Workshops

DIA - Designing Interface Architecture [workshop]

FABberz (www.fabberz.com) and LaN (www.livearchitecture.net) are collaborating to hold a series of workshops for students and other interested parties to be held in multiple locations each year, leading up to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. It is not very often that students in a country like Brazil have the opportunity to take part in these kinds of educational events. Generally speaking, this is due to the significant cost associated with setting up a quality workshop. We are really happy and excited to bring our idea to Kickstarter as a way to support students in Brazil. Check out the widget below to see our progress!  Click on it to watch the project video, learn more, and pledge to help!

The workshops will collectively form part of a long term, additive research scheme focused on the infusion of user participation in design processes. Participants will explore digital fabrication techniques and parametric design tools as a means to create their own architectural interface prototypes - ways for residents to become directly involved in design and building.

A core line of investigation into social and infrastructural problems in favela (slum) neighborhoods in Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro will set the stage for the development of student proposals.

The 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics create a unique opportunity for architectural innovation in South America, and we hope to take advantage of these economic catalysts for the implementation of sustainable digital manufacturing processes in the favelas.

Phase 1 [ Rio de Janeiro - February 2010 ]

FABberz co-founders, Raquel Gallego + Josiah Barnes, along with LaN global director and IaaC Digital tools professor, Luis Fraguada, will head down to Rio to hold a 10 day workshop with local architecture students. The workshop will be broken into 3 parts - LEARN, DESIGN, and BUILD.

We will begin with an intensive introduction to parametric design softwares such as Rhino Grasshopper and other Rhino based digital tools. As a part of this introduction, students will give back to Kickstarter patrons (you - who is making all of this possible), by designing rewards for them (look over to the rewards section).

Students will evaluate the user as a parameter for creating design interfaces, and mass customization techniques will emerge as the central strategy in connecting material and experiential processes. Fabrication will be studied as a complex process from the design stage to the construction stage, incorporating the participation of favela residents.

DIA phase 1 will explore multiple fabrication techniques using laser cutting, including fabric forming and puzzle joinery. An introduction to these techniques will be followed by team development of customizable user interfaces and fabricated prototypes of different iterations of the proposals. Local residents will be invited to participate by customizing their own prototypes using the systems developed by students in the workshop.

The research and work done at the workshop will be disseminated through a publication by AA (Architectural Association) Adaptive Ecologies, as well as exhibited at the Architectural Association (in London) "Project's Review" and WOOD 2010 'Architecture of Necessities' exhibitions.

We think that the real potential of this project lies in the power of collaboration. With the involvement of many people from different backgrounds, and by layering diverse ideas over time, we can collectively make tremendous improvements to living conditions in Rio and really make a positive impact on people's lives. Oh behalf of FABberz, LaN, and the workshop participants, we thank you in advance for your interest and support!

CNC Milling, Digi-Fabrication, DIY

DIY LILCNC

self potrait of DIY LILCNC made with a ballpoint pen attachment

Milling Sample: Hardwood

Milling Sample: Foam

DIY LILCNC is an open source set of plans and instructions to build a DIY fully functional CNC milling machine for the price of $700. Made of laser cut MDF pieces, 3 motors, a dremel, circuit boards, and local parts from McMaster Carr, it is possible for anyone with the resources to build their own DIY LILCNC.

CNC devices are used to fabricate physical objects with a high degree of precision. Some CNC devices, including the DIYLILCNC, feature a gantry-mounted cutting tool (like a router) that can move in two or more directions. The operation of the tool is controlled by a computer, which is tasked with translating a digital design into actual tool movement

Created by Chris Reilly and Taylor Hokanson, two Chicago based artists who also teach at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Plans and instructions for building the DIYLILCNC are distributed freely and intended for wide distribution and modification with few restrictions. The plans are formatted to facilitate easy fabrication, especially for beginners. The DIYLILCNC can be built by an individual, a student group, or a class. Besides being immensely fun, building the DIY LIL CNC is a great way to learn about motion control and CAD/CAM/CAE.

The plans and instructions can be found on their site:  http://diylilcnc.org/

Robots

Pike Loop – Robot Built Brick Wall in NYC

Pike Loop, a Robot-Built Installation in NYCSep 30 2009 - Nov 14 2009

Completed Installation on display until early January

Location: Pike Street between Division Street and East Broadway (map) Digital Materiality exhibition at Storefront: On show until November 14

In September 2009, Storefront for Art and Architecture will inaugurate an exhibition of the work of Swiss architects Gramazio & Kohler, Architecture and Digital Fabrication, ETH Zurich and, in conjunction with NYC Department of Transportation’s Urban Art Program, Storefront will present the first architecture project to be digitally fabricated on site, at 1:1 scale, in the US.

Developed through their research at ETH Zürich Faculty of Architecture, Gramazio & Kohler's work explores highly complex architectural artifacts, built by industrial robots typically used to assemble automobiles and perform other high-precision tasks. The accuracy, strength and speed of these robots allow them to fabricate architectural forms of unprecedented complexity and intricacy.

Gramazio & Kohler's work represents the cutting edge of innovation in the field of digital fabrication in architecture. For many years architects have relied on digital manufacturing processes such as CNC milling or 3D printing as a tool for formal research at model-scale. For the first time, Gramazio & Kohler’s work explores the potential of mobile digital fabrication techniques that can fabricate at 1:1 scale on site.

Positioned on the central mall on Pike Street, the robot will work for up to four weeks - in full view of the public - to construct a brick wall, a highly sculptural response to the specific identity of the site. For the Pike Loop installation, more than seven thousand bricks aggregate to form an infinite loop that weaves along the pedestrian island. In changing rhythms the loop lifts off the ground and intersects itself at its peaks.

The exhibition at Storefront Gallery will present the results of Gramazio & Kohler’s ongoing research into digital fabrication in architecture at ETH Zurich Faculty of Architecture. The same robot, R-O-B, unit recently built the award-winning installation, Structural Oscillations, at the 2008 architectural biennial in Venice.

http://www.storefrontnews.org/exhib_dete.php?exID=152

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/7461760 w=400&h=300]

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/7462281 w=400&h=300]

form finding

Deep Forest Chair

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Deep Forest Chair by Kibardin design www.kibardindesign.com

The chair is made of 374 dowels that are shaped into a chair-like form, some serving as support and some just to create a rhythmic pattern. It is an example of a complicated 3D surface out of simple geometrical shapes. The wooden round cross-section bars have different length and through the accurate calculation of angles of incidence it forms a sleek and friendly surface in places of human contact. On the other hand it is a deep forest. Some of the trunks serve as a support, but on the whole you observe a nice chaos.

Digi-Fabrication, DIY

Aerated Chairs

0tofuchair The Tofu Chair by Yu-Ying Wu

The chair looks like a large block a tofu surrounded with various sized perforations. The placement of the perforations are carefully calculated with the large triangles at the top-front-center to create an armchair-like shape when compressed by the human body. The chair is made of high density foam that is Environmentally friendly and conforms and adjusts to any body weight or posture of the person sitting on it.  The chair is inspired by plant cells and has won the Red Dot Design Award. http://www.cctv.com/english/special/news/20091026/103440.shtml

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SuperFoam Chair by Rich Gilbert

SuperFoam is a re-creation of naturally occurring reticulated foam structures through a casting process that facilitates designing the properties of the foam itself. By developing the casting process the properties of the foam could be controlled so the chair flexed and deformed to create a supportive structure.

Video of Casting Process :

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/7261475 w=500&h=300]

http://www.richgilbert.com/index.php?/designs/superform/

3d Printing, Digi-Fabrication

Gaudi Stool

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gaudi_3Gaudi Stool by Bram Geenen www.bramgeenen.com

The Gaudi stool designed by Dutch designer Bram Geenen is based on the catenary curve that when reversed a strong form for taking compression forces emerges. The stool consists of a thin shell structure and a beam-grid substructure that resists the bending of the shell, made of carbon fiber. Using the technique of rapid prototyping the complexity was achieved creating a lightweight stool weighing only 1 kg. Stool is made of carbon composite and polyamide.

Digi-Fabrication, Laser Cutting

Floral steel works of Tord Boontje

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Tord Boontje - Petit Jardin Bench and "Wednesday Lights" Garland lighting

Tord Boontje is an industrial designer who has created a variety of products from textiles, furniture, lighting, to installations. His work  is "known to temper edges with softness, borrowing inspiration from nature, and employ a decor of forms and layers to engage and entice with the observer's imagination and emotions." Tord Boontje Studio www.tordboontje.com

The Petit Jardin Bench is made of laser-cut steel, zinc and powder coated, suitable for outdoor use, bent and fixed together creating a bench that gives off a garden-like feel. The Bench is a a limited piece produced exclusively by the artist. Image: www.mossonline.com

Wednesday Lights  is a laser-cut stainless steel that is wrapped around a pendant light fixture. Image: www.bmgallery.co.uk

FABing Fashion, Laser Cutting

Laser Cut Dresses is the new Fad!

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Elena Manferdini's collection of intricate laser cut fabric made into elaborate dresses that conceal and reveal the body. The garments are digitally produced and laser cut and assembled through different types of textile fabrics, it is described as " a built shelter for the body".

Elena is a trained civil engineer and architect who creates and uses various intricate patterning in fashion design, product design as well as architectural design.

Images from www.ateliermanferdini.com/

3d Printing, Digi-Fabrication

Fractal Table

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Fractal Table by Platform- Wertel, Oberfell

This Fractal table is based on fractal growth patterns found in nature that can be created through mathematics algorithms. The bottom base of the table starts off as large branches that splits into branches that create a fairly regular ornate pattern forming the surface of the table. The table is produced by Materialise with Matthias Bär as a single piece SLA in epoxy resin, and was first introduced in Milan 2008.

Images from www.platform-net.com/

AA, Digi-Fabrication, DIY, IaaC, Laser Cutting, Open Source [OS]

FABberz cofounder + Pablo Rica Runner Up for [AA FAB RESEARCH CLUSTER]

IMAGE FABberz cofounder Josiah Barnes and his partner, Pablo Rica are runners up for the AA FAB RESEARCH CLUSTER competition with their project, MUSCULAR SYNERGY.

http://www.aa-fab.net/

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FROM THE SITE:

The FAB Research Cluster at the Architectural Association in London announces the results of the 2009 AA|FAB Awards. The Award theme was ‘Designing Fabrication’ and the jury was interested in recently built projects that exemplify the innovative integration of design and fabrication processes through digitally driven design systems and protocols, and whose completion contributes to an international discourse on the use of emerging design and fabrication technologies.

Entries were received from all over the world including the UK, Spain, Austria, US, Canada, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Australia. Due to the uneven distribution of entries across the categories suggested in the brief, the jury decided to reorganise all submissions into either INTERIOR or EXTERIOR groups.  Accordingly, it was agreed to reallocate the prize money into six awards, with a first prize of £1500 and two runners-up of £750 for each group.

The jury met on Thursday 11 June and was impressed by the extremely high standard and diversity of the submitted work. After four hours of deliberation they unanimously selected the following schemes for awards:

EXTERIOR SECTION

FIRST PRIZE: RE-PURPOSE POLITICAL PLY Jason Griffiths

RUNNER UP: THE MORNING LINE Matthew Ritchie with Aranda/Lasch and Daniel Bosia

RUNNER UP: MUSCULAR SYNERGY Josiah Barnes and Pablo Rica

INTERIOR SECTION

FIRST PRIZE: CEILING CLOUD Andrew Vrana, Joe Meppelink and Scott Marble

RUNNER UP: GREEN VOID Chris Bosse, Tobias Wallisser, Alexander Rieck, LAVA

RUNNER UP: ALLOTROPIC SYSTEM Nicholas Bruscia

The six award recipients will present their work at an AA|FAB conference during London Design Festival week from 19-27 September. A further eighteen entries have been selected for exhibition in September.

Digi-Fabrication, DIY, IaaC, Laser Cutting, Open Source [OS]

Open Source_IPhone scanner

KylA Koch is an industrial design student at the University of Cincinnati’s school of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). He is currently working on point of purchase displays as a structural designer. Kyle currently resides in West Chester, Ohio.
Website:http://www.kyleakoch.com
“When I got my iPhone last year I loved having everything important in one place, and the ability to get rid of unnecessary devices, documents and information I kept with me. I would frequently snap photos of class assignments printed on copy paper so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing them. The documents normally came out pretty clear, but it was tough to keep still while taking the pictures. I set out to make something that would ensure clean, consistent pictures of documents taken with the iPhone that would be free and easy to make on your own. And so, here you will find the eps files to make your own iPhone document scanner. I have provided them to you for free to make your very own iPhone Document Scanner until one is available for purchase here in my store!. By downloading the product plan you will pay ZERO for the intellectual property, this means you only pay for the materials and manufacturing time.It’s ready to go right now!”

Kyle A Koch is an industrial design student at the University of Cincinnati’s school of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). He is currently working on point of purchase displays as a structural designer. Kyle currently resides in West Chester, Ohio.

Website:http://www.kyleakoch.com

MAKE IT

Cutting file This is the  eps file, that it is uploaded on the ponoko website. The design is composed in 2 sheets. It is complemented with some pictures showing the final project

Fabrication time 15 minutes were needed in order to prepare the dxf file for the cnc laser machine . The material used; 5 mm wood.

Assembly There was no manual for the assembly, the documents that I have followed to assemble the iphone scanner were the jpg files and also the text that it is in the website, with a description about the material to used and the size of the  finish object. I have spent 10 minutes to complete the assembly.

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CHANGE IT

Once the model was built, I have observed that the own designs´s structure, was producing some shadows on the surface were the documents were place. Considering that situation,The change I have proposed consist in a lighting stripe of LEDS, located in the internal part of the U shape. This stripe will provide a constant and uniform light, that will allow the user to be able to scanner without natural light.

3d Printing, Digi-Fabrication, IaaC, Open Source [OS]

COCOON CHAIR

Cocoon Chair by Raquel Gallego and Nathaniel Velez cocoon

 

The Cocoon Chair is a place for getting involved in the work that needs to be done while getting ergonomic support for the body, creating a very comfortable place to seat and use a laptop computer. The person using the Cocoon Chair will be enclosed in a spherical surface with inner cuts designed parametrically to be customized to the dimensions and preferences of the user. The upper cut provide an inclined surface to ergonomically position a laptop in such a way that the keyboard is easily accessible and the screen will reside in front of the user.
Rhino provides an interface for the designer to represent the position in which the user will be seating while working on the desk using simple lines, and then evoke the Rhinoscript to generate the geometry around it. The final geometry, customized for each user, is intended to be manufactured in layers using the tools available at the FABLab BCN. Each version of the Coocon Chair can be manufactured using different materials, for example Foam, which can be milled in sections using a CNC. The assembled sections produce the final object which can be further customized by applying different colors and fabrics

 

The Cocoon Chair is a place for getting involved in the work that needs to be done while getting ergonomic support for the body, creating a very comfortable place to seat and use a laptop computer. The person using the Cocoon Chair will be enclosed in a spherical surface with inner cuts designed parametrically to be customized to the dimensions and preferences of the user. The upper cut provide an inclined surface to ergonomically position a laptop in such a way that the keyboard is easily accessible and the screen will reside in front of the user.

Rhino provides an interface for the designer to represent the position in which the user will be seating while working on the desk using simple lines, and then evoke the Rhinoscript to generate the geometry around it. The final geometry, customized for each user, is intended to be manufactured in layers using the tools available at the FABLab BCN. Each version of the Coocon Chair can be manufactured using different materials, for example Foam, which can be milled in sections using a CNC. The assembled sections produce the final object which can be further customized by applying different colors and fabrics.

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photomontaje

3d Printing, Digi-Fabrication, IaaC

Softbones

Softbones by Raquel Gallego and Pablo Rica case

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Softbones is an envelope for 4 pencils produced in 3D Printing (Rapid Prototyping). The envelope can be placed vertical or horizontal, laying like a soft bag. An Voronoi grid is the structure on the outside skin. The inner rings -placing the four pencils- are attached to the envelope. The pencils fall into the bag until they hit the cross structure in the bottom.

The horizontal sections are produce by rotating one inicial geometry.Those sections have been lofted and the result of that is the geometry that it is shown in the left corner on bottom. The net is a voronoi grid made of a gradient field of points, more dense in the bottom and lighter on the top.

> Download Booklet Softcase.pdf [4mb]

CNC Milling, Digi-Fabrication, IaaC, Open Source [OS]

Ice Jelly

Ice Jelly by Maria Koutsari, Raquel Gallego and Nathaniel Velez

Design: For the milling project the team explored creating a tile shaped by defining a 3D trajectory for the machine to fallow.  By using the milling as an egravement tool the tile was given a surface which both showed fragments of a curvilinear surface and a pattern which can be connected with other similar tiles in order to create a complex and interesting design.  All lines forming the patterns in the tile share a similar border configuration in such a way that every side of the square can be connected with any other side and still keep a continuos profile.  In total, 6 different pattern configurations can be achieved by combining any 4 tiles.

 

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Optimizing Milling Time: During the process of designing the trajectory of the milling machine manufacturing time was taken into consideration.  The shape of the tile was though is such a way that the final shape could be achieved by using a single milling mode (engravement).  All pattern lines where connected in order for the machine to do all cuts using a single trajectory.  Because the softness of the foam being milled, it wasn’t necessary to do a rough cut, reducing even more manufacturing time.  As a result of these optimizations the milling time was short and ideal for mass manufacturing.

Material: For casting, experimentation was done with the process of freezing materials inside the mold.  The mold was made water proof using latex and silicone in such a way that is was possible to fill it with any liquid.  Gelatin and Water were chosen to experiment with this process, taking advantage of the rigidity of ice and the consistency on gelatin. The end result is a transparent colored iced sculpture showing a segments of a curved surface on a curved path.

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Digi-Fabrication, IaaC, Laser Cutting

PARAHELIX

Parahelix by Joshia Barnes and Raquel Gallego Lorenzo After the structure was modelled, the horizontal and vertical sections had to be nested in order to lasercut them on two sheets of 2.9 cm thick wood. After calibrating the machine properly,the pieces were successfully cut in approximately 1.5 hours.

The assembly process began with the placement of the regularly placed horizontal sections at 3AM on center.  Once the structure of the horizontal sections was stabilized by several intersecting vertical sections,the assembly process was able to be completed by adding vertical elements one by one.

After the pipe structure was completed, white glue was utilized to secure the joint connections.Once dry, Parahelix was structurally sound.

cutting file

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Digi-Fabrication, FABberz tools, Open Source [OS]

Degrees of Freedom

The telescopic joint structure that we developed allows for an overall increase in size of 200%.  This number can be augmented by adding overlapping members, creating an antenna-like mechanism.  After the development of two Grasshopper definitions which entail the length change of mass amounts of curves, the idea of creating a physical testing model arose.  We chose to concentrate on the physical development of the phylotaxis definition.  The ¨digital¨phylotaxis allows for a free range of movement in twenty different positions.  When we translated this into the physical realm, the most important aim was to demonstrate the ability of the structure to both change in size and collapse in on itself.  The model, which was constructed with acrylic rods and silicon tubing, can be seen in both the videos and images below.  The use of silicon joints between each telescope allowed us to maintain a large degree of flexibility, while at the same time securing the structure as a whole.degrees of freedom

 

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