Pattern Investigations

The Union of Eight Octahedron Pairs

Thomas Parker Williams

This pattern is assembled using a geometric construction comprising of eight intersecting octahedron pairs.

Octahedron is composed of eight equilateral triangles, four of which meet at a single point.

Below is a plan of an octahedron shape, which is the bases of the pattern.

When fixed at two main points the shape below is formed. This shape is connected at different angles to create a more complex irregular pattern.

‘Space Warp’ Wallpaper

Karim Rashid

The concept of the wallpaper was based on the movement in nature.

This pattern consists of free flowing curves, made up of single lines, spaced closely and evenly apart from each other. Over lapping lines create a criss-cross pattern, altering the tone and level of transparency in the curves. The pattern is repeated through a mirror image effect.

Symmetry is used to create a dense and repetitive pattern

Painting of Pavia, Italy

This city, is made up of primarily pitched roof buildings of the same height and similar sizes,

repeated and compactly arranged.

Buildings are facing and forming public squares; fronting the main line of movement; however most are clustered with small narrow streets in-between.

Hierarchy of the buildings are illustrated with a side main path splitting the city in half; breaking the tightly arranged buildings and leading to a potent landmark.

Repeated form, modified in scale and orientation

Composition in Red, Yellow, and Blue

Piet Mondrian

This painting is formulated by ‘The golden Rectangle’.

A rectangle is divided into a square and a smaller rectangle. The smaller rectangle can again be split into a square and rectangle as the primary shape did and this sequence continues.

The smaller rectangle, that sits in the original has the same aspect ratio, meaning that the length of the smaller rectangle divided by the width, is equal to the length of the original rectangle divided by its width.

Above is a geometric pattern sequence, with the final diagram incorporating primary colours like most art of the De Stijl period.

Shinjyuku Vertical Campus

OMA

Rem Koolhaas

The vertical campus was created through the subtraction of geometric shapes, as apposed to the addition of space.

Starting with a solid block, the circulation and core of the building is decided and carved into the block. The rooms and internal spaces are then also cut away from the solid.

Above is a simple diagram of a solid square, with geometric shapes being removed, to illustrate the basic principles of the pattern design.

I then produced the above diagram of a solid block, in which a main core is established.

Main spaces emerge through the subtraction of geometric shapes.

A vertical arrangement of rooms attached to the primary core is formed.

Ideal City

Layout, Navigation and Transport

An ideal city is dependent on the individual, some enjoy and choose to live within the densely populated, fast pace, automobile cities, whilst others are obligated by work within the city, choosing to commute on trains, on buses and return to a more subdued environment, with a sparser layout in the suburbs.

An ideal city is an organised city, with a layout arranged in accordance to a grid, producing easily legible maps and allowing confident navigation with or without guidance.

A cluster of well facilitated mixed use buildings and specalised stores in close proximity to each other, with narrow facades allowing a denser, over whelming number of shops, all within walking distance; with large, vibrant signage, at an eye level hight, visible from a far, calling you to go in.

Community and Shared Spaces

An Urban city will offer a different experience with each visit. It is constantly changing and modernizing, with new stores opening, events and developments. However, it is the people within the city, the way in which they interact with others and their changing environment, which opens a real stage for spontaneity and originality.

Long, narrow, well lit, inviting roads leading people through the city’s most interesting and attractive pathways; holding a mass of people in an area of close proximity, heightening the chances of direct or indirect interaction. The duration of a few minutes, allowing people to walk pass each other, smile and maybe see a friendly face.

Tall office buildings with light hitting the glass facades, turning them into mirrors, closes you into the narrow streets further, with reflection providing a view of the scene in front and behind you.

Once through the narrow path; revealed is a busy, lively and noisy, open communal square of cafes and green urban breaks, with public seating overlooking the main activity of the day. This space acting as a node, becoming an arranged or coincidental meeting place within the city.

Semi enclosed, artificially as well as naturally lit outdoor pathways and links from outdoor to indoor, allowing comfortable and safe use of the city in all weathers and times of the day.

Cities and future Cities

Cities have evolved and developed over time and will need to continue to modernise, to remain relevant and needed by its public.

However, the main principles of a city have not changed; remaining as a cluster of mixed use spaces in close proximity to one another, housing a high density of people within a tightly arranged layout, including shared public areas and facilities; serviced by busy lines of transport.

Çatal Hüyük

Above is the plan of the first urban city, showing the density and closely spaced buildings. The buildings were so tightly compacted that there was not even roads between them, meaning that each wall was a part wall. People would therefore enter and exit the building through the roof.

Bird Watching Shelter (Construction Week)

Brief and Client

The project had two clients:

1. Environmental Tutor (Sophie Ioannou)

2. School pupils aged between 4 and11.

The brief was to design and build a bird watching shelter, more commonly known as a bird hide, which would be stable, attractive and inviting. This is one of many environmental projects taking place in the school, in an attempt to encourage outdoor activities.

We were divided into a group of 9 and had a two week deadline to complete the structure.

Location

A woodland area located on the grounds of St Joseph Primary School, Highgate Hill, Islington and adjacent Whittington Hospital.

Site

The nature reserve is a linear site, with a relatively flat contour, which then slops steeply toward the hospital. The site has many trees, which must remain and be incorporated into the final design. The woodlands has two access routes, one leading from the children’s playground, which is only unlocked under adult/teacher supervision and one leading from the main road, this too remains locked, opening only for large deliveries on site. These entrances are both at the the same end of the long linear site. The school propose to add an addition access way on the opposing side of the current existing openings, which we should attempt to cater for in our design.

Design Development

Before sketching initial ideas, we meet with some of the school pupils who handed us drawings of their own ideals, illustrating common themes and features they wanted incorporated into their bird shelter.

Taking these ideas in to account, along with our own sketches and concepts, we identified and listed the following design requirements:

-Fit a minimum of 4-6 occupants aged 4-11, at one time

-’Camouflage’ and blend the shelter into its natural environment

-Use natural, low impact and some recycled materials

-Provision for bird feeders, baths and houses

-Include seating

-Educational and interactive areas

-A place where you can be both sheltered and yet exposed to the nature

Design Concept and Process

The design was based on the idea of 'Hide and Seek'. The ‘Hiding’ would take place in a semi enclosed curved structure, which provided protection from the wind; with an open roof, covered by the over hanging trees, which would give you a degree of shelter from the rain. The ‘Seeking’ would take place on the externally attached deck, which extends into the main shelter providing seating space.

Along the pathway ‘knowledge walls’ would be incorporated, for the children to put posters of birds, bird feeders and any other work the teachers and students want to exhibit.

Materials and Budget

We were given a £600 budget to purchase the following materials:

• Concrete: Sand, cement and aggregate
• Steels x 30
  
• Flat steels x 2
• Willow to cover 25-30sqm
• OSB boards x 2
• Recycled timber
• Bolts
• Screws

Issues:

The price of steels were more expensive than anticipated, meaning that we had to remove the ‘knowledge walls’ and in its place increase the length of the primary shelter.

However, it was the willow which caused the most problems for the following reasons

1. Extremely expensive

2. Not in season and therefore the amount needed was almost impossible to get hold of

3. The willow had to be soaked for up to five day, before it would be flexible and strong enough to use.

We therefore decided to weave using thinly sawn wood, which we would cut from timber boards.

Construction Process

After presenting and then receiving client approval and completing the required risk assessment, we ordered the materials needed and could begin the construction process:

1. Bending of the Steels
We had to prefabricate the steels, bending them at the university work shop. Using the steel schedules produced we were able to calculate the correct number of steels needed and bend each one accurately.

2. Digging

After marking out the position of the 20 holes, we began digging down a meter deep, as suggested by the engineer. After breaking through the soil, clay and 10mm of concrete found from old foundations, we began digging the trench, connecting the holes together, to provide more strength and support to the steels once the concrete was poured.

3. Placing of the Steels

The steels were then carefully fitted into the holes and held in position, whilst the cement, sand, aggregate and water were being hand mixed.

4. Concrete pad foundations

The concrete was then poured and vibrated to reduce the possibilities of air bubbles and to insure that mix had travelled to the bottom of the holes. It was then left to set.

5. Steel Ring

We connected the steel ring at an angle, to 10 of the steel columns. Once the concrete had set, we realized that the steel ring was not adding any additional strength to the structure and instead ruined the aesthetic of the bird hide. It was removed.

6. Decking

Using timber off cuts, we were able to make a simple deck structure along with a handrail. Using templates we were then able to jigsaw the OSB to size and drill into the decking structure.

7. Weaving

The timber was cut into thinly sawn strips of approximately 30mmx100mm. Horizontally weaving in and out between the steel frame, with additional strips of timber placed vertically, provided a supportive cladding.

8. Windows and Edges

Timber strips connected vertically with bolts, produced window frames and connected loose, rough edges together.

9. Clean up

We then cleared the site, levelling the floor soil, removing leaves and marking out places that the children would be able to incorporate their own work done through out the year i.e the bird feeders.

Bird Hide