OUGD603 - Brief 7 - Build a home for Wildlife - Development - Mock Ups and Testing of Ideas

Mockups and Testing of Ideas

- Physically testing some of the concepts showed how realistic it would to be to create the ideas from the processes available at university.

- To reflect the forms of the concrete bug house blocks models of these were created from layered plywood. To create the three dimensional forms one face of the shape was created and repeated so that the multiple shapes could be cut and glued together to create the shape. The indents within the designs were created by cutting shapes out of the overall shape and repeating this for multiple layers. The amount of layers the shape was cut out from dictated the depth of the indent. To create indents on the face of the shape made from the ends of the layers, rectangles the correct width were cut out and repeated on layers to create the width of the indent. This technique worked effectively for one or two indents on each side of the blocks however it would be more complex to work out the internal arrangements with more than this. To simulate the roof panels rotated rectangles were cut out of each side with this repeated across the length of the block, only the first and last panel was a solid shape.

- Paper shapes of the concrete bug houses were cut out to allow a better sense of the scale of the designs and the functionality of them at different sizes.

- To create a cyclinder multiple circles were cut out which would be assembled to create a hollow tube. This technique would allow the different layers of the plywood to be seen within the design.

- A rough wood grain pattern was made on Illustrator and laser cut to see what effect this would create. Lasercutting the pieces meant that the design easily slotted back together to create the wood grain. The use of the plywood when sanded down had a clean and contemporary finish. In this example the design was cut all the way through 3mm plywood with the intention of this being stuck to the bird box. Potentially if this was stuck to another piece of wood it is more likely to come off when exposed to the weather. It was considered that the same aesthetic could be created by just etching the design onto thicker wood and this would create a more durable design because it would be made from one piece of wood rather than two stuck together. 

- Different dark woods were collected that could be used for the bird box design made from scrap wood. The use of the dark woods would reflect the bark of a log. The combination of these different woods would create a nice tonal change within the panels whilst also having an element of sustainability through the use of scrap materials.