Exercise 2

SKETCH PROBLEM 2: Improvisational Shelter Part 2
Assigned: April 8, 2019
Due: Pinup, April 15, 2019 (in studio or TBA)

Desk Crits: 4.10.19,  4.12.19 (if time allows after field trip)

OBJECTIVE:

Continuing with the same epidemic scenario as in Sketch Problem 1. Assume that the emergency care medical team has treated everyone and if necessary quarantined some people. You are beginning to make preparations for a longer term stay of an uncertain time length.

Develop a 300 square  square foot fabric structure for four to six overnight guests. Your point of departure for this design exercise can be based upon one of the structures you’ve developed in Sketch Problem  1  or you are free to begin an entirely new scheme .

Each unit’s physical transformation from a collapsed structure to a fully deployed structure should be studied in greater detail. This exercise still includes working with stretch materials and abstractly working with theinteroperability of building components. Make a preliminary proposal for a unit that would be deployed to an unknown flat rocky ledge site in windy conditions.

 MATERIALS:

Use stretch or, especially if you wish to start using the sewing machines, non-stretch fabric materials for retraction and unfurling.  Continue to use bamboo, balsa wood, small dowels or bendable hard-wire, waxed cord, and hobbyist jewelry connectors.  Joanne’s Fabric and Craft and Michael’s should still have most of what you need. Some supplies may still be available at the materials desk in the studio.

Operable components should incorporate fabric and/or rigid materials for retraction and unfurling. Pin-joints, loop fastener joints, membranes with grommets or fastener eyes, tube in pocket joints, edge clamping joints can facilitate movement (see Schlaich, J, Bergermann, R., Sobek W, Tension Membrane Structures, Invited Lecture Pass-Congress, Madrid, Sept. 1989, p. 22 – 24).

Connection Photos


Metallic Eyes or Grommets and Zigzag Rope (Rubb Inc., Earl Mark Photo)

Telescoping Tube with Umbrella-Like Release Button (Rubb Inc., Earl Mark Photo)


Tube in Pocket (Rubb Inc., Earl Mark Photo)


Edge Clamp, Keder Rail  (Rubb Inc., Earl Mark Photo)


Loop Fastener System  (Rubb Inc., Earl Mark Photo)


RF Welding Machine (Rubb Inc., Earl Mark Photo)


Industrial Zipper (Rubb Inc., Earl Mark Photo)


Hoop Mast (From Apprenticeshop Workshop, Earl Mark Photo)


Goose Neck Joint (Winter Harbor Yacht Club, Earl Mark Photo)

Boat Cleat & Vertical Windlass  (Winter Harbor Yacht Club, Earl Mark Photo)

INCLUDE:

  • At least two exits and entrances.
  • Operable openings for fresh air and natural light.
  • Six places for sleeping.
  • Six raised surfaces for dining/writing
  • Natural lighting & minimal artificial lighting if any.
  • Innovative anchorage system.
  • Explicit renderings of four or more states of the collapsible structure from 50% retracted to fully unfurled.
  • Applied passive solar heating and cooling.

 

EXCLUDE:

  • Washing or WC facilities.
  • Slab, flooring or foundation.

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Investigate the structure concurrently in physical model form, and through drawing and computer modeling.
  • Explore the structure at anywhere from ¼” up to 1” scale (i.e., ½” = 1’).
  • At least one operable building component minimally at ½” scale (i.e., ½” = 1 foot).
  • Primary requirement:
    • At least two physical prototype alternatives at discretionary scale, hand-made and optionally with integration of CNC fabricated components.
    • Computer rendering or hand-sketch of plan, section and axonometric or perspective rendering.
    • Schematic site plan (highly abstract) with placement of unit, consideration of sun, wind, and programmatic adjacencies.
  • Secondary requirement:
    • Computer rendering or hand-sketch showing at least one plan and one section with ground conditions. For 5.15.19, printout on  two 11” x 17” sheets or greater size.

SCENARIOS:

  • Eating/sleeping/meeting.
  • Warm day ventilation/cold day or night insulation.
  • Full retraction and unfurling of unit.

NOTES:

  • Show abstract site in renderings.
  • Initiate consideration of site conditions (e.g, orientation, terrain, runoff, wind).
  • Prepare a short outline of four to five key principles for the pinup discussions on 4.15
  • Specify in general terms type hardware and materials used (e.g., wood, fabric, pin joints, etc.).Relate to regional and other precedents. It’s not necessary at this stage to go into type wood, fabric, etc..
  • Help each other with respect to sewing machine use and other design tools.
  • Help each other with respect to sharing techniques.