Project 1A Cont.

     

The following images show the process that I have gone through for the development of this guitar body.  The body has gone through a series of refinement in more accurately representing the curves of the body, and how sharp the transitions are to the main surface.  My first iteration of the body had the curves a lot softer than they are in reality.  In addition to refining the curves of the body, I began to explore the development of more detailed aspects of the guitar.  In this case the modeling of the pickups.  I tried to pay as close attention as possible to the detail of these objects, and as a result, my poly count is currently very high.  I hope to extend the modeling of this guitar into the extension of the neck and fretting of the guitar.  

Project 1A

Guitar Body

For this problem, I decided to explore the development of the guitar.  The surface of the guitar body was particular interesting, and through the process of making was particular challenging to reproduce.  I began the process exploring the development of lofted surfaces.  I began with exploring multiple contours, but as a developed the model further felt limited by the use of the 2d projections.

My second attempt explored, instead, using lofted surfaces to boolean from a solid mass.  I was able to "sculpt" the body of the guitar with a decent amount of control.  I found the result of the operations difficult to refine however.  Do to the complexity of the surfaces, smooth transitions between became difficult to achieve.

Due to this I decided to explore this model through the process of poly modeling.  I began with a very primitive shape of the guitar body, and through a process of vertex control and subdividing, was able to arrive at the example shown above.  Far more than the other approaches I took for this project, I felt that I had the most control over the final result with poly-modeling.  Also, the process of refinement from the simple shape i began with to the detailed model I have now, seemed more intuitive for me.

Skin and Bones

Vidler discusses in this chapter titled skin and bones primarily the idea of a fold.  I found this topic the most interesting, as it discussed the physical nature of the term "fold" as well as the meta-physical.  It really pays in to question the idea that there are many ways to look at something.  Several different perspectives.  This idea of folding, and the architecture that is related to it, is particularly relevant to the connection/ disconnect between the exterior and the interior of a building.  As was explained this idea of disconnect between the exterior and interior of a building is something that is often associated with contemporary architecture.  Buildings like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao came to mind.  Easily identified with the characteristic of folding, yet there is a very distinctive lack of continuity between the exterior skin and the far more regular interior spaces.

There begs the question as to whether or not this connection of exterior to interior is necessary.  As Vidler explains, there is something about a clear connection.  He uses the example of the elephant sculpture.  In the interior of that sculpture, you are able to identify the things that are able to create the exterior surfaces.  Even, if there is not literal connection to the outside, in that you can see out of the interior, you are able to clarify for yourself that you are in fact inside of the elephant sculpture.  

Vilder also talked about the more meta-physical aspect of the idea of folding, comparing it to our soul's.  There is a certain abstraction with this idea in which we are able to make connections to the fact that certain things "overlap".  Not in the literal sense, but more diagrammatically. 

Vilder advocates that digital media serves as an invaluable tool served to generate these new complex forms.  The computer allows us to explore forms to a complexity unobtainable through more traditional means.  This exploration of digital media, provides a platform for exploration; allowing the development of form to push the boundaries of architectural space.  

Reading Assignment 01

Blob Tectonics

In these two readings by Greg Lynn he begins to explain the abstract nature of a form deemed "the blob".  In "Probable Geometries: The Architecture of Writing in Bodies", Lynn begins to explain the ambiguity of the way we as humans attempt to measure shapes.  He goes on to explain that fields such as biology and geology have developed "...convincing geometric descriptions of vague forms."  Forms that previous to such developments have not been able to be described.  More importantly with this discovery, which Lynn describes adamantly, is that it indicates that all geometries are not exact.  It seems that it is only a matter of perspective as to which we are able to deem a shape "exact".  This new ability to define any shape has led to that of architects being able to create what we know as "blob architecture".

Lynn goes on to describe what a blob really is in his article, "Blob Tectonics, or Why Tectonics is Square and Topology is Groovy".   Lynn makes the comparison to the blob to the iconic 1950's horror films.  As he describes, a blob is multiplicity as well as its singularity.  It is one holistic form, however, internally is derived by a multiplicity of conditions.  This idea of a blob developed into isomorphic polysurfaces, or what is known as "meta-ball".  This form of modeling is defined by its relationship to other objects as opposed to conventional primitives such as spheres.

These new forms and perspective on form has pushed the limits of geometry and what is definable.

Pung_Point, Line, Plane, Curve and Surface

For this project I was interested in exploring one of the two options above.  On one hand, my guitar.  My ESP LTD Viper 400's body has some pretty interesting geometry, that would be very interesting to explore as a digital model.  I would also have the opportunity to handle this object in person, which would may prove to be vital for this recreation.  Another object that I would be interested in exploring as a possibility would be that of a 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo.  The complexity of this cars body intrigues me, however, the lack of access to the physical car could prove to be a large obstacle.