Arch101 Final Portfolio Xiuting Liu

Fujin Xiuting Liu Final Portfolio Architecture 101 City College of San Francisco 12/18/2013

• Description ………………………………………….. 3

• Site analysis …………………………………………. 4

• Individual small-scale design I &II ………… 8

• Group conceptual design I, II & II …………. 10

• Materials and Tools ……………………………… 14

• Construction Processes ……………………….. 17

• Time Lapse …………………………………………... 33

• Conclusion …………………………………………… 34

Description: • According to this semester’s

topic – “Shaping Wonder”, we are required to explore the “beauty, the unexpected, and the unfamiliar in architectural and interior design expressions”, and design and install a full-size construction responding to the site we selected. Based on the site we chose, we use the name – “Fūjin”, the Japanese god of the wind, as our concept of design to respond to the site’s wind.

Site analysis

• The site we chose eventually is located at the top of the countryside along with two trees. It faces to the south and remains the beautiful views from the east which allows people to notice the residential area and curvature of hills.

DAILY SUNRISE AND SUNSET

• Also, the shades from the trees have variety and interesting patterns when sun position is changing. Because of sitting on the countryside, the site is facing the strong wind from the west in all days.

SUN DIRECTION ON THE DAY OF JURY

WIND

• Besides, the site is stair away from the driveway which can offer people a quiet and peaceful environment.

Individual Design I:

• Features:

curve, tessellate, bio mimicry

Individual Design II:

• Features: curve, tessellate, bio mimicry • Issues: they do not really respond to the site we

chose; it’s obscure to clarify the specific areas of pathway, frame of view, one-person area and accidental encounters.

1st Group Conceptual Design:

• Narrative: We eventually came up with an idea of dome shape as our installation expression. And based on our prior design concept – bio mimicry, we were trying to use triangular shapes to tessellate the surface of the dome.

• Issue: we had a hard time to figure out how to connect these triangular shapes together.

2nd Group Conceptual Design:

• Narrative: We made the 2nd conceptual design, and we tessellated different patterns of triangular shapes on both sides to find out the best view of pattern. And inspired by my former iteration, we created an encounter area under the dome. The triangular shapes were tessellated around the circle in order to frame the circular view. Also, the triangular shape was made in full-size with pvc pipe and covered with fabric.

• Issue: We need to measure the encounter area, and find out the angle of the circular frame on the top. As long as we put these full-size triangular shapes on the dome, it will be very heavy and nothing can support their gravity.

• Solution: we decided to use kites in place of triangular shapes because kite has light gravity and can easily moved when wind blows, and that respond to the our site’ wind.

3rd Group Conceptual Design:

• To support our 2nd group conceptual design, we set up the frame of the design. The model was made by plastic tapes and was divided in and that can help us to figure out the connection of our kites.

Rationale of Material Selection & Construction Methods

PVC Pipe Bamboo Rope

Black Rope Screw

• PVC Pipe – PVC Pipe is flexible enough to form the curves and its scan sign can be erased by Acetone and the structure will be showed as all white, and that can reflect the form of wind because the color white can be seen as soft, divine, and encompassing as wind does.

• Bamboo – bamboo is used for framing kites, and it has nature color that respond to the natural environment.

• Rope – we used rope which made from twine to tie with kites and the connection with PVC pipe and the two trees.

• Black Rope – Black Rope is used to tie up with PVC connections. And it provides a stark contrast compared to the white of the overall structure.

• Fabric – the fabric we chose has lightweight and white color. Fabric is used for catch the wind.

• Screws and couplings – we used screws and couplings to connect PVC pipes in order to stabilize its constitution.

• We tied the structure to the two trees that will ground the construction when the wind becomes too strong.

Kites

Narrative: we explored our first prototype of kite. It was made by two crossing bamboo and cover with fabric. We put it on the hill side and found that it can move as wind blows. Then base on the first prototype, we decided our kite design with a tear shape framed by a bamboo and covered with paper (we use cloth instead of paper at the end).

Construction Process Nov. 24

• We were struggling with the connection with PVC pipes. We tried to use plastic pipe to connect with two PVC pipes but we fail. Then we tried to tie two PVC pipes with strings to make a curve but we fail again because it didn’t look well.

• Finally, with the help of Corina’s father, we decided two ways to connect with PVC pipes. We can clamp a PVC pipe with two pipes, or we can use connector to connect PVC pipes.

Nov. 25 The 1st Day to Start Installation

• Narrative: we cleared up our site and measured the area the site would stay. And we used connector to connect two PVC pipes and screwed the connecting point to make them stabilize.

Nov. 27

• Issue: we found a hard time to figure out the way to connect PVC Pipes with connector.

• Narrative: we created different

kinds of connectors. We cut part of piece of connector in order to clamp the connector with PVC pipes. And based on different angle of the connection with PVC pipes, we cut the connector in angles.

Nov.30

• Narrative: we used rope to

tie the PVC pipe with the two trees.

Dec. 01

• Narrative: we used hemps to tie each connection together and

arranged the positions of each PVC pipes. In the meanwhile, there were a father and a son just came by. They saw our construction and they told us whether our installation was about nature. When they knew that we were going to use kites to cover the frame, they believed that the kites would move as the strong wind is blowing. We were glad that people can understand our design concept when they see our installation.

We went to the fabric store to choose fabric but we didn’t find out the one we desired as it is stretchable and white.

Dec. 02

• Narrative: according to the frame we

installed at the site, Professor Jerry gave us some suggestion to promote our design. At the bottom of our installation, Jerry suggested us that we could clamp those PVC pipes separated and in order. He also gave us some idea about Japanese rope tying.

Dec. 05

• Narrative: we measure the shape of kites and bended the

bamboo in measurement.

Dec. 07

• Issue: we found out that when kite was made with one bamboo it would be easily blown away by the strong wind because of its lightweight.

• Narrative: we coved the kites with fabric by glue gun. And we decided to sand-witch the kite by adding two more bamboos. We noticed that after adding two more bamboos, the kit had more gravity, was more stable and had better views.

Dec. 10

• Narrative: we put our kits on the frame and tied up with

fishing lines and swivels so that kites can be stretched and rotate along with fishing lines. We also cleared the scan logos on the PVC pipe by Acetone.

Dec. 11

• Narrative: eventually, we put the wood disk on the ground under

the dome to invite people sitting on it and enjoy the views of environments and the movement of kites.

Time Lapse

11.27.2013 11.25.2013 12.10.2013

12.11.2013

12.01.2013

Conclusion As we started to form a team, we experienced so many debates and that leads us to layoff our installation processes. Though I learned a lot from making full-scale installation, such as the technical skills, materials acknowledge, site analysis, the most important thing I learned is the significance of collaboration. People can complete their installation effective with good collaboration and good communication skills, and that is what I learned in Architecture101 design studio class, also is the goal I need to achieve in the next design class and in the future.

Thanks..