Update from the THB

I just wanted to let everybody know that both Sergio and I (Houston), are working on our senior thesis projects this quarter, which is very exciting. Sergio is working on a Chocolate Factory, and I am working on a Vertical University. I have a thesis site for my project, if you would like to check it out go to:
http://www.houstondrum.com/thesis


Check it out and let me know what you think!

Final Review

Check out our final review slide show here:

http://houstondrum.com/mslc-d01/mslc-d01.pdf

Updated Urban Plan Diagram

From our last crit we decided to change the functionality of our urban plan. here is a diagram showing the spacial relationships.

Updated Urban Scheme - 2

We are testing out two ideas for our urban plan before finalizing one. Ideas are essentially the same with a slight change in execution. Here are the images for the second Urban Scheme.

Updated Urban Scheme

Here is my proposal for the Urban Plan of the lunar base. This developed from the Parametric exercises previously done. The Water system is actually designed as a massive filtration system, but also serves as an great aesthetic piece, with walkways moving across. The park grows off the water and migrates through the city, and consists of recreational areas and hydroponic growing areas, to be completely defined later. I put up a lot of images, i couldn't decide which ones to put up so posed them all!

What it's like to be in the Colony

This is a conceptual rendering showing what we want the mood of the colony to be....this is not what the form is intended to be, this is more of a diagram showing the relationships of the buildings to the open space and how the lunar people interact with the space. Check back for more!

Parametric Urban Plan

We have now taken the work from yesterday and parametrically composed this urban plan based off the schematic plan from the last post. This shows a density gradient that transitions between the residential legs and the city's central core. This particular diagram was composed with Paracloud and Rhino. Further refining and tweaking will be continue!

Urban Plan Development

This is what the parametrics we were working with allowed us to develop today. We have to say that we are quite satisfied with the scales and urban density for the lunar colony. We are now ready to go through and define what one of these buildings is really like.

Softwares used: rhino, para-cloud, 3ds max, and Generative components. Gotta love the software.

Todays Urban Plan Development

Were Currently working on the GC script for our Parametric urban plan but to get a feeling for what scales and heights might be looking like for the amount of program alloted we did it the good ol' fashioned "by hand" way. Heres an image of the urban density level were dealing with.

Midterm Review

here is the link to our midterm review presentation:

http://houstondrum.com/406midreview/


enjoy!

Master Plan Schematic

In order to develop the proper sense of scale, we decided to lay out square footages for our program. We then created an arrangement that we feel will allow our lunar colony to function properly. This Diagram illustrates the various elevations, adjacencies, and connections amongst the lunar colony program.

Lunar Master Planning

Our proposition is to send a group of robots to construct a lunar colony. They will be a colony in themselves currently consisting of breeders and workers. The way they will construct will not be too different from the way bacteria grows. They will create nodes and clouds of dense growth and will eventually spread to populate the colony. Our final plan will not look very different from these bacterial growth patterns.

Model Fabrication and Construction

We are currently constructing the wall system in the renderings we posted before...really exciting! we actually laser cut everything out of 1/16" chipboard, and then folded and glued everything like origami. Should be completely built and painted tomorrow!

Panel of Modules

Here we have developed a series of module designs, based off the form we have already created. The first image is of a new system design that allows for flat surfaces such as floors or counter tops. This floor system requires a more orthogonal composition of the modules in order to create a surface capable of pedestrian traffic. The other images relate to the different capablities of the octahedron module. The idea is to have a universal module that can have different components within to serve a different purpose. This would include, electrical outlets, plumbing pipes, insulation panels, lighting modules, or even soft surfaces that could be used for a seat or mattress. We will put the rest of the designed modules up later.

Illuminated Wall System

Here are a couple renderings of the wall system in a realistic lighting environment, with panels lit from within.

Developed Wall System

We designed a wall system that is comprised of the modules we previously designed. Despite its irregular feel, it is actually developed off a strict replication pattern, with modules removed to create desired aesthetic qualities and openings in the system. We will be building the full-scale model of this in the next week or so.

Wallpapers and XP Theme

New Wallpapers for all of the die-hard Trigger Happy Bunnies Lunar Base fans. We have two different types and resolutions for a 17" screen at 1440 x 900 and a 15.4" screen at 1280x800. Download the Zune Windows XP Theme here to match the wallpaper: click here

Fabrication and Construction Techniques

We have started looking into the possible connection methods for the modules and their potential structures. Were also looking into how we can model these pieces here on earth, but are presuming that they will be 3D printed on the moon by our robotic colony.