RETURN BRIEF

Can a timber trellis be design with a restrictive parameter set to provide shade between 12pm to 3pm to a winding walkway in a Singapore park?
Junhao Ng 095547

Can a timber trellis be design with a restrictive parameter set to provide shade between 12pm to 3pm to a winding walkway in a Singapore park?
Introduction and Overview
Description
To design a timber trellis with a restrictive parameter set to shade between 12pm to 3pm to a winding walkway in a Singapore park. This research question is relevant because in my Professional Project sited in Singapore. The project proposed a whole range of park with building around and walkways in between going in different direction. And walking around in Singapore is hot and uncomfortable, especially uncomfortable walking in the sun, particular uncomfortable between 12pm to 3pm. Secondly, The proposed project is owned by the council and the residents will be using the park and aid the council to maintain the park. This timber trellis must be durable, should at least last for 10 years, in limited standardise suite for mass produce, and it must be easily assemble.

Aims
This research aims to introduce parametric as a design tool to design a timber trellis with a restrictive parameter set listed below and later fabricate with timber which are available in Singapore to shade a winding walkway between 12pm to 3pm in a Singapore park. The timber trellis should be a fixed component and it must maintain a 50% view of the sky or the surrounding environment while shading the winding walkway. It should be a limited standardise suite for mass produce, and at the same time it should be able to shade different kind of winding walkway with minimum adjustment to the standardise suite.

List of parameter Time of the day and azimuth & altitude

First I will have to know the hottest time of the day and according to Intellicast.com (2012), the weather forecasting website, the highest temperature of the day in Singapore starts from 12pm to 3pm. The trellis should shade the walkway from 12pm to 3pm and these will be my first parameter. Besides identifying the time of the day to shade, I should identify the azimuth and altitude of varies sun path, from January to December, from 12pm to 3pm. Refer to Figure 1, it show the sun path of varies month.

| Junhao Ng 095547 ADR 2012 AT1

Figure 1 Solar Azimuth and Altitude of varies month

Sizes of available timber in Singapore

Secondly, identify the economical and common outdoor timber that is available in Singapore. To my knowledge, the most economical and common outdoor timber is Chengai, Balau and Ironwood, the sizes would properly 200 x 50 x 6000mm. These three types of outdoor timber are commonly used in Singapore to built trellis. I have to research on the properties and sizes of the above timber to ensure they are structurally strong to built trellis and able to last at least 10 years. The sizes of each of timber piece will determine the spacing between each piece. The sizes are important in my research, they are my second parameter to constraint my design.

Winding walkway and the width of walkway

Winding walkway is difficult to define or use as a parameter because the walkway will be designed and built to meet the purpose of the park or place. I can use Rhinoceros, a 3D computer modelling program, to model a series walkway. Secondly, width of walkway are varies in Singapore and even the rest of the world, I will use Universal design as a guide. According to BCA (Building and Construction Authority) of Singapore, Universal design guide 2007 (p.135) the minimum width of outdoor accessible walkway is 1.2 meter width. 1.2 meter width walkway is not sufficient, I will be using 2.1 meter width as my model walkway.

Shading from 500mm above ground

The winding walkway should be 100% measure from 500mm above ground. As an average adult height range from 1.6 meter to 1.8 meter. Measure from 500mm above ground is enough to keep the body in the shade. Refer to Figure 2 for illusion.

| Junhao Ng 095547 ADR 2012 AT1

Figure 2 Shading measure from 500mm above ground

Maintain at 50% visual to surrounding environment

The timber trellis should maintain at a visual of 50% opening, so the user may have a view of the sky and the surrounding in a park. It can be measure at a 45 degree of an average adult visual. Refer to figure 3 for illusion.

Figure 3 Maintain a 50% of visual to surrounding environment

Limited standardise suite

In order to ease the fabrication process, the timber component should be limited from six to eight standardise suite. To do that, I may use Rhinoceros to group the similar item into a group when there is a different of 10 millimeters. It is because with10 millimeter varies compare to a maybe three meter long timber component, I will consisted them belonging to the same group and it will saving the time and labour during fabrication . This timber trellis can be design, model and mostly importantly tested by using 3D computer modelling program, Rhinoceros with Grasshopper plug-in. Using this computer program, the model can be adjusted easily, using the same set of component system, to get 100% sun shading measure from 500mm above ground, maintain 50% of visual to surrounding environment when shading the winding walkway.

Expression of outcome
At the end of week 13, my parametric program should be able to shading all different types of walkway in Singapore. With minimum adjustment to the application, it could shade all sort of walkway in other countries with the above six parameter; i) time of the day and azimuth &

| Junhao Ng 095547 ADR 2012 AT1

altitude, ii) sizes of available timber in Singapore and lastly the iii) winding walkway and the width of walkway, iv)shading from 500mm above ground, v)maintain at 50% visual to surrounding environment, vi) limited standardise suite.

Roles and responsibilities within the research

This is a self motivated project and will be advised and supervised by a supervisor. My responsibilities are to adhere to the timeline written in this return brief. Researcher, I, may deviate from the research question during the process, I should use the research question as a reference point to question the intermediate findings.

Literature Review
Parametric
Parametric models can be model in Rhinoceros with Grasshopper plug-in, a 3D computer modelling program, from a set of mathematical equations. In order for parametric models to have any validity to actual product, it must be implies on a proven set of actual data. (Galorath,2011)

Fabrication
This timber trellis will possibly in an awkward form therefore can be fabricated conventionally. This timber component should be labelled during the fabrication with numerical codes automatically generated by the software during 3D model subdivision. (Tedeschi 2011, p.191) The timber component can be fabricated with CNC (Computer Numerical Control) router. The main component can be jointed together using halving joint and secure with bolt and nuts as shown in figure 4. I may have to research on jointing system.

Figure 4 Parameter fabricated model with Halving joint.

| Junhao Ng 095547 ADR 2012 AT1

Source: Tedeschi 2011, p.210

Initial Methodology
Roles and application of methodology and research methods
This is quantitative research, it mainly involve in collecting different sets of data and use to inquire the problem. Through the process of my research, a different set of computer modelled trellis will be generated and this model will be measured in a systematic way and recorded for analysing.

Identification of research parameters

I am not able to access to actual material, Chengai, Balau or Ironwood, as I am in Tasmania. And not be able to fabricate actual size trellis as the time frame does not allow me to do so. Third, this trellis will not be assembling in Singapore to test the shading outcome. However, the above difficulty can be overcome by using MDF (Medium-density fibreboard) to fabricate a 1:5 scale model. And the shading result can be tested using Rhinoceros.

Outline methodology
1. I will research online of the azimuth & altitude of sun path from 12pm to 3pm from January to December. Then draw a series of sketches to record azimuth & altitude of 12pm to 3pm from January to December. As shown in figure 1. 2. To ensure the sizes and the types of outdoor timber, which use in Singapore. To find out the common sizes so I can calculate the spacing between each timber to shade the walkway against 12pm to 3pm sun from varies months. Similarly, a series of sketches are required for recording purpose. 3. To draw figure 2 and 3 with 1.8 meter width walkway. The sketches mention above will be my reference throughout my research process. 4. Research for parametric precedent to investigates and learns the formulate use for this research. 5. Model a simplify walkway with trellis in Rhinoceros to test the shading on varies sun path from 12pm to 3pm. 6. Model with a complex walkway with trellis in Rhinoceros to the test the shading on varies sun path from 12pm to 3pm. The fifth and sixth step must be constantly recorded in order to investigate the difference. 7. The trellis must be in limited standardise suite so it should be design to minimum varies. In order to keep to a minimum varies and I should use Rhinoceros to group the similar item into a group when there is a different of 10 millimeters. 8. Research on timber joints, hooks or handles which are suitable to the parts then fabricate and assemble MDF trellis in 1:5 scale. 9. Testing, alteration and re-test and compilation of research.

Ethical considerations
In my research topic, mainly involve in 3D model testing and analysing within Rhinoceros program. I am not going do survey, interview and data collection that involve any person so I do not have to worry on ethical consideration. 6 | Junhao Ng 095547 ADR 2012 AT1

Timeline
Week Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Task Submitting Assessment Task 1 Return Brief Sketches, research and modelling Sketches, research and modelling Submitting Assessment Task 2 Interim Report Remarks Minimum 1500 words

Written report, PowerPoint presentation, multimedia work, drawings with test or combination of all. Possible overlap to week 9

Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13

Modelling Modelling Fabrication Testing, redo and retest Compilations Compilations Submitting Assessment Task 3 Final Report

Maximum 20 A4 pages

Reference
Tedeschi Arturo 2011, Parametric Architecture with Grasshopper, Tecnostampa, Italy. Building and Construction Authority (BCA) 2012, Accessibility in the built environment, BCA, Singapore, 2007, viewed 12 March 2012. <http://www.bca.gov.sg/barrierFree/others/ud_guide_2007.pdf> Intellicast.com 2012, Hourly forecast, Singapore, Andover, viewed 12 March 2012, <http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Hourly.aspx> National Environmental Agency (NEA) 2007, guide to Singapores weather, NEA, Singapore 26 March 2007, viewed 12 March 2012. <http://app.nea.gov.sg/data/mss/pdf/26March07.pdf> Galorath 2011, Company, what is parametric modelling?, Galorath, California, viewed 16 March 2012, <http://www.galorath.com/index.php/company/books/what-is-parametric-modeling/>

| Junhao Ng 095547 ADR 2012 AT1