Scale Study

We look at scale from microscopic world, invisible to our naked human eye, to the scale of the real world. The two main deliverables are: physical map model and microscopic inspiration concept physical model. The goal is to understand scale and visualize our findings with physical and digital methods.

1

Physical Map Model

The first part of the project is about learning and exploring with historic, modern, and new methods to understand scale, distant, and location in space. Visualize our findings and understandings through digital and physical prototyping.

Alidade

Making alidade exercise: First iteration, I made mine with of clay and metal. The concept and function of my alidade is to allow folding the metal pieces in the ruler, help user to efficiently put it away and carry it around. Second iteration, I create on Fusion 360 and 3d printed them.

Surveying CFA Lawn and the Cross Lawn

Mapping exercise: We puzzle the CFA Lawn and the Cross Section Lawn map prints, learning the measurements and ratio of the maps.

Indoor Plane table surveying Exercise: We use the survey method in our studio.

Outdoor Plane Table Surveying Exercise: Using the survey method, we went out the to CFA and Cross Lawns to measure the scale, distant, and location of the lawns and buildings. (Photo credit 1,2,3,5 to Soonho Kwon)

Result of plane table surveying the CFA Lawn

Building Physical Map Model of CFA and Cross Lawn

Thinking about physically visualizing the two Lawns, plane table surveying the CFA and the Cross Lawn is not the most effiecient methods to use. We decided to collect measurements data digitally and translate them on illustrator.

1 ) We decided the bounderies we wanted to present in our physical map model. (made my Marisa Lu)

2 ) We started measuring the buildings: Purnell, CFA, Hunt Library and the Lawns: CFA, Cross, using google earth. Having the measurments, we used bristol paper to build models of buildings. However, material and color wise, bristol does not match the cardboard terrain we built. The whole map does not feel coherent. Lastly, we decided to laser cut the buildings, like we did for the terrain, which create the unity of the map and allow viewer to not mainly focus on our physical map model but the objects that we each are going to create and position in the map later on.

3 , 4 , 5 ) We made iterations of trees to try out on our map, looking at which iteration blend into the physical map model. We sketch out the positions of the tree on a paper, allowing us to easily position the tree model later on. (made by Helen Wu)

Physical map model is a group project with 12 peers in the class. I was involved in the process of plane table surveying, buildings and lawns measurements, material selections, tree iterations, building physical map model.

This is our final physical map model.(some trees and Purnell Center models are not in this photo)

2

Microscopic Inspiration Concept Physical Model

The second part of the project is about looking at the microscopic world, translating and visualizing inspiration to concept to 3D print physical object, playing with scales from things that are invisible to our naked eye, and considering our physical objects in the real world space, the CFA and Cross Lawns. It is about learning through making: finding the right tools to achieve the goal. Tool examples would be Sketchup, Rhino, photoshop, different kinds of 3D printers.

Microscopic Exploration

using drop - lense

using microscope

My Focus: Microprocessor

Looking at microprocessor through microscope

Inspired by microprocessors, I am interested in playing with the dynamic of shapes, structures, and depths. In the structure, the surrounded columns extruded above the surface, create a sense of depth and illusion of outward expansion. The center rectangles extruded with multiple layers below the surface. They create a sense of intricacy and mystery.

This microprocessor reminded of cities layout when seeing from above the ground. The locations of the photos when I took on the plane when traveling are: Saint-Benoit, France. | Long Beach, New York | Monthyon, France.

Object Layers

Using Illustrator, inspired by the microprocessor, I created 3 layers of compositions with different rectangular shapes and 1 layer of circles, adding a new element in to the structure. Plane layers in between structure layers function to support the structure layers.

1st Iteration 3D Model

Imported the illustrator files to Rhino, I extruded the height of each layer equally to create a 3 dimensional model.

2nd photo is the support structure that I cut off from the 3d printed model, using X-Acto knife.

2nd Iteration 3D Model

Based on my structure location, the CFA Lawn, I created Micro City, a three-floor open space with seatings or back support objects on each floor, inviting people to hang out. The structure is made out of see through material, like glass or acrylic, allowing the light to go through the material and space. When looking below on each floor, people feel the depth of structures, reflections of lights, transparency of materials, and the sense of clear but mysterious.

Visualizing Idea

Sketching out what my idea looks like and see if it is what I wanted. The floor height measurements are considered based on human(http://www.ergotron.com/tools/workspace-planner), model, and environments scale.

Extruded each layers to the height I wanted to create a 3 dimensional structure, allowing human to interact with the structure.

3D Powder Print 2nd Iteration

3D SLAPrint 2nd Iteration

Photo on the right is the support structure that I cut off from the 3d printed model, using X-Acto knife.

Scale Comparison 1st and 2nd iteration

Micro City In Context

Micro City locates in the CFA Lawn physical map model

Micro City locates in the CFA Lawn