Ryan KahenMArch 2013

Scripting Spaces kahendesign.wordpress.com

ryan.kahen@gmail.com

DETAIL OF THE BLACKSTONE BLOCK. From John Bonner, “The Town of Boston in New England” (Boston, 1722: SPNEA Archives).

DETAIL OF THE BLACKSTONE BLOCK. From J. G. Hales, “Map of Boston in the State of Massachusetts” (Boston, 1814: SPNEA Archives)

Blackstone Square History

UNION OYSTER HOUSE. 41 Union Street,c . 1713. Photograph by William T. Clark, SPNEA Archives.)

1521 UNION STREET. c. 1822a nd 25 UNION STEEET after alterations (photograph by Miguel G Mezibarez)

UNION BLOCK. 45-55 Union Street, c. 1844. (Photograph by Miguel G Mezibarez)

The name Blackstone has a long standing history in Boston. Rev. William Blackstone was credited as the first white setteler to establish the first permanent home (1625) within the boundaries of Boston. The Blackstone Block was defined by some of the first streets laid out in Boston, Hanover Street, Union Street, and North Street. Today’s Blackstone Street lies atop what once was the Mill Creek. The Blackstone Block has always been a part of the central marketplace surrounding Faneuil Hall. Because of its proximity to the 19th century meat and produce markets, the Blackstone Block housed butchers and a carpentry shop which made store fittings, butcher blocks, and ice boxes. The tradition of produce and meat vendors continues today with the push carts of Haymarket. This architecturally cohesive group of brick buildings represents nearly three hundred years of Boston’s development. It continues today as an active part of city life. Within the Blackstone Block, the original 17th century street pattern still serves as alleys and walkways. The block contains two 18th century landmarks (the Union Oyster House and the Ebenezer Hancock House), numerous historic 19th century structures, and a modern hotel designed to fit in with the traditional scale and character of the area.

Blackstone Square Site Photos

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The historic, European qualities of Blackstone Square offer a space of tight networked allies that allow for a series of different one point perspectives. Because of the roads that cut through the site and form the building footprints, the building corners create these moments of multiple vantage points and layering of spaces. These images were chosen for further study to explore these different moments that happen within the square. Figures 1 and 4 offer a linear one point perspective. Figures 2 and 3 show the qualities of being in the main artery of the space and the layers of buildings and pathways that happens within. Figure 5 is a view appraching the site form the North End and its two distinct vantange points, one leading into the site, the other leading to Government Center.

Perspective Veil Images

Perspective Veil Images

Perspective Veil Images

Perspective VeilAlternate Representation Models

Diffrent Materials were used in exploring the veil drawings. Here plexiglass was used to display the different layers of one scene. This allowed for each layer (containing one building facade and its corrosponding vanishing lines) to be stacked to capture the depth of the site.

Perspective VeilAlternate Representation Models

Diffrent Materials were used in exploring the veil drawings. Here lasercut chipboard was used in translating the drawings trough a different medium. A series of each facade was cut individually, revealing each layer of the image. The full image was also cut out essentially plotting the drawings using cut and score lines. Here the depth was seen more within each individual building facade by the removal of the windows. You can red the space based on the shadows of the windows cast behind each of the buildings.

Site Surface Texture Analysis

The materiality of the site was a main focus for the study of Blackstone Square. The heavy use of brick and cobblestone created a texture in the site that spoke to the human scale of the space. The continuation of brick from teh building facades to the sidewalk created this feeling that the material was wrapping the space and blurring the edge boundaries. These images call out that brick texture of each space and show how this texture can become one continuous surface. The models were a translation of this by physiaclly wrapping the surfaces to create that continuity of facade to path, questioning that line of boundary.

Wrapping the Surfaces

Reveal of Spaces Analysis

The network of pathways and buildings create this layered effect of the spaces. Through the overlap of one surface to another, different spaces are reavealed through the momevent through the space. Each building edge becomes a reveal, exposing a new view either further into the site or out towards the city. This model is a series showing thr movement around one building edge and into a new alley hidden behind.

Multiple Linear Perspectives Analysis

Multiple vantage points are available at certain locations in the site. Due to the triangle building forms, the pointed edges create a pathway that offeres two one point perspectives from one point. These studies look at two instances of this witin the site. The first image is from approaching the site from the North End. The other is within the site. This occurance within the space became a study that was further tested in the perspective generated plans and elevations.

Perspective Generated Plan

Perspective Generated PlanAlternate Representation

Lasercut Plan Drawing

Perspective Generated Elevations

Virtual Surfaces

These surfaces are the translation of the generated elevation drawings. Those drawings were turned into surfaces and oriented on the generated plan drawing. These surfaces became the base to apply the scripting process.

Scripting Spaces_Phase 1Initial Grasshopper Definition

Calls in initial curve into grasshopper to be defined as the pathway. The curve is divided into x amount of segments. A list is used to call out one specific point within those divisions. This one point is parametrically defined allowing a slider to change its location in real time. A geometry is then given to that point for a visual representation.

The attraction portion of the definition. By pulling data information from the initial surface, this script then remaps that information based on the attraction force determined by a given point. The parameters allow for an attraction or repulsion force to be applied as well as the magnitude of this force.

Calls in surface 1 into grasshopper as well as the brick geometry. This scripting portion divided the surface into a paramerically determined amount. It then takes those divisions and allows for the brick geometry to be remapped to each point of division. This fills the surface with the brick module. The second portion of the script is a visual representation of the pulling force of the bricks on the surface to the attraction point through a vector display

Calls in surface 2 into grasshopper. This scripting portion divided the surface into a paramerically determined amount. It then takes those divisions and allows for the brick geometry to be remapped to each point of division. This fills the surface with the brick module. The second portion of the script is a visual representation of the pulling force of the bricks on the surface to the attraction point through a vector display

Scripting Spaces_Phase 1Diagramming the Script

Dividing the curve that represents a pathway in space to call out the attraction point. A sphere is applied to view this point.

Dividing the surface into a series of points. This allows for the geometry to be applied to each of those points, mapping the surface with bricks that can then be manipulated.

Scripting Spaces_Phase 1Diagramming the Script

A visual representation of the pulling force of the data points from surface 1 to the attractor point. Vectors are used to display the distance of each point to the force point as it moves through space

A visual representation of the pulling force of the data points from surface 2 to the attractor point. Vectors are used to display the distance of each point to the force point as it moves through space

Scripting Spaces_Phase 2Final Grasshopper Definition

Random generation of pathway curve. Divided curve into points then randomly generates lists of number data that is input in XYZ point coordinates. These new coordinates are mapped and a polyline connects them, creating a new path.

The attractor point that moves through space. By dividing the path into steps, a list item calls out one data item that acts as the force point.

Calls out the surfaces and geometries that are to be manipulated. The surface is divided into a series of points and the brick geometry can then be remapped into the surfaces.

The remapped brick geometries are then given an attraction or repulsion force that responds to the attractor point. Here the amount of attraction or repulsion can be manuipulated and the toggle between the two states. The remapped bricks as they are puled off the surface are then lofted to create a solid transformation between the original and new surfaces.

Scripting Spaces_Phase 2Random Pathway Generation

The pathway that the attraction point travels is generated parametrically. The inital curve is divided and those division points are then moved to a new XYZ position using a random generation of number data.

Script that defines the pathway through the space. By a randomly generated list of data, the curve can be manipulated from a straight line to a new polyline that is transformed through XY and Z coordinate points.

Remapping the brick geometry onto the surface through the surface division. The geometry is then pulled towards the attraction point creating a curvature in the newly defined surface. A loft is created from the surface geometries to the newly pulled geomtries creating a brick surface pulling towards the attraction point.

Scripting Spaces_Phase 2Brick Remapping_Attraction

Remapping the brick geometry onto the surface through the surface division. The geometry is then repelled from the attraction point creating a curvature in the newly defined surface. A loft is created from the surface geometries to the newly pulled geomtries creating a brick surface deflecting from the attraction point.

Scripting Spaces_Phase 2Brick Remapping_Repulsion

Scripting Spaces_Phase 2Animation Series 1

A series of scenarios of the attraction point moving through space. This scenario looks at the attraction force as it pulls the bricks towards the point.

Scripting Spaces_Phase 2Animation Series 2

A series of scenarios of the attraction point moving through space. This scenario looks at the repulsion force as it pushes the bricks away from the point.