production shots

Our lazy production week - cruisy as. Friday seems too far away.

ipod, 2pod, 3 pod....

So 5 days to go now....yay! and our pods are getting close to finished now. 3 down, 3 to go, although we left the biggest to last. Our escapades down in the domain (refer below) have attracted both enquiries and onlookers alike, all marvelling and taking interest in our 'daddy' pod. The finished product though looks seriously cool, so heres some images of them in production.


One of our steel bases has also been made - much more slimline then our concrete atempts. We're very happy.

Next time we see you, will probably be in person - so be prepared to be amazed!

[detailing joints]

Our laser (peow peow) cutting we just got back today - looks wicked!!! we're very happy. At the same time our masses of tubing arrived and the carbon fibre rods are on there way tomorrow!! They couldn't fit in the car, but as soon as they arrive we're getting towards the final production phase.

AND!! breakthough with our final, largest dome. Sitting idly across the gully from our studio is Auckland Domain's answer to our problems...the spherical boulders sent from heaven!! So noone take them - we need them.

Floor Plan

Our floor plan consits of 3 bases (at this stage) with 3 rods coming out of each base. The cones mark the bases and the crosses are where the pods will hang.

Now in the process of making our bases...dug a dome-shaped hole yesterday and tried to fill it with concrete..but a bit of a flop.

Elliot came up trumps with some hard work yesterday and designed some details that could be laser etched into the ends of our cups..well done Elliot!

A big thanks to HRV construction who have now also come on board with us to sponsor our transport (a big truck with curtain walls) for the convoy.

carbon fibre rods

So we have decided that we will encorporate carbon fibre rods to support our com-pods. With experimentation with surf casting fishing rods, we discovered the carbon fibre rods will keep them elevated but still allow a bit of movement and suggest an 'active' network again reffering back to telecommunication. The flexibility of the rods will also allow for our com-pods to be adjusted when neccessary according to the heights we need them. When supporting our com-pods, the carbon fibre rods give a really nice curve adding to the curvature nature of our installation so far.
A big thanks to CTS (composite tube systems) for sponsoring us with the rods. Without this sponsorship, the use of these high quality materials would not be possible.

[concept sketch]

com-pod connections

so finally our cup connections are sussed and clean!! cable ties and shower curtain might not sound elegant, but we've managed to pull it off while not losing the modern 'plastic' aesthetic. so fresh, so clean!!!

[communication space]

1:2 scale model of our proposed 'com-pods'. The pods will vary in size from very personal, intimate pods to communal pods able to house 4-5 people (or families etc). The smaller the pod the more direct communication between each of them will be where the pods progressing in size will also increase in communication ability, able to communicate with multiple pods and also the event simultaneously. Its in refrence to progression of telecommunication, from direct landlines to satellite 3G networks affording the ability to communicate with multiples of people.

manifesto!!!

so heres our mid-sem proposal for where we're at and where we want to be come shed 12.

"For the Design 4 TRANS-FOrM-ERS project, our group ' Sound(')s Good!' as per the breif are designing and constructing a structure that will transform, with sound being an impotant influence in our design. Our group has taken telecommunication, particularly phone systems where sound is the medium of communication, but not ignoring other developments in the telecommunication industry such as basic morse code, texting and the internet, as our key focus. our big ideas, if you will, are progression, interaction and netwroking, all in the sphere of telecommunication.

The progression of telecommunication interests us, as it allows for the telling of the telecommunication story. It especially drew our attention as we were inspired by the most primitive telelcom. device, the primary school experiment of the two cups attatched by a piece of string, which when pulled taut allows sound to pass between the two cups via vibrations. We could not help but it in comparison to modern day telecommunication.

As the event is to be large scale public exhibition, making it an interactive structure is obviously an important aspect of all projects, but especially so for ours, as right from the first experiment we did, it has been a highly interactive project, with the phrase "can you hear me?" repeated daily. Telecommunication has always been an interactive action, more so today than ever before as our phones are not just for calling, but texting, surfing the internet, emailing, taking photos, listening to music and having many more features.

Our third idea -that of networking comes from an interest in the telecommunication system. Nodes, mediums, technologies, and perhaps most interesting of all, the notion of communication space, or 'cyberspace' as it is commonly recognised, have captivated us, and combine to inspire our form as it develops.

We seek to make communication space tanglible and architectural, drawing on its development and its playfulness."

(written by elliot [jasmine] rice)

design process

so heres our design process, quite literally unravelled. this shows our progression from string to pvc and our original [commun. pods] 5m of recylcled (therefore sustainable) paper and meters more to go!

mid semester cross crit

We had mid-semester cross crit last week aaaaannnd.....

Our idea of [communication space] was interpreted well by the tutors. We had ideas running crazy for a good week but this helped us to make good decisions about our concept prior to the cross-crit. Through some experimentation we made a good break through with the use of plastic tubing which carries sound really well. It also enables us to be more 'flexible' with the space between [communication space] the cups.

We have come up with the idea of using a series of pods that will be big enough to fit a persons head or in some cases many heads. At this stage the pods will be made out of cups that will all be attatched to plastic tubing. This will be the carryer of sound.. and a means for communication. The tubing will lead to other pods as well as to other areas in the event that can allow different sounds to enter the pods!!!

jury proposal [update]

ok so we had our competition proposal yesterday, and it went pretty well! unfortunately, we didnt win, but a big shout out to team scarf (inflatable lego) for coming in second!! definately well deserved guys.

Also, deep breath, props to team breathing experience for making it to the top four! both representing UoA with awesome presentations and speech voices (Esther!).

Oh well, bring on the REAL competition now! but heres a link of a video we used for the presentation which runs along the convoy highlighting our concept of 'communication space'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6tvHN_0lsY

photograph(s)

[TRANS-FOrM-ERS] - Sound(')s Good! - Week 2 UPDATE!!!!!!!!!

Hey here's the latest! ... slash the first.

Ok, so we're looking at the old cup/string/cup telephone experiment and translating the progression of tele-communication into a spatial and sculptural installation to be exhibitted during Auckland Architecture week 09.

First concepts and expermentation is coming along and been alot of fun...(30m is entirely capable for a whisper!!) and heres some photos of our progression to date.

Mini-crit today went well. Lot's to think about!

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Seb has written something.

For more info, check out http://trans-form-ers.blogspot.com/

Wade, Elliot, Greer, Seb (Sound(')s Good!)