Benjamin Ruiz de Esparza

Disclaimer

"The works bellow are part of an extensive investigation during my master degree. All developed with my colleague in extra hours. from the basics to a hydraulic structure."

Oasis

MAster thesis Project

Rhino Grasshopper (Kangaroo)

3D Max

AutoCAD

Photoshop

Chitubox 64

Concept

Visualization

First render

Iteration 1

Iteration 2

Iteration 3

Iteration 4

Iteration 5

Iteration 6

Iteration 7

Iteration 8

Iteration 9

Oasis is a prototype for an extraterestrial and portable habitat.
We choose inflatable architecture because it is easy to install and transport. With few materials, we could design a big space that other types of architecture can’t. Being one of the goals to build it in another planets.
The grasshopper script let us make diferent iterations and adapt it deppending in our needs. In this case Oasis works as a green house adapted to the heat of an external planet. The structure elevates 4.5 m to let the heat concentrate at the top.Oasis have a central water column that refresh the hot air and give the perfect humidity for vegetation to thrive.

The prototype was built in two months with 2 people. Had a surface of 35 m2 ans weight 80kg. Oasis was designed to wrap over itsel so the tough part of the base would allways protect the shell.

Final iteration

oasis City is a larger scale iteration with interconnecting spaces

render model

render model 2

3D printed model

Patterning

Once we made the patterning and the coordinates for the pieces in rhino. We start the construction process. We display the membranes, mark the coordinates, cut the patterns, and sew them for a strong union.

We start with the chimney. Then, we work on the larger patterns that came in contact with the ground. Finally, we cut and sew the base. We use a tougher membrane to wrap everything. It prevents the polyethylene from tearing during transportation.

All the structure weighted 80kg and had a dimension of 6 meters in length, 5 in wide and 5 in height. The materials used: PVC, polyethylene, Mehler membrane and common thread. The constructions lasted for 2 months with 2 persons, and it needed 300 patterns.

At the end, the prototype was a success. The membrane works, the seams hold, and the calculated volumetry responds as expected.

Torus

Rhino Grasshopper (Kangaroo)

AutoCAD

Photoshop

Torus was an experimental exercise. The main purpose was to find the best way to pattern a hydraulic structure using a parametric program called Grasshopper. Also, we wanted to find the best type of sewing to prevent tearing the materials. The concept was take from an old story about a monster that appears from nowhere. It captures the people that it encounters inside its head. We transform the playfulness of the inflatable and make it feel like a horror movie. Taking advantage of its light weight we put it in different scenarios.

Collide

Collide was the first prototypes of inflatable with pattern. Using hand-made calculations, we cut garbage bags and join them with tape. We experimented with the angles to create a donut kind shape. We used the oposites that complement each other as concept. That takes the most importan part of the design, the black and white, the translucent and the opaque. The concept takes more importance in the videotaping stage. Were we design the video to emulate a "chaotic dance" and a conversation between both.