SPATIAL PROFILE

Building upon ongoing research on artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality and computational design systems, the Transarchitecures studio will explore the intersection of the physical and virtual worlds as a synthesized, synthetic reality:

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The project explores a geometrical shape: a minimal surface as a space within Virtual Reality, to develop tools for designing in VR. The project starts with analyzing and conceptualizing the minimal surface in different scales through VR. A UI is developed on Unity Engine for a Virtual experiential space initially using the Oculus controllers and later replacing the interaction with Leap Motion controller for a more intuitive interface. The digital model is developed in Rhino using the Grasshopper plug-ins and the Mosquito plugin is used to get live data from Facebook through the Facebook open graph, and connected to Unity via the g-Howl plugin.

The shape is presented as a Spatial representation of a Facebook profile notifies the activity by the changes the digital model as they happen. The physical model was built out of a 3D printed core encapsulating the servos and providing the axis, while the edges and made out of flexible wires. The surface is made out of a stretchable fabric. The whole system is connected to an Arduino board. The changes in the physical model were achieved initially using Ultrasonic and Infra-red sensors with Servo Motors. The sensors were later removed and the board was connected directly to Unity Engine via Unidrino and Firefly Firmata to have live connection and transformation. The Virtual Reality scene has been imagined as a world of Facebook profiles. The digital model shows the texture of a Turing pattern based on the interaction between chemicals that represents interactions in the social world. The texture of the physical model is achieved with projection mapping, the representative animations are created in Maya, the models rendered on Keyshot and the whole process is put together in after effects.