The Fabrications

PHYSICAL PRECEDENT MODELS

1. Nakagin Capsule Tower (Designed by Kisho Kurokawa in Tokyo, Japan b. 1972)

:: Exploded physical model of Nakagin Capsule Tower

This model is constructed using acrylic white and clear to show its transparency quality demonstrating the internal connections lie inside the solid concrete building but also reflects on the white Japanese culture of model-making representation. The techniques used of model-making are laser cutting and 3D printing to show the solidness of the building elements. They are presented in a chosen scale of 1:50 with the dimensions of 300mm x 300mm base and 300mm high.

:: Process of model assembly

:: Plan view of physical model

From the plan view, this clearly shows how the concrete capsules (3D printed) connect to the concrete shear wall (laser cut laminated 4 layers of 2mm acrylic clear) with hidden internal steel I-beams (3D printed) that connects to the conrete spiral stairs (3D printed) that surrounds the central lift core (laser cut 2mm acrylic clear). The load is then transferred to the podium of building constructed of concrete floor slabs (3D printed) and eventually distributed to the legs (laser cut laminated 2 layers of 6mm acrylic clear) and to the ground  (laser cut 3mm poplar plywood with dovetail joint).

:: Ground floor of Nakagin Capsule Tower model

:: Upper floor of Nakagin Capsule Tower model

:: Connection detail assembly of capsules to the building

:: A human figure is placed to show the scale of the capsule.

Image above shows the internal room layout of capsules with built in furniture, toilet facilities and plumbing stack for services. 3D printing method is used to present its solid prefabrication with all components fixed before transporting to site and plugging into the central building.

:: Building's engineering and internal room layout of built-in furniture in the capsule

While building this model, I can clearly understand and demonstrate the internal building connections and how its engineering system works to support the massive loads of 140 concrete capsules which I can learn and apply in my current design studio project focusing on modular construction.

2. Long Museum West Bund (Designed by Atelier Deshaus in Shanghai, China b. 2014)

:: Structural Model of selected precedent

The main technique used to construct this physical model is casting; a huge challenge for me to experiment at first place. These T-structures are designed in 2 sizes to show different height levels as well as oriented in different directions to create multiple interior experiences within the building. The selected portion of modelling fits in the base of 320mm x 290mm in a scale of 1:100 to show 3 floor levels of the building.

:: Selected portion for modelling

:: Plan view of physical model

The north-facing corner part is selected to demonstrate the concept, materiality and scale of the building. Hydrostone from Barnes is used for casting due to short setting duration and less fragility if comparedto Ultracal 30 and Hydrocal. 7 moulds are prepared to cast at once to show the similar grey colour pigments from the amount of black oxide inserted to the mixture of hydrostone and water in the ratio of 3:1.

:: Elevations of model without attaching basement floor ceiling showing multiple interior experiences.

:: Different close-up perspective views 

A translucent facade box constructed of laser cut 3mm frosted acrylic with mullions and basement floor levels engraved is used to conceal the structures. From here, real internal spatial experiences can be encountered through peeking into those 5mm diameter holes cut on the facade box.

:: 4-facing facade box connected with dovetail joints is inserted to the model

:: Elevations of facade model

:: Exterior view of real building

:: Interior view of exhibition space in real building

:: Wondering what's inside?

Other than receiving natural lighting from the skylight, the translucent facade cast in soft lighting and reflects onto the hard concrete 'vault-umbrella' structures gives different lighting and spatial experiences to the visitors in this exhibition building.

:: Close-up interior experience

Although this is my first exploration using casting technique, the final products came out successfully with smooth curves, little bubbles and non-cracked structures. The small T-structures are the easiest to cast, secondly is big T-structure and the hardest is the L-structure which several failed attempts. From here, I can understand why the engineering system of T-shaped is used in this building instead of L-shaped to allow the vertical shear wall or column to support 2 cantilevering horizontal floor slabs above.

3. Redfern Suburb Urban Design Analysis

:: Sliding trays inserting into the map box

A sliding tray method is used on this suburb analysis model to emphasize the sliding drawer concept I applied in my design studio project. This 290 x 290mm box is built with 3mm grooves on 6.5mm thick balsa wood for sliding track and the trays are constructed of 1.5mm jarrah board and 2mm acrylic clear using laser cutting technique. A backgound of 6mm acrylic matt black is used to distinguish the light score lines on the first layer of tray.

:: Site layer is glued on site boundary of top layer of tray

:: Close-up detail of gluing 2 layers of 1.5mm jarrah on the handle for easy grip

:: Connection and wording details onto the box

:: Exploded trays of map box

:: Perspective view of map box

Different trays are used to differentiate different programs lying on top of the figure-ground plan of Redfern suburb to understand more about its history of urban planning, streetscape, buildings orientation and boundary alignment. Therefore, this can be helpful for my design studio project to analyse and experiment future opportunities of further developments in this suburb.