Shelterhood is a spin-off of a research on digital fabrication and DfMAD started in 2013. We have been slowly testing our products by making numerous physical prototypes. This has allowed us to perfect the design and fabrication process, in order to ensure the highest precision, durability and robustness of each model and every part.
Prototyping
Our long experience conducting research in academy and with industry, has allowed us to develop a prototyping methodology. Shelterhood is a consequence and a test ground of this methodological development to streamline the design and production of prototypes for the building industry.
Building is very expensive. It is also extremely risk averse. All components and building systems need to be reliable. Nothing can go wrong. This often reduces the development and application of innovative solutions to new or unresolved challenges. Our methodology eases the innovation process making it swift, steady, robust and affordable.
Methodology
Steps
1.Requirement
A starting point, usually in the form of a question/s or prolem through a commission (internal or external). What is the job to be done? Most of the times the question, initial conditions and the aim/goal are not clear enough, or vague and multi-faceted.
Prototyping allows a constant data gathering and diagnose, where we continually find and incorporate all available data around the requirement, organise and select it, towards a critical understanding of the requirement, that often leads to a reevaluation and reframing of the initial question, that will be reshaped, recalibrated and eventually radically transformed throughout the entire process. Data will change along the way so we need to capture it all along.
2.Quick design
A quick design is an intuitive and initial guess about how the requirements can be questioned, changed or fulfilled, how the architecture might operate, feel and look, and it is developed in at least one round of:
2.1. Sketching. Fast graphic manifestation of ideas and tacit intuitions.
2.2. Wireframing. 2D or 3D volumetric approximations with size and organisational information.
2.3. Scale models (both material and virtual). They contain basic atmospheric qualities.
2.4. Analysis/(re)evaluation of current design’s qualities and characteristics. This part can include stakeholders.
These four steps can also operate in parallel, informing each other.
3.Concretization
Full scale working example/model with selected or full features.
3.1. Fabrication (individually and collectively).
3.2. Stakeholders feedback.
3.3.Analysis/(re)evaluation of current design’s qualities and characteristics.
3.4. Discovering and designing the protocols that will allow the project to become easily reproducible.
4.Testing and Evaluating
Assessment of relationship between design intentions and realisations.
4.1 Presenting initial concretisation to stakeholders.
4.2 Analysing the interactions of the differently positioned stakeholders with the prototypes.
4.3 Assessment of prototype performance (non-human interaction).
4.4 Assessment of the unexpected findings.
4.5 Assessment of economy and comercialisation feasibility.
4.6 Preliminary evaluation of intentions/realisations.
4.7 Refining and redefining: Critical revision and redesign of the method and prototype by prototypers and other stakeholders.
Identify set of enabling features and determine if additional development of prototype is required.
5.Implementation
Market-ready part/component/system.
5.1 Reproduction.
5.2 Launch.
5.3 Close following of initial assembly/construction cases.
5.4 Market penetration.
6.Consolidation
Constant improvement.
6.1 Service life data gathering. Formal (monitorise) and informal.
6.2 Refinement and improvement. Upgrades.
