Books to Bricks 3

By switching from UDF scripting to Assemblies, I feel I am able to maintain a higher level of control over the placement of each brick. As the system currently sits, the 5 courses of block wrap around to follow a predetermined line, which in my studio project will be the perimeter of the building. I am also able to control the amount of space horizontally between the blocks, from a gap of 0 to a full 16" (each block is modeled as a 8x8x16).

So now that I have a handle on the overall spacing and contour of the system, I will look for ways to vary the spacing as some sort of function within the block pattern. I am also going to play with setting blocks back and forward instead of directly on top of one another.

Books to Bricks 2

For this week, I created the framework and the actual bricks that will be put into my final studio project. Though this is a start, there remains to be some concerns. First and foremost is the geometry these brick arches create, which is currently impossible/unbuildable without permanent shoring. This however can be fixed via the way the initial spline is set up, with each arch landing at a specific point where the load would be transferred down to columns or other vertical supports. Second, the UDF surf file for each brick is set up in a way where the lateral dimension changes depending on the steepness of the line. This prevents the bricks from overlapping, but creates a wide range of lengths, which would not be possible under the strict modularity I am proposing. Going foreward, I will focus on greater control over the brick dimension and spacing as well as playing with vertical stacking to create structure.

From Books to Bricks

For the final project, I will be applying Digital Project to my final Studio assignment for this semester. The assignement requires us (3G3) to design a library in Chicago. For this assignment, I will be looking at turning books into CMU blocks. The design of the library will be built upon the use of these blocks, as well as having a series of cavities for th ebooks to sit in (outside) until they are moved into the book crusher. The combination of books and bricks will dictate the skin of the library. As of now, I have a basic Rhino model of the outdoor stacks, but I have not begun design of the primary library structure, which will house a community center, auditorium, and office space.

Examining the modularity of block, as well of book shelving/the books themselves will be of the most importance. Since the blocks will be manufactured on my site, they do not have to be the classic 8x8x16 that a typical CMU is cast to.