Specifications and Constraints: Water Wheel

Since I am going for a brutalism aesthetic with my water wheel project, I want my project to match the feelings given off by this aesthetic as much as possible. Each fin of the wheel I want to be highly geometric (like square) and then a second aspect I would like to meet is the concrete look characteristic of brutalism. I think a water wheel and brutalism will go well together as I want the movement of the water to feel a bit aggressive and highly industrial. There are ways to move water in a pretty way and I want my project to exemplify the opposite of that. I would ideally like to use it with my initial idea of creating a hydro or aqua ponics system so that it does have a functional purpose of moving the water around to support plant or aquatic life. I think having a dynamic kind of kinetic sculpture based off a water wheel will be my indication that I have successfully created my projects function and then if it has mostly geometric shapes and a colorless concrete feel then that will be a sign of a successful project aesthetically.

An example of brutalism architecture in Okinawa. [1]

This is the closest picture to a water wheel that I am using as inspiration. [2] I would say that this picture is more similar to a clean, modern look, so I would want to change that aesthetic into more of a blocky look instead of the spoon shapes and also have a less shiny color, so that it more closely resembles concrete.

I think any dynamic project has technical constraints in that I will have to source a motor and set it up correctly with the mechanical wheel system, so I think technical acumen and time will be two major constraints. I also think I will need to be careful about weight and size because I will probably not be able to source a large motor that can handle a lot of torque. Lastly, I think that integration with my stretch goal of combining it into a growing system will be challenging with time. I am also getting slightly concerned about my manufacturing method, since these are a little bit difficult shapes to create and I don’t live in Boulder in order to be able to use all the special equipment there. I think I will try to use matte grey 3D printed parts in order to balance the aesthetic with the weight and cost constraints.

Example grey 3D printed filament I think I will order. [3] [1] https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greyscape.com%2Fokinawa-where-brutalism-becomes-zen%2F&psig=AOvVaw39Qkn8u8Mc0prll8YhTwrL&ust=1679672652557000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCLDUi7Ky8v0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

[2] https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphoto%2Fmodern-waterwheel-gm176072325-10374274&psig=AOvVaw3n6SBA3p768VTJ4SBo1KLl&ust=1679672719378000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCIDy0NGy8v0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

[3] https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitslitho.com%2Fproduct%2Fsunlu-pla-filament-1-75mm-1kg-grey%2F&psig=AOvVaw1RAh6vZgbuerWAfJqZo8HL&ust=1679673538089000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCPjZm9i18v0CFQAAAAAdAAAAABAF