INTERFACE

The interface design has three steps of functionality which relates to three user-types: the casual user, the advanced user and the administrator. Through this design decision Spacebook provides for the needs of different characters.

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STRUCTURE

The architectural implementation uses a system of inflatables which have the advantage of being lightweight ultimately reducing the dead-loads while at the same time providing adequate stiffness and flexibility.

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ARCHITECTURE

The user, the interface and the structure are connected by means of the architecture, the complete system. This is the link that unites all the parts involved.

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PLAN

A realization plan has been drafted. It will provide the support for the project materialization and links with other projects and developments on site.

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Concept

The interface of Spacebook will be the medium used by the social community to meet new people and organise activities in the real world.

The interface will be a tool that can be used by all people (it is not too hard to understand) but also gives a lot of freedom.

Research

The research done between several computer programs showed the different possibilities and chances the interface gives to the user and program. It clearly

showed that an an easy and understandable interface is linked to limited possibilities in the program. When the computer program offers full control of the

content, the interface usually requires a lot of experience of the user.

Every interface had some parts that seemed very valuable to the concept of Spacebook: rotation (0-360) in 1 plane by the use of a button, zooming in and out

by use of the scroll wheel, given pre-defined possibilities, opportunity to personalize given possibilities and a simple layout. These parts will be integrated with the Spacebook interface

Validators

Walter Aprile

References

E-booking

interface

Adobe Creative Suite

StarCraft

Atom XX / Project XX

Design Proposal

Research into different interfaces led to the main criteria of Spacebook interface: able to zoom in on the 3D of the location by using the scroll wheel AND a

zoom button; able to rotate around the 3D of the location by using the given buttons; only a limited amount of possibilities are possible; BUT the user has

the opportunity to personalize the possibilities; the easy layout make the interface easy to understand for anybody.

The user of Spacebook can be anybody: students or business men, but also people less experienced with computers, such as housewives or elderly people.

Therefor there will only be an online interface, and it will be a simple one: a clear overview of what is happening on the site, and a direct relation

between the input of the user and the (on the website) visible output. Research into interfaces showed that having a simple interface means less

personalization of the result. It also means that anybody is able to use Spacebook.

Three interface types of Spacebook are created: the standard user interface, the advanced user interface and the administrator interface.

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  Standard interface

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  Standard interface

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  Standard interface

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  Standard interface;user library

To book a space via the standard Spacebook interface is done with only a few easy steps:

1) After the user selected his preferred day and time an updated 3D layout of the location appears on the right side

of the screen.
2) The user fills out only two criteria: the activity type and the amount of people participating. Then on the left

side of the screen the standard solution appears.
3a) Three options to personalize the space are given: completely flat (open), a flat roof, or a dome structure. The

output is always directly visualized on the left side of the screen.
3b) Working in library mode gives the user the possibility to select space setups made and saved by other users. This

principle works via a popularity poll (most popular spaces at the top).
4a) The user has the possibility to link his activity to another activity by sending a link request.
4b) When the user is content with the setup he presses the save button.

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  Advanced interface

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  Advanced interface

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  Administrator interface

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  Administrator interface

The advanced Spacebook interface gives the user more options to create his ideal space and works as follows:

1) After the user selected his preferred day and time an updated 3D layout of the location appears on the left side

of the screen.
2) By dragging his mouse over the grid, the user selects the preferred area for his activity. The output

automatically updates on the right side of the screen.
3) The user has the possibility to personalize his entire space. The standard setting for the curve that defines the

space is 'medium', but the user has the possibility to change the curve to 'flat', 'small' or 'large'.
4a) The user can also select more grid cells, directly next to his already defined space. This also appears on the

right sight of the screen. Together with his earlier defined space it starts creating an ensemble.
4b) The user can then rotate around his created ensemble, and change the curve of each space individually.
5) When a user would like to have a space made out of several curves in one row, he uses the 'division' button the

determine the beginning and ends of each curve. Each curve can be individually changed to the preffered setting (flat, small, medium or large).
6) The created space will be saved when the user is done and added to the library.

The administrator Spacebook interface is created for the management of the physical Spacebook site (TU Delft?). The

administrator has the right to overrule any activity at any time for maintenance work or other jobs. He can overrule the system by selecting the cells that

will be inoperable at a certain time frame. There is also a administrator library where settings for maintenance jobs and spatial criteria are stored.

Concept

In order to make a fully adaptable construction, the structure has to be able to curve both up and down in one direction. A system of inflatable units is

perfect for this purpose: when the air pressure is increased in the top layer the component will curve downwards, and when the pressure is increased in the

bottom layer, the component will curve upwards. Also, the combination of light materials and the proposed structure will give the construction enough stiffness while being extremely light.

Research

Over the duration of the course several structural possibilities have been researched, such as a muscle / pulley system, a cube system, and a system with a

surface that is either hanging or supported by columns. The most promising possibility turned out to be inflatables: both strong and light. Two main roads of

research were followed, which are explained here.

Linear component

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Bubble component

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After an extensive research of both possibilities it turned out that the linear component was more potent for this project. The main reasons for choosing the

linear component are:

1) the component is stiffer, 2) there is a better knowledge of how to control this system, 3) better architectural and structural proportions, 4) the same spatial results are possible, 5) use of less material.

Validators

Michela Turrin

Gerrie Hobbelman

References

Inflatables

Bernhard Sommer, Desert Cloud

Frei Otto

Variable Geometry Truss

Atom XX / Project XX

Design Proposal

Balloon connection System

Concept

The system connecting the Spacebook interface and the structure at the site should be easy to understand but with tremendous result and inspiring outcomes.

Just like Spacebook itself.

Research

After extensive in the architectural composition of the site it was concluded that the structure would curve in only one direction (instead of two) and that

the floor would stay static (instead of adaptable as well). It turned out that a double curved structure ánd/ór moving floors are not understandable for the

future users. Furthermore a single curved structure and a static floor has a very rich architectural output, while easy to understand

Validators

Andrei Stoiculescu

S. Hagemann

References

park

Atom XX / Project XX

Design Proposal

Architectural proposal

The architectural implementation of the structure follows a set of rules, they can be found in the pictures below.

Part of the original vegetation of the site is maintained. Not only to create a border between the heavy traffic

surrounding the site, but also to create a transition zone between the activities and structure and the direct environment. The lower bushes and the high

trees are kept to create this transition border. The lower bushes make sure the structure is visible from the outside and the site looks accessible. The high

trees give the the border more body and ultimately define the shape of the plan of the structure.

The structure system itself creates pathways next to spaces, see technical implementation. Even without these

automatically created pathways the site is still accessible. Four entrances/exits are created in the border: two leading to the faculty of architecture, one

leading to the Science Centre and one leading to the Botanical Gardens of TU Delft. Situated between the green border and the structure is a small pathway

that can be followed all around the site. This ensures the site is always accessible in the best way possible.

The strips of the construction are continued in the green border. This creates an interesting transition zone and the

entire site (structure, vegetation and pathways) work as one organism. To strengthen the idea of one organism the architectonic detailing of the strips (the

structural strips, the footpath and the vegetation) is crucial. This architectonic detailing is for example LED lighting in the upper and under surface of

the construction, to give the structure its linear shape, also when it's dark. The used materials in the vegetation, pathways and construction surface are

chosen to enlarge the feeling of linearity, continuity and one organism.

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Technical implementation

The path system is based on an algorithmic system connecting the user output to the structure input. When a user adds

a new space the algorithm will check if the space is connected to a pathway. When this is not the case the algorithm will then create a new path directly on

the right side of the space. Other users can then add their own spaces to this created path.

In the case when two activities/spaces would like to link, but there is a pathway in between the two, the following will happen: the two spaces will merge

together and become one space. The pathway then moves his way around the newly formed space. This is also demonstrated in the drawing on the left.

When there are no more activities linked to a pathway, the path will disappear and make place for new spaces.

The possible curves a