ABOUT MY BLOG

Architecture Part II - Diploma - Year 4
University of Greenwich - Unit 20 - Infinite states.

Progress development of architectural representations and visuals.
Starting October through to date 12th-12-2014

This blog shows the learning process of different softwares and architectural representations in which we are developing here at the university of Greenwich - Architecture and Landscape department. 

In addition to our progress development I have shown some other visuals, initial drawings and modelling reflecting our design unit development. 
My project's drawings and aspirations are a reflection of Franz Kafka's famous book; THE TRIAL. Here I translate words and visions into architectural spaces following the character's journey (K) - Creating a city within the city of Greenwich. And in this blog I'm presenting some of these imaginary architectural spaces reflecting the ambiguity of the writer's text. 

All experiments and developments were highly reflected in my design process in terms of 3D modelling, rendering and 3D model printing.

Noor Kassam

3ds Max model render - Visual

Here is a visual of part of the 3D model - after using 3ds Max for rendering and adding textures, lights and shadows. Facades and architectural details were the main focus in terms of light usage and shadow outlining. 

THE TRIAL - FRANZ KAFKA (Chapter 9 - The Cathedral)

This drawing was inspired from chapter 9 of the book - The Cathedral. Here I was trying to show all faces of the cathedral in one drawing - another experiment with the 2,3 dimensional effects which gives the drawing that feel which has been strongly presented in Kafka's writings. The front facade was taken from the site context where this building is taking place - borrowing elements from the site to complete the overall scheme of the journey. This will be the main focus in the next stage to develop the rest of the drawings as the scheme blends in with the site surroundings. 

This drawing was produced using Rhino, Autocad and Photoshop.

*3D-2D modelling + Photoshop rendering. Unit 20 - Infinite States. 

Fragments within site context - 3D printed model

Here is my first 3D printed model where I experimented with the fragments within the site context. 

To produce this model I had to produce the 3D model using Rhino then import it as a STL file into a software called Zprint which detects all the bad surfaces in the 3D model before sending it to the 3D printing machine. There you can fix those surfaces and save the file as necessary before proceeding. 

3D modelling - 3D printing preparation

    

Here is my work in progress preparing the 3D model to be 3D printed. We were introduced to a new software called Zprint which enables us to have our models inspected before having the model printed. 

THE TRIAL - FRANZ KAFKA (Chapter 7 - The Advocate - The Manufacturer - The Painter)

Chapter 7 - This drawing depicts my vision of the art - manufacture - paint hall which K passed by through his journey. My vision here exceeds what is there in his journey to a new piece of architecture that exists to serve a function in a specific place and time. The style of drawings used here is to present and show the ambiguity of the places that K goes to during his journey of confusion and disorientation - that feeling of being trapped. This drawing has been produced using Rhino as a 3D model then imported into Autocad for final 2D additions making the drawing an elevational plan yet having the 3D visual to it. Editing and rendering were done using photoshop afterwards.

*3D-2D modelling + Photoshop rendering. Unit 20 - Infinite States. 

Advanced photoshop session

In this session we were taught how to apply masks over layers - this allows us to apply changes and adjustments without messing with the original image or layer we are working on. It's like applying a layer on top of a layer.. Very useful for certain tasks and effects. 

We were also introduced to being able to save a snapshot within history that allows us to retrieve our work even after making lots of changes. It is very useful knowing that photoshop's history doesn't save old actions and has a certain limit to what it can save. 

Another very useful thing I found was the action recording tab which allows me to record my action and all adjustments and apply them later on if needed. 

This is really important when managing many images at the same time as it allows you to edit and apply the same modifications. 

Rhino - Two ways curvature surface - patterns and 3ds Max rendering

In Rhino as I mentioned before if wanting to apply a pattern onto a two way curvature surface you would require a grasshopper plug-in to be installed and used to make this process achievable. For this task I have created my own patterned piece and multiplied it to create the required pattern. I also drew a two way curvature surface getting it ready to experiment with... After installing Grasshopper I was able to apply the pattern onto the created surface. After a successful attempt I imported my 3D model into 3ds Max for a rendering attempt. I was introduced to managing the different rendering options, light effects, adding omni lights, shadows, materials and textures. 

123D Make - layering, slicing and modelling

This is a linked software to 123D Catch from the same Autodesk family. This incredible software gives you an accurate sliced layered model for laser cutting and model making. It has different features and options such as layering topography for any 3D model with a depth to it, slicing and interlocking fragments of the model. 

THE TRIAL - FRANZ KAFKA (Chapter 5 - The Whipper)

Another chapter from the book. A drawing depicting another imaginary experience of K. The whole atmosphere of the drawing is to create an illusion to where the character is going based on the script - translating words into a spacial experience...

THE TRIAL - FRANZ KAFKA
CHAPTER FIVE - The Whipper

A FEW evenings later K. was passing along the bank corridor from his office to the main staircase - he was almost the last to leave, only two clerks in the dispatch department were still at work by the dim light of a glow lamp - when he heard convulsive sighs behind a door, which he had always taken to the door of a lumber-room, although he had never opened it....

This drawing was 3D modelled first then imported into autocad for the final 2D additions then brought into photoshop to finish off adding renders and textures.

*3D-2D modelling + Photoshop rendering. Unit 20 - Infinite States. 

Rhino session - modelling and patterns.

During this Rhino session we were introduced to the main features of the software. Having learnt some very interesting commands I was able to create a pattern and apply it to a curved surface - applying the pattern onto the surface was done with a command called Unroll Surface:: unrollsrf using this command after having arrayed the pattern onto the curved surface (Flow Along Surface:: flowalongsurf) I was able to apply that command which applies the arrayed pattern accurately onto the chosen surface no matter how complicated the surface is. However that can be applied on a one way curvature surface only. For two way curvature surfaces we need Grasshopper.

THE TRIAL - FRANZ KAFKA (Chapter 2 - First Interrogation)

The Court of Inquiry - a drawing depicting the journey of a character called K. from Franz Kafka's novel; The Trial. This drawing is a visual experience based on a script.... 

THE TRIAL - FRANZ KAFKA
CHAPTER TWO - First Interrogation
The Court of Inquiry.

The house was quite far along the street, it was of an unsusal extent, the main entrance was particularly high and wide.... various warehouses surrounded the courtyard....
K turned toward the stairs to make his way up to the Court of Inquiry, but then came to standstill again, for in addition to this staircase he could see in the courtyard three other staircases and beside these a little passage at the other end which seemed to lead into a second courtyard.....

*3D-2D modelling + Photoshop rendering. Unit 20 - Infinite States. 

Exploding fragments in blender experimentation.

One of the various modifiers in blender is the explode modifier. This is an attempt to make a simple object into multiple fragments joined together - cell fracture modifying elements and units to get different results in terms of amount of fragments and exploding direction. After applying the explode effect I have tried to explore the animation and moving of fractures whilst exploding. It can give a very interesting effect. 

Blender transformation and expermintation.

Some visuals experimentations done in blender to test the possibilities in terms of cell fracture and mesh objects. This experiment will help me through the next stages of developing different 3D models and expand the outcome results.

Blender session

During this session we were taught how to import an image in blender and turn it into a 3D image by using the different associated tools. Using 'edit mode' in Blender we can divide the image with the subdivide tool - this allows us to manage the image in little pieces and edit them in the sculpt mode to give it the required effects. 

This is a very useful way which allows us to transform images and use them differently into our design schemes and visualisations.

123D catch into Blender.

After having several attempts with 123D catch software - We started experimenting the different modifiers in blender and how we can use the resultant 3D visuals in different ways and different textures. 

123D catch attempt 2 - A butterfly in a frame.

123D catch attempt 2 - A butterfly in a frame. An interesting effect of lights and shadows depicting the real world image transferring the real world into surreal and the physical to the metaphysical. Technology is the medium and what happens through the process is overly imagined. Some of these objects that I have scanned went through the transmittal process and never came back - I wonder why!

123D Catch attempt 1 - Candle on a table.

123D catch - scanning objects and transforming them into 3 dimensional objects. 
This was my first attempt - a candle on a table. 

The result came out with a big whole under the table, that is because of the shadows under the table, as this software is unable to capture images of objects which are exposed to light. This 3D visual was then brought to Blender software for extra rendering and smoothing of edges.