Project 3 - Solid works

For this project we split off from being with Geoff and were taught by Levis for the two weeks. By the end of the two weeks we were told we would create an object to go inside a snow globe. Here the project was aimed at becoming more environmentally friendly. This was driven by the fact that the object we would be 3D printing once we had designed it on the solid works programme would be printed using PLA. PLA stands for polylacticacid and is 100% recyclable. This material would be used in whatever object we created. Despite solid works being a programme used by product design students as I am looking to do architecture I decided to create a building anyway. Over the course of the two weeks I thoroughly enjoyed using solid works and understanding a new programme. Soon as none of us knew how to use it already we all had the chance to create something coming from the same standard. I think I picked up quite quickly how to use the programme in its simplest way of course. I would start creating something by first making a shape and from the cutting into it or adding things onto it in order to give me the final result. My outcome came simply from messing around on the programme. I have no initial drawings from this project as all I did was create new objects digitally each time. 

PLA

The material above is PLA. Unfortunately when printing the PLA printer was not working so we could not use it. Therefore any different textures we had given to separate parts of our designs would not show up.

Snow globe

This simply demonstrates what our outcome would look like. However we would be using jars. Unfortunately though due to not being able to use PLA we could not fill our jars with water as this would have made the material we where going to use disintegrate.

Cob build

The building above was shown on an episode of grand designs made using cob (water, clay, and straw). This could be a possible building solution if people where to become more interested in the trade. It is much more eco-friendly than most builds and as the man was designed and built this has shown it can be used on a large scale. However it definitely could not be used for a building much bigger than this and certainly not a hotel.

Authors own

This is one of my original designs. It shows similarities to my final design however I completely recreated it so that I could change many things. This was done simply by extruding into a shape.

This was a more advanced design I made however still initial. Creating the curved edges was something I wanted to do however I wanted to use these as lift shafts so had severe difficulty cutting away at the edges.

Authors own

This was almost my final design I was just messing around seeing the different materials I could print using. Had I had the money and material this would have been what a chrome model would look like.

Authors own

The highlighted blue area is the lift shaft. At this point in time I was changing the lift area so that I could make glass.

Authors own

This was the final render I created using solid works. If we had the materials this is how it would have come out looking. Unfortunately when in the 3D printer it did not print exactly how I wanted it to. The main draw back being the loss of the roof.

Authors own

Despite the loss of the roof I was really pleased once the model come out. It has a very industrial concrete look which I quite like. Moreover the missing bottom part was unintended however could be used as a grand entrance.

Authors own

If I where to recreate this I would probably have tried to complicate this further. This may have been possibly by adding another block coming out of it, or even by placing a completely different base to it.

Authors own

The thing I really do like about my design however is the division between the floor levels. The gaps create a very cool place for huge glass panes to slot in. This would allow for ample light in the building on both sides. 

Authors own

This shows what the building may have looked like in a snow globe. I personally prefer it would of cage as this allows it to have to perspective and therefore could be hundreds of feet tall.

Authors own

The floor plan shows how there would be two rooms per floor with each room accessed by its own lift. An emergency stair well would be situated in the middle so as to not detract from the panoramic views provided by the huge glass windows.

Authors own

We finally made a box packaging in illustrator despite not actually having a functional snow globe. This however allowed me to further develop my illustrator skills.

Authors own

To evaluate this project I must say that I really enjoyed it and learnt a lot from it. If I where to do it again I think I would try to be more experimental the solid works programme and try to develop many different buildings.