A Real Grip On Making

The past week brought great news as the city has agreed to fund all the ground work we have designed. Thanks to the diligence of our ground crew, John and Jeff, our information and options were well organized and presented which resulted in the swaying of the city. Along with the support of the city, a local steel company has offered to donate all the steel we would need for our structure plus fabrication to a certain degree. So it looks like money will not be an issue. What is going to be an issue, rather, is time. As we speak, we are attempting to fabricate a full scale mock up of the parametrically paneled funnel. After attaching just the bottom ring about ten minutes ago, I realize what kind of work we would be in for. I think the mock up is a valuable tool in informing us of both the work it will require to make the real thing and also in giving the funnel a sense of presence that it has not had in the digital world. It will also let us know just how "airy" the canopy will be. By "airy" I mean the amount of negative space which translates into light penetration. After seeing both of these factors, our area of coverage (at least by panels) might change. One thing is sure, and this has held true throughout my undergraduate career, you learn from making. When I made the two mock ups for the previous wooden lamella structure, I learned more in those hours than all the time previously spent in books and on the computer. Tonight was no different while I assembled the panels. The rest of this mock up will be a valuable lesson for our whole class I think.