects such as the C_Wall the computer is used as a starting point to collect data. He then would expand on that data creating a new technique to interpret data. It was very clear that many artist derived their inspiration from many places including: elements of nature to the exploration of everyday objects. In Kudless’s EOES Project he uses the metaphor of an iceberg for their heavy and light characteristics as they float in the water that I feel help guide his process. These methods of inspirations are all springboards from which further studies manifest themselves into a project. Metaphors like these one help refine and guide a concept and has helped me define my final installation.




























Image Source

“Projects of Andrew Kudless.” Matsys Design. Web. 18 May 2011. .

Progress of installation/location

Progress has gone forward on my installation with a location determined between the gap of the staircase and the upper walkway on the second level of our studio space. There were two major factors that went into location selection:

Amount of light being distributed from the source(i.e. sunlight).

Amount of objects projecting shadows in front of the screen continuously.

The area right above the staircase provides a lot of foot traffic from people getting prints and using the kitchen. Also there is a large amount of bounced light from the reflective properties of the floor providing enough light to reach the screen. I intend for the screen to be experienced from below as people enter from the fourth floor. Shadows will be chamfered through the screens with the undulating surface projecting the contours as a 3d image.

Installation Location
Detail of Installation

Project Summary Draft

Project Summary Draft

Throughout the quarter we have been exposed to a variety of techniques that deal with how light and shadow shapes the space we experience on a daily basis. We have learned different techniques that control, manipulate, reveal, and forces us to think about light in a different way other than a source that guides us on earth. As digital fabrication techniques advance so are the vast amounts of possibilities for manipulating light ever expanding. My exploration of these new digital fabrication techniques have led me towards an interest in how these methods can change the way we design. The question that I asked myself was what did I want to discover during this process. Due to the vast majority of digital fabrication techniques this was hard to answer at first. Limiting myself to exploring the tools that were immediately available to me refined my interest. I exposed myself the three types of fabrication techniques: laser cutting, cnc milling, and 3d printing. I chose to explore the possibilities of the laser cutting and its ability to go farther than 2d fabrication.

The Second part of finding out what I wanted to discover included what type of atmosphere or manipulation was to be made from our installations. Exploring how other artist and designers helped formulate my ideas of what I wanted to discover while manipulating light. It seemed very clear that many artist derived their inspiration from many places including: elements of nature to the exploration of everyday objects. These methods of inspirations are all springboards from which further studies manifest themselves into a project. Thus, putting my main idea for my installation into a metaphor helped create a starting point for my project. My metaphor came into the idea of objects in the fog. Trying to understand this premise helped guide my next steps into the production of my installation.

In foggy conditions objects are often blurred, exaggerated and displayed into basic elements of their visual makeup. During my study of light screens I was further guided into a process of discovering a way to create the blurred effects of fog through the chambering of shadows. When one thinks of the shadow of an object or person there is an immediate idea of the contours from which the object or person is producing. Modulating these shadows through the a series of chambers in a screen allowed these distinct contours of a shadows to be pixilated into the shapes of the chambers. Going even further, adding a semi opaque screen allowed the shadow to dissolve further allowing more of the “object in the fog” effect I was looking for. These trial and error exploration lead me to the next step involving the use of these elements of chambers and semi-opaque filters into a type of optical installation that allowed light to be optically manipulated by the movement of shadow.

In order to reach my goal of an installation I needed test different methods of using chambers and the material properties of my filters. I needed to develop different strategies to create chambers that would allow for a better integration emitting the pixilation/movement of shadows. The three basic types of methods explored a linear grid, radial grid, and an organic grid. Each method would have their own advantages and disadvantages. Cataloging these studies would help determine the best resolution to the effects I wanted to create with the installation. Testing these different methods revealed that there is a possibility to use a combination of these methods would possibly serve the purpose intended. The only question that stands now is how the installation is applied to best display the effect of “objects in the fog”.

Objects in the fog

Post Work in Progress + Reflective Writing

So far in my progression towards a finalized final project I have planned out two installation ideas on paper. One including a light modulator that would shape space around a working cubical such as a studio desk while also being functional. After careful thought and deliberation towards the reality of the project I went with the second plan to create a window screen that would panelize light and shadow through a series of chambers. The chambers would also have a undulating surface on the interior space that would enhance the character the space as an art piece. Using sketch up I modeled a mesh and dissected it into its parts in order to create a scaled down version of the test installation. The scaled down installation in a window opening proved successful but, had a much more dramatic effect of pixilation diffused shadow on the exterior treatment that was applied with a semi opaque material. I explored the possibility of this option by reversing the undulating texture to have direct contact with the semi-opaque material and face it on the interior finish opposite of the light source modulating the shadow. The results were remarkable. Even though the undulating surface was layered with a flat surface its dimensionality still was presence and add an almost glowing presence that will be explored further. Next step is to make the 3d surfaces much more dramatic including even more play in color.

Scaled installation seperated.

Screen From in original form.

Undulating Screen Reversed

Screen through natural light

Annotated Bibliography

Hauer, Erwin. Erwin Hauer – Continua: Architectural Screens and Walls. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2007. Print.

The author, a prominent sculptor from the 50’s catalogues and describes his work in “Continuous surface” studies from biomorphic forms into modular structures. The reading provides insight into the process Hauer’s screens including where he gained inspiration for much of his sculptures. There are an abundant amount of images of screens and walls from the 1950-60 captured in carefully composed images. Provided at the beginning of each project is a short introduction into the design process that provides descriptive explanations of intents and discoveries. Through series of screens that play with luminosity, surfaces, and symmetry. The book provides a good in-depth visual documentation of work that seems to build upon one another.

Iwamoto, Lisa. Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. Print.

The author, currently an assistant professor at the University of California Berkeley received her Maser of Architecture degree with Distinction from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in structural Engineering from the University of Colorado. She brings her expertise and knowledge of perceptual performance of material and digital fabrication to display the different types of techniques. The book is organized into the major categories’: sectioning, Tessellating folding, contouring, and forming. In each section she includes numerous examples of artists and designer that have implemented each of these fabrication techniques into small scale installations. The pages provide useful images and text that help explain the ideas and techniques used to accomplish the presented installations.

Leski, Kyna. The Making of Design Principles. Providence, RI: K. Leski, 2007. Print.

The author, a principal at 3SIXO Architecture and Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design provides a glimpse into the process of design, put into words and images through a series of projects. The publication chronicles three projects that were given three problems each that designers represented in various small scale studies. The projects offer a fresh view of traditional design process demonstrated as problems to solve such as “form and order” and “whole to the part to whole”.

Lilley, Brian, and Philip Beesley. Expanding Bodies: Art, Cities, Environment ; Proceedings of the Acadia 2007 Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 1-7, 2007. S.l.: Riverside Architectural Press and Tuns Press,2007. Print.

The publication, an organization formed in the 1980’s to create a line of communication and critical thinking that deal with the use of computers in architectural design and planning. The Book contains an array of conversations and studies involving the use of computers in design including parametric design a process that I am trying to understand through my design process and installation. One study in particular “The Smithsonian Courtyard Enclosure” provides a case study in the digital design process. The articles within the publication are intended for an audience interested in more than the end product including topics outlining design problems, solutions, intent, and logic encompassing digital design. In the case study involving the Courtyard enclosure the author provides a clear understanding of sketching with algorithms and its requirement to have a basic understanding of the design intent in order to write the correct parameters for the computer program to use in creating form.

Liu, Yudong. Demonstrating Digital Architecture. Basel: Birkhäuser, 2005. Print.

The publication, displays fifty of the best project designers from all over the world intended for an audience interested in the new age designs coming from the digital world of 3d modeling and its implementation into the built environment. Included are prominent designer such as Tadao Ando and Zaha Hadid. The book provides award winning examples of how 3d modeling was used in design along with detailed explanations of to describe the work. Also included are many examples of smaller scale projects that incorporate computer based modeling and fabrication. Similar to the Iwamoto’s “Digital Fabrication” the publication goes more into less known artist and becomes richer in detail explaining such things as programs used and reasons for materials used etc.

Prototype Sketches Progress

Prototype IdeasPrototype Process

So far I having been sketching ideas of how to implement my light and shadow final assignment into an installation. I want to pursue the optical possibilities of chambers that pixilated and emphasize shadows as I discovered. Through the light in motion exercise by placing a semi transparent screen in front of the light source created a softened backdrop for the shadows to modulate on and also through the chambers of the screen. This allowed the screen to sequence shadows into a pixel size determined by the chamber’s dimension without distributing distinct shadows from the source. Within the same premise of my plan for the final assignment I also want the chambers to help mold the environment in a unique way.

Blog Comment

Natalie’s test video of light in motion displays a careful use of an organized composition that gives the study a documentary style feel. The video does a great job of creating a mystical quality that makes you the observer question what’s happening. Even when the light modulator is placed into the frame of the video it is still a mystery of how the forms are converting the light into otherworldly shapes. Her video also is really strong in creating a lighting scheme that seems arbitrary but also defined by the singularity of one light source.
One thing I think should be pursued is the mystical quality of her test video. It can be improved by editing the sound to create a mood. The subtle sounds that occur during the filming of the video sets the tone of an isolated experience but, they seem to be sporadic and possibly accidental. Maybe using a meditative sound instead would enhance the experience. Her use of sound in her final video is nicely integrated with the feeling of the screens. Also in her second video there may be a way the light source can be hidden instead of being exposed to the camera during some of the transitional movements of the film. Maiietta S. Millet book on Light Revealing Architecture would help expand Natalie’s project. There is a chapter on pg. 136 that deals with contemplative light. I think this relates well to her video that deals with a mystical type of light that forces one to think.

Bibliography in progress

Hauer, Erwin. Erwin Hauer – Continua: Architectural Screens and Walls. New York: Princeton Architectural, 2007. Print.

Iwamoto, Lisa. Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2009. Print.

Hildebrand, Grant. Elegant Explorations: The Designs of Phillip Jacobson. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2007. Print.

Lilley, Brian, and Philip Beesley. Expanding Bodies: Art, Cities, Environment ; Proceedings of the Acadia 2007 Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 1-7, 2007. S.l.: Riverside Architectural Press and Tuns Press,2007. Print.

Liu, Yudong. Demonstrating Digital Architecture. Basel: Birkhäuser, 2005. Print.