Assignment 3 - Documentation

1. Greenhouse as a Home (installation), Taoyuan, Taiwan
1:50 structural model

1. Prepare digital model
With references to photos and drawings of the Taoyuen Greenhouse, a digital 3D model was built in revit to prepare for the fabrication.

Only the main structure is modelled as it is the selected element to be fabricated for structural studies.

2. Prepare laser cut files
Drawings in CAD format are exported from the revit model for the preparation of files for laser cut.

The material chosen is 2.0 mm basswood with a board size of 800x450mm
Exported drawings of components of the structural frame are arranged in Autocad for laser cut.

3. Laser cut
Components are being cut on a basswood board.

4. Assemble
Parts are Assembled by hand with glue.

5. Final model

2. Green Square community and cultural precinct
1:1000 site model

1. Collect site information
Site information including height of the buildings, building types, width of streets, current conditions...are collected by site visits, the acquirement of official documents and drawings/maps available online.

2. Prepare digital model
With references to photos and drawings of the site, a digital 3D model was built in revit to prepare for the fabrication.

3. Prepare 3D printing files
Revit models of buildings are exported to stl files for 3D printing using a plug-in.

The stl files are arranged to fit the cura 3D printing machine.

4. 3D printing
The buildings are arranged in three different files for the cura machine to print.
Each part takes around 8 hours.

5. Collect 3D print and clean up
Models are collected form the machine and touch-ups like polishing the edges are done before assembling them with the base

6. Prepare laser cut files for the base
Light score is used to indicate roads on the site.

7. Laser cut for the base
4.3mm corrugated cardboard is chosen as the base material.
4 boards are stacked and glued to create a base with a thickness

8. Assemble the buildings and the base
The buildings are plugged into the carved out space of the base.



9. Finished model

3. Sky Greens (Rotational vertical farming system)
Representative model

1. Draft design
After discussions, tutor provides me with a draft design of the model and a concept revit model is built based on it to identify design components.

2. Production of component

i/ Wheels
A bike chain wheel is taken as reference. The size and shape of is measure and the whole form is duplicated by laser cutting basswood.

ii/ Chain
Bike chain is used and it is broken into sections for plugging in screws to hold racks.
2 different ways are explored to break the chain.
First is using a grinder to remove the top part of the chain component, then remove the pin inside.

The second way is to use a chain breaker to push the pin out.

iii/ Main frame
The main frame is fabricated by laser cutting 3mm basswood


iv/ Rack
The racks are fabricated by laser cutting 2mm acrylic

3. Assemble
The components are then being assembled to form the main body.

4. Motor
A electrical motor is assembled and connected to the wheel's rod to perform the rotational movement.

5. Adding final details and plants to the model

6. Final model

Assignment 2 - Fabrication

1. Greenhouse as a Home (installation), Taoyuan, Taiwan 
    1:50 structural model

2. Green Square community and cultural precinct  
    1:1000 site model

3. Sky Greens (Rotational vertical farming system) 
Representative model

BENV7813 Contemporary Fabrication Techniques - Assessment 1: Project Matrix

 
 1. Greenhouse as a Home (installation), Taoyuan, Taiwan 

Key Concept  

‘Greenhouse as a Home’ is an installation designed by BIAS Architects for the Taoyuan Agriculture Expo 2018. It includes 5 areas with different climatic conditions to cater for different demands from a variety of plants and a number of distinctive programs. 

  

The first zone is ‘Fern Living room’, which mainly contains frames in a grid pattern to grow fern. The footpath along in this shadowy and humid area gives visitors a forest-like spatial experience and to imagine a life  intertwined with the vegetation. 

  

The second zone is ‘Farm Dining’, which is a large dining table surrounded by greenery. This zone is still humid but more windy. It promotes an interactive learning experiences for children to observe the food preparation process from growing crops to cook and serve. 

  

The third zone is ‘Photosynthesis Kitchen’. This climatically stabilized area contains a kitchen with a high-tech vertical hydroponic farm right next to it. It re-create the lifestyle of ancient people which growing and dining happen in the same space. People can enjoy and food growing experience and observe the process of food making while eating.  

  

The fourth zone is 'Sun Garden’. The climatic condition of this area is hot and dry. The setting of this zone takes references to the courtyard in traditional Taiwanese compound residences. Visitors can enjoy sunbathing and have social gatherings with family and friends. 

  

The fifth zone is ‘Theatre of Mushroom’. This hot, humid and dark area is not only a fungus farm but also serves as a sensorial theatre for visitors to enjoy light and sound performances. 

  

Overall this installation demonstrates the possibilities of living with greens, by creating different climatic conditions and spatial arrangements. It serves as a prototype of future living.  

  

Selected Design Element  

I will model the greenhouse’s structural frame, with external cladding, facade and roof of the 5 different zones. 

  

The installation is formed by five greenhouses with shared interior walls, lining up along a diagonal axis.  

   

The overall structural frame is in steel with a grid pattern. Footprint of each greenhouse is in a rectangular shape of around 6x12m. Height of the structure without the roof is around 5m. Specifications of steel beam and column used in the main structure includes square-100*100mm*4t／U-300*250mm*3t／C-100*50mm*2.3t.     

  

Main structural elements of the curved roof  includes galvanized pipe 1” and galvanized extended pipe ½”. 

  

Roofs and sides of the greenhouses are covered by agricultural film and black shade cloth.  

  

The above elements will be modeled abstractly using representative materials to demonstrate the different climatic controls on the greenhouses.  

  

How is the Key Concept Reflected in the Design Studio? 

First, this can serve as a good exercise for material exploration. The different climatic conditions of the greenhouses are created by the use of different building materials. Characteristics of materials and the way they are applied bring impacts to aspects like light, temperature and humidity. Through the making of physical models, the quality of the materials can be shown clearly and the way they affect the appearance and presentation of the design can be observed. The physical model also demonstrate that even with similar forms, the characteristics can be totally different through the use of different materials for facade, cladding and spatial arrangements.  

  

Second, the process of making a structural model helps me understand more about steel frame structure for temporary installations. The way it holds up the curved roof also worth studying. The structural arrangement may be able to apply to my studio for similar elongated and curved roof steel frame design.  

  

Third, the model making process will involve laser cutting, casting and metal bending...etc. Through processes like preparation of drawings, acquisition of materials, on-hand practices, method explorations...  helpful techniques will be obtained for making physical models in design studios. 

  

Geometrical Description of the Shape 

The five greenhouses line up along a diagonal axis with shared interior walls.  

  

They share a similar massing form. Each of the greenhouses is in a rectangular shape with a 6m x 12m footprint and tall 5m. Roofs are curved and the radius is around 2.5m. 

  

The grid pattern of the steel structure are generally 0.5x1m to 0.5x2m and it continues all the way from floor to roof. Lightweight steel beams and columns are used with shape and sizes of square-100*100mm, U-300*250mm and C-100*50mm. 

  

The installation do not have an underground section.  

Proposed Scale, Material, Technique. 

Two models will be made for this precedent.  

1. Abstract mass model 

Proposed scale: 1:200 

Actual size: 3x6x3.75cm per greenhouse (total 5 of them) 

Material:  

1st greenhouse: Resin 

2nd greenhouse: Clear Resin 

3rd greenhouse: Plaster 

4th greenhouse: Clear Resin 

5th greenhouse: Ultracal30 Gypsum 

Technique: Casting 

  

2. Main Structural frame with facade and roof coverings 

Proposed scale: 1:50 

Actual size: 12x24x15cm per greenhouse (total 5 of them) 

Material:  

Structural frame: plywood 

Roof coverings: shade cloth, butter paper 

Technique: Laser cutting  

   

Time Commitment, Budget 

1. Abstract mass model 

 Time Commitment: Drawing and document preparation: 2 hours 

Mould making: 1 day Casting: 3 days 

  

Budget: 

$30 

  

2. Main Structural frame with facade and roof coverings 

 Time Commitment: 

Drawing and document preparation: 2 days Laser cutting: 2 hours 

Budget: 

$40 

References: 

   

2. Sky Greens (Rotational vertical farming system) 

Key Concept  

The design and implementation of vertical farms is a trending solution towards the problem of increasing urban population with a high demand of food. First, vertical farming can be conducted indoors, so the weather condition will not be a problem. Second, with the control of climatic conditions, vertical farming can produce desired crops all year long. Third, it requires relatively smaller are of land to grow plants so it is suitable for places with a shortage of land supply. Overall, sustainable vertical farming development is potentially beneficial to the quality, quantity and safety in food production.  

‘Sky Greens’ is a commercial urban farm in Singapore using an innovative vertical farming system. Each of the nine-meter tower hydraulic driven towers can host 38 tiers of troughs for plant growing. With rotations, plants can properly obtain sunlight, irrigation and nutrients even being grown in a vertical stacked condition. Troughs rotate 3 times to get a total of 2 hours of sunlight each day. Micro-sprinklers water the plants 3 times each day as the trough rotate. One tower produces the same harvest as 25 sqm of farmland. 

Selected Design Element  

The selected design element is the plant growing tower. In Sky Greens, the A-shaped towers are in nine meters tall and can host 38 tiers of troughs for plant growing. It is a hydraulic driven system. It first collect rainwater and recycled water in an overhead tank, the water is then directed to a water pulley system which is to rotate the troughs with the use of gravity and flowing water. The water is then recycled to provide power to a generator. With a pump, water used in the above process is redirected into the overhead tank, powered by the generator.  

  

How is the Key Concept Reflected in the Design Studio? 

My current design studio project includes an urban farm. Therefore, this exercise of modelling a growing tower will be very useful in studying how a vertical farm actually works and to demonstrate how the system can be integrated in the architectural design. 

  

It also serves as a good practice of making an interactive physical model with an electrical mechanism.  

  

Geometrical Description of the Shape For the actual towers, each mainly consists of a structural frame, troughs for plants, a water pulley module, water tank and generator. 

  

The structural frame is in a A-shape, nine-meters tall, with supports on both sides forming a triangular frame. Each supporting plank is about 100x50mm. Plank in the middle on one side holds up a water pulley module for the rotation of troughs. 

  

For the troughs, each of them is having a length of about 2 meters, with a depth of 10 cm to hold pots of plants. Each trough can contain 6-8 pots, depends on the plant size. 

  

Each A-shape tower host 38 tiers of troughs. 

  

Given the constraints of the size of the model, the complexity and its main purpose of showing how the rotational mechanism works, the model will be a simplified version with the structural frame, troughs and a motor to power for the rotation. 

  

Proposed Scale, Material, Technique. 

Proposed scale:  

1:200 (in terms of height) 

Actual size:  

Tower: height 450mm, width 400mm 

Troughs: depth 50mm, width 400mm 

Material:  

Tower: Acrylic 

Troughs: Acrylic 

Motor 

Technique:  

Laser cutting (For the tower’s main structural planks, troughts) 

3D printing (Specific components like joints) 

  

Time Commitment, Budget 

Time Commitment: Research on rotational mechanism: 2 days Purchase of plants and materials: 1 day 

Drawing and document preparation: 3 days Laser cutting: 4 hours 

  

Budget: 

Purchase of plants and materials: $50 

Laser cutting: $80 

  

3. Green Square Site model 

Key Concept  

The Green Square Community and Cultural Precinct is the site for my final year design studio project. It is located at the Sydney suburb Zetland, bounded by Joynton Avenue, Portman Street and Hansard Street. As it is the former South Sydney Hospital site, it includes heritage buildings like the Hospital Administration Building, Nursing House, Outpatient building...which some of them are currently being renovated into community buildings like creative center, child care center and community hall.  

  

As Green Square is now under large scale urban renewal, neighbourhood area around the site is now experiencing exciting redevelopments. On the northern and western side, there are plans for large scale medium-rise residential developments with some of them are already built just right next to the site. On the east there will be a development of an aquatic center which will be a venue for major sport events. South of the site is currently an area with low-rise residential and industrial buildings and also have the potential to be redeveloped.  

  

With its geographical advantages of having a close proximity to the CBD area and the vibrant community culture, redevelopment plans in Green Square should go under comprehensive urban studies to maximize its potential to allow to area to grow into a sustainable city. 

  

Selected Design Element  

The site and its surrounding area will be modeled. 

  

The following elements will be included: 

• Roads and topography:  The site can be considered flat. The model will include major roads like Botany Rd on the west and Epsom Rd on the south. It will also include streets that bound the site, which are Harsard Street, Portman Street and Joynton Av. Proposed streets on the government redevelopment plan fpr Green Square will also be modelled. 
• Existing heritage buildings on site: 

The former Hospital Administrative Building, Green Square Community Center, Green Square Community Hall and Waranara Early Education Centre 

• Existing buildings around the site 
• Future developments 

Including the Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre and planned residential developments 

  

How is the Key Concept Reflected in the Design Studio? 

A site model is important to both the design process and presentation. 

  

In the process of design, a physical site model helps understanding more about the context of the site in terms of density, building height, street pattern, topography...etc. By plugging the model of the design project into the site, a number of design considerations can be observed. For example, it can show the urban fabric, the design’s relationship to the site, connections and relative scales. 

  

A site model is also very helpful in a presentation to show audiences the design project within the context. A number of design discussions can also be shown through the site model e.g. distinguishment of old and new buildings, different design options, highlight of important features... 

   

Geometrical Description of the Shape 

It will be in the scale of 1:1000 in 400mm x 600mm size. Rectangular base for the topography and roads, 3D blocks models for the buildings. 

  

Proposed Scale, Material, Technique. 

Proposed scale:  

1:1000 

Actual size:  

400mm x 600mm 

Material:  

Base: Plywood  

Buildings: Nylon plastic (white) 

Technique:  

Base: laser cutting 

Buildings: 3D printing 

   

Time Commitment, Budget 

Time Commitment: 

Drawing and document preparation: 2 days Laser cutting: 1 hour 

3D printing: 4 days 

-

References
 

"Greenhouse As A Home / BIAS Architects". 2019. Archdaily. https://www.archdaily.com/902060/greenhouse-as-a-home-bias-architects. 

  

"2018 桃園農業博覽會—鼓勵好室 GREEN HOUSE". 2019. Biasarchitects. https://www.biasarchitects.com/s-2018-green-house. 

  

"鼓勵好室green House". 2019. 鼓勵好室green House. https://www.ta-mag.net/ta/News.php?id=1465. 

  

"World's First Hydraulic-Driven Vertical Farm Produces 1 Ton Of Vegetables Every Other Day". 2019. Ecowatch. https://www.ecowatch.com/worlds-first-hydraulic-driven-vertical-farm-produces-1-ton-of-vegetabl-1882095600.html. 

  

"Technology". 2019. Sky Greens. http://www.skygreens.com/technology/