Documentation
The link below is my final documentation:  
https://www.dropbox.com/s/shb8y42oprdz69k/Zhiyuan_SUN_3343690_documentation.pdf?dl=0

Project 3  Richard Medical Center Commentary, Louis Kahn, 1957-1961

Step 1  Kahn's drawing of the building is used to build the sketchup model.  

Step 2.1 Different element is highlighted with different color as a stimulative physical model.  

Step 2.2 One of the most challenging part of this design is its structural interpretation of large open plan(In reality, what Kahn applied was prefabricated and  post-tensioned system). With regard to its physical look, as well as the way of how different elements are connected together. A study model is built (note that element with different size are highlighted with different color).

Step 3.1 Transfer the size and shape of these elements into the CAD drawing.

 Step 3.2 Adjust color and line weight in AI.

 Step 3.3 Send the file to Laser cutter and begin the cutting process

 Step 4 A base is made using Jelutong (Pale colored solid timber with a fine grain), band saw is used to get the desired

size. 

 Step 5.1 Begin the assemble process, the open plan which acted as the "served space" is modeled first (the material chosen for this part is MDF)

 Step 5.2 Eight column is modeled,  same material is used to  emphasis the structural integrity.

Step 5.3 "servant" space is modeled using plywood. (the idea is to differentiate "served" and " servant" space in this model)

Step 5.4 Assembling everything together

Step 6 The finished model.

  

    

Project 2  Double House, MVRDV, 1995-1997
Model making process:

House Plans1

1)The first step is to use the drawings of the house as a guide to build a sketchup model

Finished SU model

2)Before drawing the laser cut file,a "testing model"which includes the thickness of material is made to get the correct size of each elements.(Elements are coded to improve the efficiency)

3)CAD file which will be used for laser cutting is produced accordingly.

















4)Transfer the drawing into laser cutter and start cutting the materials (acrylic and MDF)

















5)As can be seen from the top view of SU model, walls are not joined together in a orthogonal way.




6)In older to create more contact edge for gluing the wall elements, sander are used to slightly cut the edge of the oblique wall.

7)The next step is to glue different element together. 
















8)Finished Interior

9)Finished "case"

10)Combined together





















Image credit:

1.Libero, "Double House, Utrecht, Olanda, 1995-97," Libero,  http://digilander.libero.it/studiolenci/Ricerche/0%20linguaggi1.htm(accessed October 11th, 2016)  

Project 1  JDS Bone Chair (designed by Julien De Smedt, 1975)
Chairl Making Process: 
1)The first process is to model the chair in SU to get a general understanding of the chair. 

2)After consulting with the staff of the workshop, I realized that the back and seat may have stability problem because of the way they have been supported.  (picture on the left suggests potential cracking area due to the fact that elements are "suspended" rather than "supported"）

3)The problem is fixed in the SU model  and CAD file is produced accordingly. 

   4)The next step is to transfer the drawing to the 12mm plywood

5)After the drawing process, I realized that some sharp curve is too hard to be cut directly by band saw.

6) As a solution, a drill saw was used to create holes that enable the band saw to adjust the angle during cutting. 

7)Band saw was used to finish the cutting process.




















8)The cutting process has left some rough edges, sander was used to create a  smooth surface. 

9) Before the chair is assembled, drill saw was used to add holes for the screws,

10)After the drilling process, a hammer drill was used to screw the chair 

11）Unfortunately, in order to keep the head of the screw and the board at the same surface, some edge is cracked due to the expanding force. 

12) In order to fix the problem, wood filler was applied  at these gap.

13)The finished chair

Project Matrix

Model 1:

Fig.1 Bone chair, Julien De Smedt, 1975

Architectural precedent:  JDS Bone Chair, designed by Julien De Smedt, 1975

Key Concept: 
According to the architect, Julien De Smedit, the key process of determining the shape of the bone chair  includes the building of a whole seat and removing non-essential material from each section, which aims at building a chair with no superfluous elements1 
The chair has showed the architect's interests in creating nontraditional form. In his later design,   the building of the "Iceberg," the reverse engineering that cutting elements from different section can also be found2

Selected Design Element:  a whole chair

How is the Key Concept Reflected in the Form of the Selected Design Element:

Fig.2 Iceberg, Julien De Smedt,Aarhus,Denmark,2013

As can be seen from the evolution diagram, the form of the chair has been shaped by a series of cutting process that aims at function and aesthetic. Although the stating point doesn't seem to be quite ergonomic, by applying the size of 570*540*7953, it is a rightful scale for human.
The triangle shape of the leg and the seat will undoubtly make the chair more stable.  

Geometrical Description of the Shape:

As discussed above,the chair is a result of selectively removing material from each plane. It shows a skeleton structure that minimize material used, different elements are rigidly connected to make the chair stable. Although there is no perfect geometry form, from the Gestalt point of view, we can still sense the previous box-like shape. For the reason that the body of the chair is its structure, we can easily find the beauty of dynamic and minimum. 

Fig.3 evolution of the bone chair, JDS,1975

Proposed Scale,Material, Technique:

S: 1:1 (a chair that can be used in reality）

M: 12 mm plywood (the original material)

T: Band-saw,  drill, sander 

Time, Commitment, Cost/Budget

T: sketch up mode and CAD drawing (2-3 hours)

    cutting the wood board (5 hours)

    connect different elements together (1-2 hours)

    overall (8-10 hours)

B: 3*897*600*12 mm plywood board (57 dollars)

    16* 30mm helix screws  （8 dollars)

     Overall (65 dollars)

Refereces:

1. Agata Toromanoff, “Julien De Smedt” in Chairs by Architects (London: Thames &Hudson,2016), 119.
2.Ibid.
3..Dezeen Magazine"Bone Chair by Julien De Smedt Architects," Dezeen Magazine, http://www.dezeen.com/2011/03/01/bone-chair-by-     julien-de-smedt-architects-2/ (accessed September 14th,2016)
Image Credit:
1.Dezeen Magazine"Bone Chair by Julien De Smedt Architects," Dezeen Magazine, http://www.dezeen.com/2011/03/01/bone-chair-by-     julien-de-smedt-architects-2/ (accessed September 14th,2016)
2. Chloc Hay " Denmark's 10 Stunning New Buildings & Architectural Marvels," the culture trip, http://theculturetrip.com/europe/denmark/articles/denmark-s-10-stunning-new-buildings-architectural-marvels/(accessed September 14th,2016).
3. Dezeen Magazine"Bone Chair by Julien De Smedt Architects," Dezeen Magazine, http://www.dezeen.com/2011/03/01/bone-chair-by-     julien-de-smedt-architects-2/ (accessed September 14th,2016)

Model 2:

 Fig.1 Double house, MVRDV,1995-1997

Architectural precedent: Double house, MVRDV,1995-1997

Key Concept: The project is located in Utrecht, designed for  two separate families that willing to share one single site with the finest view of the park, easy access to the street, and the roof and the garden1.In order to have as big living spaces as possible, the architects designed the houses to be interlocked together three-dimensionally instead of simply splitting the site into halves for each of the two families2. As a result, the living space has stretched almost the entire width of the site3. However, the idea of interlocking elements is not new, it can also be found in Le Corbusier's Berlin Unite4.

Selected Design Element: a whole house

How is the Key Concept Reflected in the Form of the Selected Design Element:

Fig.2 Precedent of Double house

In this project, spaces were interwoven and borders were shifted from floor to floor5. As an outcome, each floor is determined by its own distinctive feature.According to Flores Zanchi, the reinforced concrete was stretched to their limit by dividing the two apartments back and forth like a snake6. Therefore, it is the weaving of two families in a one single box that being the basic strategy to drive the shaping of this design. The model being built will reflect this design philosophy by differentiating materials. Meanwhile, the model will also suggest the design idea that the two-intersected houses be wrapped in a box of glass and wood. 

Geometrical Description of the Shape:
Generally speaking, the house is a cube that three- dimensionally interlocked by two units. Each of the unit is
characterized by  rigid and  orthogonal. The whole program has been stretched to four story without any similarity between different levels. 

Proposed Scale,Material, Technique:
  

S: 1:50 (a detachable conceptual model）

M: plywood (same material that be used in the architecture, in this case, a plywood case will be modeled as a container of the two units .)
     Perspex (using different color to highlight the two      interlocking element)

T: Laser-cut

Time, Commitment, Cost/Budget

T: sketch up mode and CAD drawing (4-6 hours)
    convert the file to AI (1 hour)

    laser cut (3 hours)

    connect different elements together (3 hours)

    overall (11-13 hours)
C: 2 *900*600*3mm Acrylic sheet (60 dollars) 
    2 *300*600*3mm MDF sheet(6 dollars)
    Overall:66 dollars
    

References:
1. MVRDV, "Double House, Utrecht," MVRDV, https://www.mvrdv.nl/projects/doublehouseutrecht (accessed September 14th,2016).
2.Galinsky, "Two-family house,Utrecht, The Netherlands," galinsky, http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/twofamilyhouse/ (accessed September 14th,2016)
3.Ibid.
4. SOME ONE HAS BUILT IT BEFORE, "Archive for MVRDV," SOME ONE HAS BUILT IT BEFORE, https://archidialog.com/tag/mvrdv/page/3/ (accessed September 14th,2016) 
5.. Flores Zanchi, "MVRDV,Double House Uthecht," FLOORNATURE, http://www.floornature.com/projects-housing/project-mvrdv-double-house-utrecht-4374/ (accessed September 14th,2016)
6.Ibid,
Image credit:
1. MVRDV, "Double House, Utrecht," MVRDV, https://www.mvrdv.nl/projects/doublehouseutrecht (accessed September 14th,2016).
2. . SOME ONE HAS BUILT IT BEFORE, "Archive for MVRDV," SOME ONE HAS BUILT IT BEFORE, https://archidialog.com/tag/mvrdv/page/3/ (accessed September 14th,2016)
3.Deviant Art, "Double House-white ver.", deviant art, http://esco1984.deviantart.com/art/Double-House-white-ver-126910290(accessed September 14th,2016).

Model 3:

Fig.1 Richard Medical Center, Louis Kahn,1957-1961

Architectural precedent: Richard Medical Center Commentary, Louis Kahn, 1957-1961

Key Concept:  As stated by the architect, the building of Medical Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania is conceived as the recognition of the realization that the air to breathe in science laboratories should be away from the air to throw away1.The outcome is Louis Kahn's signature of "served" and "servant" space: three great stacks of studios and attach to them are tall service towers which  functioned as animal quarters, mains to carry water, gas and vacuum lines, as well as ducts to breathe in the air from 'nostrils' placed low in the building and exhaust it out through stacks high above the roof2.

Selected Design Element: one structural bay of the building



How is the Key Concept Reflected in the Form of the Selected Design Element: It is a group of connected vertical volumes that functions as the composing unit of the design3.In older to differentiate the "served" and "servant"space,  different exterior treatment were applied in this building 4. The model being built will reflect this character by using different materials. Besides, since the building is characterized by its cantilevered structural, pre‑cast concrete beams(it is one of the first prefabricated and post tensioned systems in building construction)5, attention will be paid to illustrating this innovative structure system.

Geometrical Description of the Shape:
As discussed above, there is a clear strategy for this building to differentiate form, material and process which aims at showing the different between "served" and "servant" space. It is reasonable to build a model with the contrasting of  different element: on one hand there will be  a bulk-like servant space(stairs,elevators, and air-handling towers), while on the other hand there will be a detailed interpretation of  large open plan that functions as served space（laboratory).   

Fig.3 structural model

Proposed Scale,Material, Technique:

S: 1:50 (showing the connection detail of different elements）

M: BASS wood for prefabricated truss system, plywood for the service tower ( different material is chosen to differentiate function) MDF base

T: Laser-cut,  Band-saw, CMC cutting machine (this technique is chosen in order to create the I Shape beam)

Time, Commitment, Cost/Budget

T: sketch up mode and CAD drawing (6-8 hours)
    convert the file to AI (2 hour)

    laser cut (4 hours)

    connect different elements together (4 hours)

    overall (16-18 hours)

C:1 *1200*810*2.7 mm plywood sheet(11 dollars)
    2* 300*915*6 mm basswood (25 dollars)
    1 sheet of MDF (can use the leftover material)
    Overall 36 dollars 






References:
1. Great Buildings, "Richards Medical Center," Great buildings, http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/richards_medical_center.html (accessed September 14th,2016) 
2. Ibid.
3.Upenn facilities and real estates service, "Richards Medical Center Laboratories,"  Upenn facilities and real estates service http://www.facilities.upenn.edu/maps/locations/richards-medical-research-laboratories (accessed September 14th,2016) 
4. Ibid.
5.Ibid.
Image Credit:
1. Karissa Rosenfield, "Louis Kahn's Notorious Richards Laboratory Restored," archdaily, http://www.archdaily.com/780260/louis-kahns-notorious-richards-laboratory-restored-to-its-original-essence((accessed September 14th,2016)
2. Great Buildings, "Richards Medical Center," Great buildings, http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/richards_medical_center.html (accessed September 14th,2016)
3. Michael Morris, "Richards Medical Cente [Louis Kahn]," Behance, https://www.behance.net/gallery/6414159/richards-medical-center-louis-kahn (accessed September 14th,2016) 

Fig,2 structural detail