opening body segments

butterfly shelters

Based on initial prototypes and design seen here and here

Scale models showing the relative space under a weather shelter made from four giant butterflies.

Textured bodies and translucent wings. Simple paint effects or visuals projected from inside.

Produce from scaffolding plans and material templates. 

The four butterflies wings that make a distinctive 'spire' tower. Depending on the attention paid to the construction materials the heat dissipating qualities will vary. Increased numbers could create more shaded areas depending on configuration.

Using CAD software to predict the movement of the sun it may be possible to create areas of double shade - lower shaded areas in the shade of taller elements. It may also be possible to create a cooling effect due to the large surface area compared to the total volume of the shelter. When you introduce more butterflies the to create cooler areas.

Geo located animations (seen here on this other post) show where shadows will be cast in a kocltion on any specific day. Swarms can be site specifically designed and placed to give maximum sun protection at critical times of the day. 

The scaffolding superstructure will be anchored at 6 points in a double A frame braced with two more mounted A frames. The double A frame braced against each other closer to ground level is shown in wood in the model above and would be disguised as the butterfly bodies. Two more A frames mounted on these base frames create the high arched entrance and the ground level opposite end. A similar double A frame meeting at the highest point of the structure where the wingtips meet will be required. The benefit of using mounted A frames is less groundspace needed for structural supports. 

insectashade dragonfly

here is a link to images of the dragonfly sketch up model 

and a link to the recycled festival waste sculpture

date and location specific shadows cast by sunlight

Using Google Sketchup with their geo location function on Google Earth to generate the models and locations it is possible to accurately predict the shade cast by moving elements of the sculpture at different times of the day.

Field Entrance Stewards Shelter: Glastonbury Spring Ground Family Camping Link to photo's here

Spring ground gate sculpture / shelter

shadows at 7am

shadows at 7pm

solar power led strip lights 

wind powered magnetic induction spinning LED's

Here are some snap shots of an idea I have been considering over the winter. It is a development of last years sculpture on the gate to contain solar chargers, wind generators and stirling engines (possibly homemade - efficiency yet to be defined!) to produce enough DC electricity to light up led's on at least the sign and the spinning eyes and if possible the body, wings and limbs.

I have designed the sculpture to work in several different positions to harness any weather situation (sun. wind, rain) to produce some sort of visual response. Including a gutter system for rain collection to produce gravity assisted moving parts and solar light triggered switches. I have used a program that can geo locate the sculpture to its location and calculate the areas best for utilising the suns rays.

The cost of components for one basic version would be comparable to the cost of paint, cable ties and gaffer tape each year. The personnel would have to include a number of skill requirements to ensure that the work was carried out to high health and safety standards.

I have been considering plans for the generation of many small dc generators in areas containing as showers, sinks, urinals, camp fires and lights. Some of these would be diy kits that are possible to construct from the waste of the build up of the festival. I would like to propose at least some initial tests to research the potential across different infrastructure installations to exploit the potential of a number of low power DC generators and appliances.

hopefully more here soon!

2010 "manitis" prototype