The Columbus Collaborative: An Exploration of Historic Architectural Design Issues through a Design-Build Installation. An Honors Thesis (ARCH402) By Meghan Miller Thesis Advisor Joshua Coggeshall Ball State University Muncie, Indiana April2017 Expected Date of Graduation May 2017 src o)j ' 'f",9t v lhesl'? ~.ll Y,9 .zLj Abstract J:J. 0 ? IY\ 5 r: L} This installation became more than just about creating a public art piece for the city of Columbus, it reflects Columbus itself. Columbus has been known for its small-town atmosphere interlaced with modern architecture, a rarity in the practical and sometimes shortsighted Midwest. It's an Indiana treasure most people are not aware of, tucked away in rich farmland away from the busy world. This abstract piece is an homage to the unique, yet practical, qualities of Columbus, exhibiting the values Columbus holds most dear. One unique quality of Columbus is the presence of towers in its architecture. Besides major cities, most of the Midwestern buildings don't get taller than four stories. Columbus has multiple towers, almost exclusively church related . This project reflects the tall proportions by getting lighter towards the top, pulling the eyes away from the ground, before it blends in with the sky above. Located in the Midwest, Columbus is also home to a lot of advanced manufacturing. This project utilizes computer based design and the machine's abilities to create complex forms in metal, reflecting the future of manufacturing in the Midwest. An important part of this project was to create something that reflected Columbus's future, not its past. For many decades innovation has been the driving force behind Columbus architecture, looking to solve the problems of tomorrow today, and investing in the future. With that in mind the design does not reflect how Columbus, or architecture in general, is now, but how it can become in the future. The form is complex, thanks to the abilities of advanced manufacturing. Both the inner and outer skin are a unique shape. Although they are related to one another they are not the same shape. It is a common misconception in architecture that the inside and outside shape must reflect each other, that the volumes cannot differ from one another. Traditionally, building practices have made this a fact, but with the inclusion of the computer architects are able to conceptualize more complex forms that may not necessarily look the same on the interior or exterior. This practice is becoming increasingly more common, and creates a visually different feel than a traditional form. This installation also utilizes an unconventional visual phenomenon as well. The moire effect is when two perforated patterns cross at different angles, creating a new third pattern through its interlay. This relies heavily on movement, as the pattern changes when the point of view changes. It is most commonly seen in fences, especially in a moving vehicle. This visual aspect is rarely, if ever, intentional. By using two different perforated layers of metal for the skin, this installation uses the moire effect to add another layer of complexity to the form, and also help blur the edges between the object and its surroundings. This project was created for the Exhibit Columbus event in the fall. Commissioned by the city, the goal of the entire exhibit is to celebrate Columbus's past and future through architectural installations located around the city. This installation will be located in University Village and represent Ball State University in this event. Notable architects from around the world are also invited to create installations that celebrate specific landmarks. Exhibit Columbus wishes to shine a little more light in their city, to show the rest of the Midwest and the world what an architecturally intelligent, community oriented city can look like . Columbus is rated as one of the best places to live, prompting them to want to share their knowledge with the rest of the world. Acknowledgments I would like to thank Josh Coggeshall, my thesis advisor, for mentoring me in this . design project. Your support and encouragment have helped this project grow to something greater than anyone could create on their own. I would also like to thank the ProjectiOne team for their help in conceptualizing the structure, and their advice on how to design it. Thank you to the team at Ignition Arts for their expertise in public art installations and metals. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow studio members who collaborated with me on this project. This truly was a team effort and could not be completed to such a complex level without everyone's hard work and creative skills. Alexander Franklin Jenna Hoch Natalie Broton Kyle Miles Lindsey Krucz Maggie Pendergast Tony Shupe Joseph Koslow Kenna Gibson Colby Cline PROCESS ANALYSIS This project has been a real challenge, particularly skilled at and is something that and not just because it was the final project needed to be done. Although I was not directly of my undergraduate career. As my advisor involved in the design process, I found many said many times, design builds can be very errors in the design by simply trying to create challenging. This one specifically, due to the a physical model of the design. The studio shortened time and large group, was a real then used my feedback and the sketch model challenge. Exhibit Columbus is a large and to refine the design further until we reached soon to be prestigious event that attracts something we all could be happy with. architects, designers, and historians alike I also focused my attention on creating to Columbus Indiana to celebrate its unique some final pieces for the presentation of the history. This installation is important because design. This included a model base for a 1" it represents Ball State at this event alongside =1'-0" model to sit on. This base helped exhibit other universities from the Midwest. It was the design qualities and helped the viewer an exploration not only in how to create an understand the object's relation to the site as architectural installation but also the history of well. I also created a greater Columbus context Columbus. model to help the audience further understand Columbus has a unique history; to the location and design influences of the city complete this project successfully I needed to at large. Both these pieces became integral research it extensively. My studio took a trip to parts of the final exhibition and helped visitors Columbus Indiana over a weekend so we could understand the design better. get firsthand experience of the architecture This design celebrates the architectural and talk to experts from the area. This history of Columbus. Columbus was not a opportunity was incredibly helpful in learning city of the past, but one that looks to the what Columbus was and its unique history. future. Because of this, our design shows Beyond this, I used other academic resources what architecture could be as opposed to on campus to complete my knowledge of that it stands today. The form is something Columbus and to create a database in which I that is as mysterious as it is rational, creating can draw information from. something that is slightly indefinable. This The design of the installation was long installation also uses advanced manufacturing and laborious, but in the end very successful. to create the structure and custom perforation I collaborated with many of my studio pattern, celebrating the Midwest's rich classmates at different times in the semester, history in manufacturing. This installation is helping to refine the form and structure of ultimately a celebration of the base principles the final piece. My main focus was producing of architecture and manufacturing, showing models for the studio, this is something I am visitors what architecture could be in the future. 1 PROJECT 49,262 This installation became more than and outside shape must reflect each other, just about creating a public art piece for the that the volumes cannot differ from one city of Columbus, it reflects Columbus itself. another. Traditionally, building practices have Columbus has been known for its small­ made this a fact, but with the inclusion of the town atmosphere interlaced with modern computer architects are able to conceptualize architecture, a rarity in the practical and more complex forms that may not necessarily sometimes shortsighted Midwest. It's an look the same on the interior or exterior. Indiana treasure most people are not aware This practice is becoming increasingly more of, tucked away in rich farmland away from common, and creates a visually different feel the busy world. This abstract piece is an than a traditional form. homage to the unique, yet practical, qualities This installation also utilizes an of Columbus, exhibiting the values Columbus unconventional visual phenomenon as well. holds most dear. The moire effect is when two perforated One unique quality of Columbus is the patterns cross at different angles, creating presence of towers in its architecture. Besides a new third pattern through its interlay. This major cities, most of the Midwestern buildings relies heavily on movement, as the pattern don't get taller than four stories. Columbus changes when the point of view changes. It is has multiple towers, almost exclusively church most commonly seen in fences, especially in related. This project reflects the tall proportions a moving vehicle. This visual aspect is rarely, by getting lighter towards the top, pulling the if ever, intentional. By using two different eyes away from the ground, before it blends perforated layers of metal for the skin, this in with the sky above. Located in the Midwest, installation uses the moire effect to add another Columbus is also home to a lot of advanced layer of complexity to the form, and also help manufacturing.