Week 2: Computer Aided Design
My final project sorrounds the idea of making public spaces better and well adapted to the city's people new needs by adapting to climate change, solar direction by creating a skin of the urban landscape. For this week's assingment we had to explore different programs for 2d and 3d design, model and simulation. Also to try the fab modules.
Installing Ubuntu and using Fab Modules
I got to explore a little the Ubuntu Interface in the computers at the Fab Lab, but I couldn't get to install the fab modules yet. I'm having a bad time on understanding the code and how it works. I went into the Ubuntu site to download it for my laptop. Installation went fine and I got to use it for a while, but then it crashes several times. And error message appeares when the Ubuntu initiates, so I looked it up on google, but I can't find a decent response to this problem. I'm thinking is a version problem. My laptop is kind of old, so I'm going to install an older version, not the 12.04 I downloaded from Ubuntu site. Anyway, the fab module try-out is still pending, since I'm having trouble with the Ubuntu itself. For the next assignments I'm using the Fab Modules installed in the computer.
Making the model for my semester project - success!
After that frustrating time with the Ubuntu, I decided to let it go for a while an concentrate on the 3d model. I downloaded all the programs I was allowed to from the list given in the academy.cba.mit.edu/2013. The ones I was really surprised with where MyPaint, GIMP and Inskcape. I've already tried out Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketchup, 123D, Autocad and 3dsmax. Also Audacity for audio/video editing. I decided to use MyPaint for the sketches, 3ds max for the model and Photoshop for retouching. For video editing I sticked with Windows Live Movie Maker.
From my first drafts about the semester project, I've been making a little progress on the real outcome. I thought of birds and the way their wings make movement and how they have a significant role in the city, as pieces of nature that have integrated within the urban environment. With that thought in mind, I returned to the idea of having a skin, made of triangules that would give confort to people passing by a street or a park, like many here in Lima, that don't offer protection from the sun and don't allow people to stay in the public spaces much longer.
Computer Aided Design
The "wings" of my bamboo bird will move according to the sun movement and the different hours: morning, afternoon. At night it would be a spectacule of lights that are going to come out from the birds. Each bird will be connected to the othe one, to create various scenarios of light and movement. The structure is made of two bamboo rods of 10 cms that will support the bird from the ground.. The structure of the wings will be made of canes, wich is similar to bamboo, but lighter so it can be lifted by a motor. In the center I've designed a bamboo garden, so that the leaves will grow and mimic the tail of the bird.
This is the final video with all the images describing the process I went throught and the final result. Made using: MyPaint, 3dsmax, Photoshop, Sketch Up and Windows Live Movie Maker.