3D digital modelling, fabrication and installation for understanding space and place

Traditionally the teaching of history or theory on art and design courses often takes place in a lecture theatre. Space and place theory is integral to informing the practice led and practice-based experiences in architecture, interior and the built environment. The research team has investigated how digital modeling, fabrication and population tools can enhance the understanding of current theoretical debates surrounding space and place. The aim is to integrate inter-disciplinary practice allowing us to address key research questions relating to the emergence of digital fabrication and its potential impact upon art and design education.

The purpose is to provide an engaging and informative situated display, offering an experiential and intuitive frame of reference for constructing and placing objects, activities or events into their spatial context. The research has potential to act as an integrative experiential framework through which we can learn more about different contexts or connections between themes or theories which provides a deeper understanding of space or place.
In this new work with Taylor, Benincasa, and Unver evolve their practice through translating 3D research data for a series of new digital and physical experiments intended for enhancing or informing teaching and learning in art, design & architecture. The researchers experimented with a range of 3D software and the functionality of different tool parameters. Fabrication apps and 3D crowd simulation animation tools were used for the first time in this research to explore digital fabrication using cardboard in order to compose and construct 2D and 3D physical simulations of this well-known built environment in the landscape. The fabricated physical cardboard models we produced were located in studio spaces and 3D visual projection live drawing experiences were tested with students and staff working together. The 2D and 3D simulations that the team envisioned are both digital and real; and when installed facilitate a more kinesthetic experience of learning as students are able to create together, and interact with fabricated structures. This evolving research demonstrates how these 3D models, animations and fabrications have the potential to be used together as a catalyst to explore multiple projections of space, place identities, historical and cultural built environment concepts for art, design and architecture students at undergraduate and postgraduate level.