Anthropomorphic Erosion

Experiential Design

Academic (2016)

Overview

Advanced Design Studio : Spring 2016

Critic : Clay Odom

Team : Saranya Kanagaraj

TRANS-PLAN Water+ Competition : Honorable Mention    

Tools : Rhino, Grasshopper, Kangaroo, 3dsMax, Vray for Rhino, Illustrator, Photoshop

Project Background

Anthropomorphic Erosion is an interactive installation based in an existing room in the Architecture Gallery at the Faculty of Architecture University of Manitoba that allows users to engage the space as water would. Users walk through the form while leaving traces of movement around them. The installation creates the atmosphere presence of erosion -- a process of compounded void creation in what was once solid.

The installation is comprised of static structures and movable parts. The static structure derives its form from a parametric investigation of the way water creates form through erosion. Anthropomorphic Erosion is made entirely from polystyrene beads packed in a nylon skin, essentially creating a beanbag structure. The squishiness of the structure allows for the installation to be malleable and for “erosion” to occur.

Diagram

The room was first divided into a solid 3’x3’x3’ grid

The room was first divided into a solid 3’x3’x3’ grid

The room was first divided into a solid 3’x3’x3’ grid

The room was first divided into a solid 3’x3’x3’ grid

Each solid volume was divided randomly. This division acts as a method of erosion that allows for movement through the room.

Each solid volume was divided randomly. This division acts as a method of erosion that allows for movement through the room.

Each solid volume was divided randomly. This division acts as a method of erosion that allows for movement through the room.

Each solid volume was divided randomly. This division acts as a method of erosion that allows for movement through the room.

An attractor point that represents a “pool of water” is placed in the back of the room. Volumes closer to the pool area further divided into smaller volumes. This occurs because the closer to a volume is to “water”, the more it erodes.

An attractor point that represents a “pool of water” is placed in the back of the room. Volumes closer to the pool area further divided into smaller volumes. This occurs because the closer to a volume is to “water”, the more it erodes.

An attractor point that represents a “pool of water” is placed in the back of the room. Volumes closer to the pool area further divided into smaller volumes. This occurs because the closer to a volume is to “water”, the more it erodes.

An attractor point that represents a “pool of water” is placed in the back of the room. Volumes closer to the pool area further divided into smaller volumes. This occurs because the closer to a volume is to “water”, the more it erodes.

The structure was smoothed over into a beanbag structure and small beans are placed throughout the installation for people to interact with and take with them as they move through the space. The space will constantly be eroding as people walk through.

The structure was smoothed over into a beanbag structure and small beans are placed throughout the installation for people to interact with and take with them as they move through the space. The space will constantly be eroding as people walk through.

The structure was smoothed over into a beanbag structure and small beans are placed throughout the installation for people to interact with and take with them as they move through the space. The space will constantly be eroding as people walk through.

The structure was smoothed over into a beanbag structure and small beans are placed throughout the installation for people to interact with and take with them as they move through the space. The space will constantly be eroding as people walk through.

Drawings

Plans

Anthropomorphic Erosion is made up of two beanbag densities. The light green colored beanbags represent a more rigid density that you can mold as you squeeze through them and the darker green colored beanbags represent a more malleable density that you can pick up and move throughout the installation.