Prototyped Screen Wall

Inspiration

My inspiration for this project came early in the process, so fast that I felt compelled to immediately write it down as not to forget. The image was of the skeleton of a cactus after the flesh had dried up and fallen off. After doing some research, I found that the pattern that I was looking for was specifically the Cholla cactus, a native to the Southwestern U.S.

Adaptation

The dead Cholla skeleton looks and acts like a column. The skeleton is very porous and spongy to hold the water inside and provides a structural base for the needles. Because of its strikingly columnar form and function, I adapted the form to use in my projects as the vertical system. Because of its complex shape, it would have to be prototyped using the 3D printer.

Simplification

The organic form of the skeleton was too complex to be practical, so I simplified it so it could be easily prototyped. The form is a tube, pierced with elliptical holes every 45 degrees. The next row is rotated halfway (22.5 degrees) to create the offset appearance. The columns come in 2 inch, 1.5 inch, and 1 inch varieties. The holes proportionally match each size.

Script Part 1

I created a script that randomly placed two 2", one 1.5" and two 1" columns in the field. These are the main columns. The second script cut them at random intervals. I had to adjust where the cuts appeared so they would cut the columns at a location that was possible.

Script Part 2

From each plane point where the column was cut, I ran a second script that shot two vectors out from the center in random direction/legnth. These server as the anchor points for the b-spline curve. The edges of the curve make the edges of the horizontal layers connecting the columns.

Script Part 3

Each layers is pulled apart and flattened. Tabs are added to connect the layers to the columns. The small holes which are cut in the layers and molded in the columns accept toothpicks to act as pegs to hold the system together. Not every layer connects all the columns, so holes are left where they miss.

Script Part 4

Each layer is pierced in a peseudo-random way. The curves and shapes are based on the same elliptical holes in the skeleton. The result is a very organic shape resembling the surface condition of the Cholla skeleton. Also, smaller intermediate layers are created in the same way, but with half of the connection points.