One of the most important aspects and driving forces in the field of architecture is innovation. Advances in technology, and software, make it possible to create forms which were previously impossible to create. Contemporary architects have access to a wide range of mediums to represent and communicate their ideas, of all available resources; the three dimensional model is arguably one of the most important for visualizing a design and communicating with others. Today, The use of 3D printing as a construction method for model making continues to grow and be accepted by an increasing number of architects.
 
The problem that I am trying to solve in my thesis isn’t necessarily in the world, or in anyone else specifically. The problem that I am trying to solve exists in my own head. My thesis is about changing my personal understanding and the way I think about Design, through an exploration in a different medium, navigating my way through this thing using different programs, different materials, and creating in a way that I haven’t yet created in.

 

Philosophically, deconstructivism comes as a critical response to modernism. Modernist architecture is based on the notion that "Form follows function", meaning that the result of design should derive directly from its purpose, and elimination of "unnecessary detail" Deconstructivism attempts to destabilize modernist thinking by breaking up forms into individual parts. Part of the Deconstructivist philosophy is to detach architecture from'function' as such and to allow a building to provide a viewer with an aesthetic experience. Deconstructivist architecture can be characterized by ideas of fragmentation, and manipulation of a structure's surface or skin. It can often evoke the idea of unpredictability and a seemingly controlled chaos.

 

 

My process was highly important to the final outcome of the project. There are six stages to my process and half of them were completely new to me. I will expand on some of the most important steps. The first step: drawing. Drawing and sketching were important to the project because for me it was understanding the sort of visual language of each architect. It was visualizing the forms and how they interact, on a 2d surface, which would be important to the following steps. Making 3d models was important to the process because it was bringing your ideas, which were two dimensional to life in three dimensions. Working with something tangible made it easy to envision the final forms that I would be creating. The third step was using Meshmixer. Part of the project was that I wanted to learn 3d programs (specifically Cinema 4d) this is where I deviated from the on of my main ideas. Using Meshmixer, I created with a mix of additive and subtractive sculpting, (depending on which set of forms). This part of the process also made me think differently, like “ how can I cut a certain thing, to make a certain thing?.” For example, one of the most difficult forms to make was The Zaha Hadid “M”. It was made from plane cutting a tube, and duplicating it about 10 times, and then I inserted a flat plane into the center of the form.Moving into the process of actually 3d printing the forms. From Meshmixer, you create an STL file, import it into the fabrication lab computer, and transfer it to the Makerbot 3d printer. This thing is full of issues and Ed Ryan and I took this into consideration when planning out our process of printing. We had to think about the issues and how to problem solve around them.
 

 

Relative to my first thesis, which I think was uninspired and directionless; I think the outcome of my second thesis was successful. I am happy that I did not have to go to my backup plan, and although I did have some minor incidents in the fabrication lab, everything worked out.  I think some of the forms could have been executed better and been more thought out, but I am content with the final outcome of the project.