Week 2 : Chosen System/Theme: Root System

Mangrove aerial roots. Mangroves grow in the tropical and subtropical water areas fringing along the coastline and river mouths. The aerial roots is developed due to the anaerbic condition in its environment which limits oxygen intake for the roots. By understanding it's environment it develop a system to survive and grow.
Design Opportunity: Tide/Oxygen Vs Growth
                               Exposure and tall

Here we see the root system of an redwood tree which has been fallen over to the wieght and size of the tree. The root system of a mature redwood is normally a shallow 1.2 - 1.6 metres deep compared to its raging height of 100metres whilst speading out over a wide area with top soil up to 4metres to provide stability against wind.

Design Opportunity: Stability vs Width of roots and soil.
                               Short wide model

This artwork similarities of a root system as the pattern very similarly. This illustration, designed for an article about the compromised security of the internet, combines an algorithmically generated network of veins with interspersed hand-drawn pixelated icons.

Design Opportunities: Overall conceptual understanding of how varible/s determine the design of the model.

This picture came from a research project in germany. It aims to understand the role of existent veins. I choose this can be seen as a section of a root system and the value of the project.

http://www.ged.rwth-aachen.de/index.php?cat=Research&subcat=Fractures_and_veins&page=Mineral_Vein_Dynamics_modeling_FRACs

I viewed this as inverted form of the root system with a strong understanding its built environment of Japan. This will help me visualise how my root system can look like if modelled.

Week 1 : 3 Inspirational Images

Fractal Patterns

Winters Gaze by cabintom

Fractal patterns can be found throughout both nature and science. Snow flakes and clouds are two obvious. On a more technical level we as technology users owe a great deal to fractals, in particular they are crucial in our ability to compress digital signals and images. This form of art may appear abstract but the opposite is more accurate, they’re natural, organic and often beautiful.

Muscle Cells

Muscle suggest movement, mechanics and strength without it we our bodies wouldn't be able to move.

Root System

Often unseen as the system is underground the roots has multiple purposes to a plant as to piers to a building. The roots is layout determined by moisture in the soil in search for water source.