We were provided with the following image and given the whole lesson to come up with our interpretation of it in a 3D form.
After giving it some thought we decided to take a more calculated approach and try to use mathematics to help re-create this building. We had vision of a 60cm tall sculpture consisting of 10 independent layers each 6cm tall but 1cm thinner each time, we thought that this would help create the effect of the tower slowly thinning out into a point as you get higher up.
In order to create each platform we measured and cut thin wooden rods starting with the biggest 10cm down the smallest 1cm and grouped them all up in sizes ready to create each platform.
We then had to make a decision on a material to use for the main body of the platforms, we had a look at different fabrics for example felt but in the end we decided to opt with paper. We went with this because it can be easily manipulated to create strength for example rolling it or folding it, and for that reason we thought it would be ideal for our project.
Next we cut paper 6cm tall by the width of the rods, then we used a rolling technique to lightly attach the wooden rods to the paper and again grouped them into sizes.
We then decided to stitch the rolled rods in order to add some more strength and stability to each individual panel for the platforms. We used the machines to stitch in a zig zag pattern which held the rods in firmly.
Moving on the plan was to assemble each platform by tying the left over threads together on each connecting edge. At this point we started to experience our first problem, simply fastening them together meant they were not sturdy enough.
At this point time was running out and we were in big trouble in terms of getting the structure assembled, we tried various way to salvage the platforms one of them was adding metal rods into the paper, bending them around into the next piece creating a solid corner.
Unfortunately this didn't stabilise the platforms enough and as the lesson was drawing to a close we decided to try and build the finished piece with the unsteady platforms. The plan was to layer to platforms starting with the largest at the bottom, we planned to slightly rotate each platform in order to create the spiral effect of the tower.
Although our final effort didn't come out very well, we felt that our concept and planning was correct and given more time we felt that we could have pulled it off. It was unfortunate that we encountered problems so late on as it left us with little to no time to plan around it.
In hind sight I think we would have benefitted from finding a better way to assemble each platform so it was sturdy enough to hold itself independently, had we have solved this problem I think it would have been plain sailing from their on, resulting in a much better final piece.
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