Waterbombs Away

This post will be a tasty collection of links. We've recently been inspired by the work of these artists|architects on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/owesen/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9874847@N03/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/langorigami/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/origomi/collections/72157600003010122/

We wanted to see how these patterns might be manipulated, either through digitizing and then modeling parametrically, or by direct conversion into something architectural, say a wall.
To begin, we gathered information:

info sites:
http://www.ronresch.com/ http://www.generatorx.no/20070126/pioneer-ron-resch/ http://www.origamitessellations.com/2005/06/01/alex-batemans-tess-program/ http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=how+to+make+3d+tessellations&aq=4m&aqi=g4g-m1&oq=3d+tessellation&fp=1&cad=b

turorials:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXIVHjws15U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyX-T4y_INQ

books ordered:
http://www.amazon.com/Origami-Tessellations-Awe-Inspiring-Geometric-Designs/dp/1568814518/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267644178&sr=8-1
grasshopper:
http://www.grasshopper3d.com/forum/topics/origami-with-grasshopper

From here, we intend to toy with the grasshopper files until we can create a more in-depth folding mechanism that will respond to parameters. First, we have collected this information and begun folding the basic waterbomb tessellation designed by Eric Gjerde and the magic ball tessellation by I Don't Know- these are the tutorials listed above. We have experimented with a few different papers and stretched one of the patterns in rhino to see how it responds and then folds. We have also procured two origami programs that we are currently unable to figure out-

programs:

http://www.langorigami.com/science/treemaker/treemaker5.php4

http://www.origamitessellations.com/2007/01/23/new-version-of-tess-alex-batemans-origami-tessellation-software/

instructions for TESS program (click second search result)
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=tess+origami+program&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&fp=c5aa4278f68e4a4

Also, this is a wonderful TED lecture by Robert Lang:
http://www.ted.com/speakers/robert_lang.html

We are currently playing with these folds, learning their rules, and have begun to speculate- it should be noted that we are not purists, for we have definitely drawn crease patterns in CAD and laser cut the paper sheets in preparation for folding. Our hope is that what we lose in quiet contact with material (the brilliantly crafted hand folding you've seen by the aforementioned artists) we may gain in time for innovation and re-interpretation.

More, larger images can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26440532@N07/sets/72157623424525225/

Miscellaneous Debris

The last few weeks began with a cerebral rebellion against the Digital Project maelstrom. There was a lot of Jersey Shore, Pregnant and in Peril, and that reality show about Johnny Weir. Also some drinks. Maybe some Monster Truck Rally. Slowly our minds began to function again- but that was by no means an indicator of coming success. These are screen shots from the design of an ill-fated cardboard monstrosity we built in an effort to do something, anything. Also some other images of strange solids we considered waffling in Grasshopper (after enduring indescribable condescention(sp?) from the individual who possessed the needed script).

Digital Project | Gollum

a wireframe Neil built for us to work in



Tomorrow is our last day of a 30 hour seminar on Digital Project/CATIA with Neil Thelen from Front. Neil is an apt tutor and a talented communicator- and with a program like Digital Project, that is a necessity, not a luxury. So far this week, we've power-copied and instantiated ourselves into craven lumps of saucer-eyed flesh, uncovering small portions of what this program can do in each session. Learning CATIA is like hiking in the mountains, each zenith revealing a greater vastness to the range than the one before.

I anticipate the possibilities open to those who would have proficiency with this tool. This anticipation is temporarily intoxicating, thoughts of creative and professional liberation fueling each mouse click.

But that vastness just gets more vast.

Genesis

This is our required blog for this semester's digital fabrication studio with Professor Mark Weston at the USF School of Architecture. We are a dream team. It's like the USA Olympic Basketball Team.

Seriously.

Today we used a cobbled-together matrix outlining each student's questionable abilities to choose fair and balanced teams for our class project. We have a 4, a 3, and a 2- from a scale of 0-5 (5 being hero). The 4 is a charlatan. The 3 is whipped. The two says she's a quick learner.


We'll see.