ERO-078
Environmental
ERO-078 is an Environmental Research Outpost set upon a a cliff in a sci-fi world. The structure engages with three different natural elements; land, air and water. From this outpost environmental readings can be captured, monitored and analyzed within the central core.
The structure of the TriPavilion is a result of experimenting with transforming simple geometries to create complex forms. Simple rectilinear surfaces were twisted and rotated in space to create the basic massing, which could then be further manipulated to create a feasible space.
This project in many ways was a learning process in which I taught myself new software skills and workflows to improve my design skills. The entire project is created digitally in 3D, the base mesh for the cliff was generatively produced and provided a starting point for the environment. The landscaping and greenery was scattered along the surface by areas. The water was a result of exploring simulation tools to produce realistic flowing water, which proved to be one of the most challenging aspects of this project.
Form Development
The formal development of the structure stemmed from the concept of connecting three elements through a central space. The three elements being; land, water and air. Exploration of this idea provided a basic footprint which was then extruded to create a base volume. This base volume was exploded to create a series of surfaces which could be manipulated within the bounding box of the original volume. Twisting the surfaces allowed for a singular surface to function as both a wall and roof element. Intermediate surfaces were needed to enclose the space, creating a new form. The surface boundaries of this new form were used as references for offsets which created a series of apertures on select surfaces. The final step was to give thickness to the form by offsetting the base surfaces.
Outpost Modules
The Environmental Research Outposts were designed as a modular system that could be implemented in various locations on a planet. Each of these structures would interface with each other through the CAM — Core Access Module. Providing a central system with data from all the outposts which could be used to model the unique environmental conditions of a planet.
The main structure, CAM and slat structure are primary components standard to every outpost. The secondary components, the lookouts, can be added based on each outpost's unique site conditions. This allows each outpost to be flexible and configured as per the site requirements, making integration as simple as possible.
Core Access Module
The Core Access Module or CAM is the neural core of each outpost. It allows each outpost to interface with each other and the central network. Accessed by agents the CAM handles the processing of all the data gathered. It is equipped with environmental sensors to gather data autonomously on the air, land and water for further analysis. The CAM is connected to a long-range communication system that allows it to transfer data from outposts to satellites and ships in orbit. This allows agents to assess whether or not a planets environment is hostile or safe.
Elemental Integration
ERO-078 is equipped with two secondary modules; an air lookout and a water lookout. The air lookout is situated over the edge of the cliff allowing agents an unobstructed view of the sky. The water lookout is embedded into the river just before the waterfall. Being inset into the water allows agents to track the water levels while also monitoring the clarity and potential organisms that may reside in the water systems of the planet.