Air journal b

STUDIO AIR2016, SEMESTER 1, CANHUI CHENJIELUN YANG (692329)

PART A CONTENTS

4 INTRODUCTION

6 A1 DESIGN FUTURING

10 A2 DESIGN COMPUTATION

14 A3 GENERATION & COMPOSITION

16 A4 CONCLUSION

17 A5 LEARNING OUTCOMES

17 A6 APPENDIX

4 CONCEPTUALISATION CONCEPTUALISATION 5

INTRODUCTION

My name is Jielun Yang, this is my third year commencing architectural major in Bachelor of Environments. I was born in Fuzhou, China, a coastal city right next to Taiwan Channel. Due to its special coastal weather and environments, there are huge contrasts and differences in architectural practice compared to inland cities. Gradually, the building comparasion becomes my interest in architecture, and i am keen to explore during the university studies.

Before Year 2, I have not yet convinced myself to choose civil engineering or architecture, because materials are the specific aspects that I am glad to spend time on. Later on, I found civil engineering was mostly doing the projects according to drawings given by architects, which is a sort of restriction of design skills. As a result, I fianlly choose architecture major, as I would prefer to be the man that hand out the drawings, but not simply follow the instructions.

Personally, I think architecture is a major that practise patience and self-esteem. Like those world famous architects, it is quite proud to see city landmarks are designed by themselves, because it is the stage to raise self-confidence. I would like to be the person like one of them, even though i am not so far, I am going to...

CONCEPTUALISATION 7

Garden City.

In the previous architectural design, fancy building facades were regarded as most critical aspects while juding beauty, but today architects start to turn around and think more about the relationship between design and sustainability, which performs dominant position in design future with respect to environmental issues.

FIg.1: gArdEN CITY, OFIS ArChITECTUrE

A1. DESIGN FUTURING

The idea of garden city is pointed out by OFIS architecture, which is composed by proposed buildings and landscape. It is aiming to create a sustainable environments for residents.This project combines both commerial and residential uses within one huge buildings, and provides easy access to overhang balcony and garden. In my opinion, design futuring should be created in this form, residential area could not only be the place where people sleep, but also a semi-openable space where people could touch the environments closely.

From the above space arrangement, the project is still mainly focusing on residents’ living quality. The ‘topography’ goes up and down illustrates different experiences of garden views from various orientatations. One advantage of this design is that each ‘block’ is piled up with eath other without restricting others’ sightseeing. The public access area also enhances and encourages people passing through, so that it conveys an idea that we live in the garden city, while we are also parts of the garden city.

FIg.2: ExTENdEd BALCONY,gArdEN CITY, OFIS ArChITECTUrE

FIg.3: PEdESTrIAN BrIdgE FIg.4: VIEwS FrOm INSIdE

FIg.5: gArdEN CITY BIrd VIEw, OFIS ArChITECTUrE

FIg.6: gArdEN CITY FOOTPATh, OFIS ArChITECTUrE hTTP://PhOTO.zhULONg.COm/PrOj/dETAIL55785.hTmL

hTTP://PhOTO.zhULONg.COm/PrOj/dETAIL55785.hTmL


FIg.7: mACAU SCIENCE CENTrE

Centro de Ciência de Macau (Macau Science Centre):

Centro de Ciência de Macau is designed by famous architect Ieoh Ming Pei, it was built through land reclaimation of 62000 squared metres. The main buildings include two different parts, which is science building and conference building.It attracts visitors by its creative curly facades as well as complex bulding shapes.

The way of Macau Science Centre’s design is quite unique compared with other archtectural projects, since the land shortage became the restriction that limits architects’ creativity. Similarly in other island cities like Hong Kong, land reclaimation is considered as the only possible solution.

Land reclaimation costs much in the early period of construction, but it is beneficial in the long term development. For example, one obvious advantage of this peoject contains excellent sea views and sightseeing, which reach nealy 270 degrees like extented peninsula. Also, the external cladding perfectly reflects blue sky and matches with surrounding ocean, which makes the whole unit act like being in the nature but not just a compostion of architectural elements.

The following model shows the detaild information of Macau Science Centre, including site plan and surrounding landscaping plan. It is observed that each building performs its maximum efficiency in taking up seashore spaces, which is the best spot of the project. The complex geometry also emphasizes the key term of design futuring, ‘creativity’. This architectural stype conveys the idea of modern architecture and people’s understanding of beauty.

FIg.8: mACAU SCIENCE CENTrE mOdEL

FIg.9: mACAU SCIENCE CENTrE PErSPECTIVE VIEw

SOUrCE: hTTP://PhOTO.zhULONg.COm/PrOj/dETAIL22121.hTmL SOUrCE: hTTP://PhOTO.zhULONg.COm/PrOj/dETAIL22121.hTmL


FIg.10 gUANgzhOU TOwEr, gUANgzhOU, ChINA

Guangzhou Tower’s lighting system is also designed by software using rendering and 3D effect. The color constrast between back and forward gives people strong vision impression through computation. Especially, the lighting system could also be moderated under different weather conditions. Computation is quite essential in illustrating complicated patterns and gradual changed patterns, as the difference of detail blocks is minor, computation could not only provide previews, but also minimise tolerance during designing process.

Technicians also used software analyais to indicate surrounding landscape and envionments using different layers. The main tower has been painted into blue showing wireframe. Wireframes allows us to observe everthing inside the stucture, including joints, it tells where element should be located in correct position. This action highlighted the importance structural elements as well as visibility from internal spaces. Generally, computating such a tower is not a tower itself, but also the relationship between itself and surrounding landscape.

A2. DESIGN COMPUTATION

The Guangzhou Tower could be illustrated as a excellent example desinged by computer technology. During the computation process, the tower gives a general expression of lightweight, curly and smooth surface from aesthetic perspective.

The general texture of Guangzhou Tower is impressive, as it is composed by upper elipse and bottom elipe twisting each other and compressing at the mid point in the mean time. There are 24 straight conic steel columns forming the external structural elements, and 46 welded toruses following the twisted patterns. One advantage of using straight columns is cheaper costs and and easy fabrication, in this case, the whole buildings forms a web stucture, which is good for ventilation and prevention of damage from earthquake.

conic steel column framings around the building.

surrounded torus

FIg.12 gUANgzhOU TOwEr SOFTwArE ANALYSIS

FIg.11 gUANgzhOU TOwEr STEEL FrAmINg

FIg.13 LIghT BELT 1 FIg.14 LIghT BELT 2

`By using computer technology, the upper elipse and bottom elopse are divided into 24 segments, while the centre also shifting 10m in north and west direction. This computation process allow 24 columns to be straight acrross the tower.

FIg.15 UPPEr ELIPSE ANd BOTTOm ELIPSE

SOUrCE: hTTPS://zh.wIkIPEdIA.Org/wIkI/%E5%B9%BF%E5%B7%9E%E5%A1%94

SOUrCE: hTTP://www.PANOrAmIO.COm/PhOTO/68729440

SOUrCE: hTTP://www.NIPIC.COm/ShOw/4009608.hTmL


FIg.19 UAE PAVILION UNdEr dAYLIghT FIg.20 UAE PAVILION ShANghAI ExPO 2010

FIg.16 UAE PAVILION, ShANghAI ExPO 2010

The UAE Pavilion in Shanghai Expo 2010 is another successful work finished by computational design. The consequent curve is made by lofting along specific directions, while the surface is hatched into triangular patterns.

In this example, cumputer technology allow this building to be spaned in huge and acceptable distance, and to have the ability to take distributed load from superstructure. The gridshell was also designed during computation process. Similar to Guangzhou Tower, straight supporting elements are used for the roof skeletons to divide UAE Pavilion into two part.

From the drawing on the right hand side, I also realise that computation process design the first part of building into water wave shape, this could only be done by computer since detailed calculation is required to ensure the internal ceiling height not to stress coming vistors.

The outer shell used web structure, the steel elements are divided into small segments and connected joints by joints.and form triangles within each region, which makes a more controllable surface according to geometric properties.

FIg.17 UAE PAVILION CONCEPT drAwINg, ShANghAI ExPO 2010

FIg.18 UAE PAVILION CUrVE ILLUSTrATION, ShANghAI ExPO 2010

South shell is different to north shells, similar to two different hills, one with one peak, and other with two peaks. The north shell applied symmetrical shell structure to expand the underneath spaces, but more importantly is to transfer the load into their edge beams (also called spine beams), and go downwards according to the load path.

FIg.21 UAE PAVILION ShANghAI ExPO ShELL STrUCTUrE

SOUrCE: hTTP://www.VIEwPICTUrES.CO.Uk/dETAILS.ASPx?Id=144690&TYPEId=1

SOUrCE: hTTP://PEICjPrIjN.BLOgSPOT.COm.AU/

SOUrCE: hTTP://hPSE.COm/NEwS/2

SOUrCE: hTTP://www.dESIgNBOOm.COm/ArChITECTUrE/

SOUrCE: hTTP://hPSE.COm/PrOjECTS/18

SOUrCE: hTTP://gULFArTgUIdE.COm/ABU-dhABI-2/ThE-UAE-PAVILION/ SOUrCE: hTTP://ASd-ddrS.Org/wILLIAm/2014/01/09/


A3.GENERATION AND COMPOSITION

During the recent years, computational technology has boosted the progress of generating ideas and construction stages, and consequently digital power becomes an advanced skills or tools to finalise the design projects.

Nympha Cultural Center in Bucharest is a concept proposal designed by Brasov-based upgrade.studio. In this project, computerational technology plays an important role in application of veins system, which is used to collect rainwater for both heating and cooling of the building. The veins system is indicated by red-shaded region on the left hand side.

The veins system is designed by computer software, it is comsist of combination of huge amount of irregular textures. By using digital tools, each texture can be precisely selected according to different pitches and orientations. After series of calculation conducted by computer, the general generated shapes become what we see today, it considered issues like sunpath, downpipe piches and electrical factors, and indirectly increase efficiency and effectiveness. In general, computation could help us generating new design ideas based on various purposes, I believe it can do more in the future.

FIg.22 NYmPhA CULTUrAL CENTrE, BUChArEST

FIg.23 NYmPhA CULTUrAL CENTrE VEINS SYSTEm

FIg.24 NYmPhA CULTUrAL CENTrE (CONCEPT drAwNg)

SOUrCE: hTTP://PArAmETrICgENErATIVE.BLOgSPOT.COm.

The Pudelma Pavilion is designed and constrcuted by Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture in collaboration with Finland’s University. Within this project, computation and digital fabrication are highly important during the shape generating stage.

Before actually doing this project, students have spent large amount of time in parametric design and scripting, especially on overhead dome structure. At that time, CNC machine was introduced, it allows each timber components to be cut into precise length and tilted angle, so that it made the assembling stage much easier. Personally, I think computation contributed a lot, for example, it knows how many segments required to make a curve without obvious sharp edges. The preview mode could also give instant feedback to minimise tolerance.

The most useful advantage is generating environments by computer. Since the project is not just a 1:1 model placed within classroom, it was left outside, so sun shadows as well as tree canopies are better to be stimulated under previewed mode. The above action can be achieved by computation, just few clicks, nearly 100% model has been done on the screen. Electronic models are also the essential reference for real constrcution, so I think digital power takes the dominant position in generating designs and projects.

FIg.25 ThE PUdELmA PAVILION (AT NIghT)

FIg.25 ThE PUdELmA PAVILION (INTErNAL SkELETON)

FIg.25 ThE PUdELmA PAVILION (UNdEr CONSTrUCTION)

SOUrCE: hTTP://www.AA64.NET/

SOUrCE: hTTP://CCgSAPP.Org/BrIEFS/2011/08/SUmmEr-dIgITAL-FABrICATION-PrOjECT-PUdELmA-PAVILION


Compared the first 3 topics in Part A, design futuring was relatively straightforward, as the term futuring is quite broad and simple to be explained and understood. However, it made me confused to distinguish between design computation and computerization in the beginning, but I became clear about the potentials in architecture practice after several precedents have been illustrated in class. Besides, by finding precedents, I gradually develop the ability to ask myself ‘what’ and ‘how’ questions to convince myself during precedent selections. Lastly, I think computation and digital power are not always better than traditional fabrication, since machines are produced by programs, one step wrong might cause failure of entire project, so we could choose design computation, but necessarily rely on them.

A4.CONCLUSIONS A5.LEARNING OUTCOMES

Design futuring, design computation and generation ideas are three important factors in architecture, and they link to each other closely at the same time. Design futuring could be seen as the stage of brainstorming, so that I can imagine what the general tends are going to be. Is it going to be sustainable? Or going to be modern and technological? In other words, design futuring pointed out the orientation I am working on. To finalise the product, design computation allows me to scan the informaton into digital forms, so that I can make good use of them for future reference while doing the real 1:1 model. In conlusion, the first three topic provides a general idea of design, by browsing precedents, I could pick up useful elements in my project and improve the aspects which are not good enough from others’ experiences.

CONCEPTUALISATION 19

A6.APPENDIX

The use of voronoi option gave this texture being composed by several different sections, the number of sections could be controlled by number sliders. This geometry might be considered to become general pattterns of walls, or void structure.

The second geometry has a tristed surface, similar to the surface of screws, which goes up and down and encloses whole the way around. This geometry might not be used individually, but more like to be one sections of another giant texture, either being extruded vertically and horizontally,

At the starting stage, the gemometry has only few segments that allow the all shapes to be twisted, it creates overhang surfaces and curly facades, which might likely to be recreation area under shading.

The third geometry has a circular shapes with stairs going upwards, each step is divivded by even distributed walls. This structure only shows the general design ideas, it can be extruded upwards and become bullet-shaped buildings, or be enclosed to be an interesting maze.

PART B CONTENTS

B.1 Research Field

B.2 Case Study 1.0

B.3 Case Study 2.0

B.4 Technique: Development

B.5 Technique: Prototypes

B.6 Technique: Proposal

B.7 Learning Objectives & Outcomes


B.1 Research FieldGEOMETRY

Fig.1 Kobe port tower, view From bottom oF tower1

Fig.2 public library and archive, city oF tromso, norway2

Fig.3 geodesic domes homes, interior design worKs3.

Background:

As computation technology became dominant in the 21th century, large amount of creative design ideas are emerged and finalised by softwares. Geometrical textures are the main aspects that i would focus on in Part B, since different combinations based on orginal elements could be re-assembled together and lead to brand new outcomes.

Ruled Surfaces:

The first type of geometry is the ruled surface, which indicates the surface that can be generated by a straight line5. Several precedents and towers have carried on this mathematical techniques to have curly and twisted visual impressions. Kobe Port Tower is shown as an appropriate example, each vertical elements are not in the same yz plane, but orientated frontwards and backwards. Besides, each layer of torus is able to fix the elements to perform as a unit, which has highly stable resisting lateral load as well. Compared with several precedents and projects of ruled surface, most of the works are made of steel due to consideration of tensile bearing capacity.

Fig.4 transFormation From cylinder to ruled surFace4.

Hypobolic Paraboloid:

The major advantage of hyperbolic paraboloid is the design simplicity which it offers, because all forces acting on the rood structure have been seperated into various directions, unlike normal building structures which loads are transferred in perpendicular angles. In real design, several possibilities could be discovered using hyperbolic paraboloid. For example, the figure 5 and 6 are similar to ruled surface, all of the strip elements are absolutely nice and straight, but create an illusion for observers.

Fig.5 saddle-shaped hyperbolic paraboloid6

Fig.6 PRZYSTANEK LiNii ŚREDNiCOWEJ, WARSZAWA OCHOTA7 Fig.7 motorway caFe, nottinghamshire8

Other hyperbolic paraboloid forms:

With other paraboloid design, architectects could be creative in different aspects, such as roof pitches, thickness of paraboloid, spanning of paraboloid and so on. I am thinking about what would possibly happen if more raising eaves are designed based on above precedents. is it going to affect spanning or material issues (or other associated factors)?

From the precedents on the right hand side, the hyperbolic paraboloid has been used as an efficient strcuture, not only considering asthetic views, but also being used as completed shading system according to local sun path. In my design, nice-looking geometry would definitely be combined with functions and utilities. Similar to Los Manatiales Restaurant, efficiency is the key term i will emphasize in my design. Fig.8 los manantiales restaurant oF 1958 in Xochimilco near meXico city9


1. Jan moren (2009). JAnne in osaka. retrieved from: http://janneinosaka blogspot.com.au/2009/05/golden-week-postscript.html2. Rivka Kofler (2015). Public Library and archive, City of Tromsø, Norway. Retrieved from: https://au.pinterest.com/pin/94012710941445545/3. Geodesic dome home interior (2016). geodesic domes homes, greenhouses and shelters. retrieved from: http://buildagreen.world/project/domes-geodesic/4. Ruled surface. nagoya city science museum. Retrieved from: http://www.ncsm.city.nagoya.jp/cgi-bin/en/exhibition_guide/exhibit.cgi?id=S4275. Ruled surface definition. Retrieved from: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/ruled-surface6. The hyperbolic paraboloid (1959). The Aberdeen Group. Retrieved from: http://www.concreteconstruction.net/Images/The%20Hyperbolic%20Paraboloid_tcm45-344029.pdf7. PRZYSTANEK LINII ŚREDNICOWEJ WARSZAWA OCHOTA. (2014). BAZA OBiektow architektonicznych. Retrieved from: http://www.obiekty.architektsarp.pl/pokaz/przystanek_linii_srednicowej_warszawa_ochota,678. London thru cafes (2013). Calling all Motorway cafe buffs to the London Literature Festival at Southbank. Retrieved from: http://www.londonthrucafes.com/2012/07/calling-all-motorway-cafe-buffs-to-the-london-literature-festival-at-southbank/9.FELIX CANDELA AND RESTAURANT LOS MANATIALES (2009). AN engineer’s aspect. Retrieved from: http://anengineersaspect.blogspot.com.au/2009/06/felix-candela-and-restaurant-los.html10. The Heart of the Campus: Visible Research Office Spruces Up California College of the Arts’ Student Lounge. (2010) interior design. Retrieved from: http://m.interiordesign.net/projects/9434-the-heart-of-the-campus-visible-research-office-spruces-up-california-college-of-the-arts-student-lounge/

Fig.9 caliFornia college oF art student lounge, visible research oFFice10

Minimal surfaces:

At the California College of the Arts, Visible Research Office decided to put a canopy above the concrete beam to attract students, because previously students thought this area was too exposed. During the design and fabrication stage of this canopy, minimal surface is the template they chose.

The main structure of the canopy is connected by top torus and hanged by steel cable from second floors. In general, the canopy form an semi-penetrable space,which provides functions of isolating spaces between floor levels, also reflect patterned shading on the ground (which is one part of art).

The connection of the artwork is not rigid, but flexible joints, so that good flexibility is another advantage of this design.




B.2 Case Study 1.0Su R AC E di v i SiON Bl A dE SH A P E E x T RuSiON Sk E lE TON E x T RuSiON Sw E E P

Background:

the project that i started with is matsys gridshell, the main purpose is looking for and discover different possibilities of geometry that might be produced. different geometry not only influence how people judge them in terms of aesthetic perpectives, but also directly affects people’s feelings sometimes. in general, geometry is a broad term, especially in architecture, which can be determined and explained in different ways depending on how you interprete them.

BA SiC GE OM E T R i E S


B.2 Case Study 1.0

Iteration 1: blade shape extrusion

The target outcomes are produced from curve extrusion from perpendicular axis, different attempts have been done before this outcomes. Difficuties happened during exploration, sometimes extrusions are too close to each other, so that voids in between disappeared and became a solid mass. Generally, it is good to show the geometry being expanded through one direction and supported by twisted ‘column’ underneath. I predict this geometry could only be used for decorative purpose, since functionality might still follow by futher improvement of this structure.

i T E R AT iON 2: Sk E lE TON E x T RuSiON

The second iteration is created by extrusion from another axis. From the pictures on the left, it could be seen that the geometry is not as solid as previous sketch, but clear skeleton can be observed. The combination of extrusion and ruled surface have been applied in this sketch. Even though the overall geometry did not look giant different, it contains the ‘dynamics’ that looks like to twist but standing still. In the real work design, this sketch might be used in creative commercial building, similar to Canton Tower, which made good use of ruled surfaces. Started with this model, more complex forms could be developed using similar techniques.

i T E R AT iON 3: u P Si dE d Ow N Sk E lE TON

This iteration is adjusted by making upside down of previous geometry. It is important to explain the difference between them 2, first of all, this geometry has more stable structure, where most giant components are sitting and touching the ground other than overhanging outside. The curly parts are all rolling upwards, which could have the people surrounded and hugged, also convey the sense of security.

The 4th iteration is relatively simple compared to others, it is developed by changing the distance between orginal curves and lofting. About this iteration, the possible utilities are more important than its looking. This design could be used in natural reserve to provide recreation spaces for tourists, shading is necessary, but the point is that it would not affect the general view of the forest if they are painted green. From this design, it shows architecture is everywhere, and also aesthetic is imporant, but not always important in special cases.

i T E R AT iON 4: SH A dE d C A NOP y


To gain more useful ideas and techniques of design, it was always useful to reference previous projects and observing which aspects they had put into account and checking what myself is missing at the current stage. In this case, the precedent I selected is Beijing National Stadium in Beijing Olympic Park.

The design of Beijing National Stadium applied the design theme of nesting scheme. The stadium was consist of two independent structures, standing 50 feet apart: a red concrete seating bowl and the outer steel frame around with it. For this case study, it is essential to emphasize the steel framing system in terms of its geometry. The way I state the steel framing was in geometry catagory but not structural one is because decorative functions took the dominance of this project. The finishes of those steel members are kept in similar colours and tried to keep it as natural as possible. The density of framing system is also high to hide internal concrete seating bowls, so in some ways, you can say yes, it achieved both aesthetics and utilities.

As a ‘bird nest’, the voids between the structures cannot be avoided, so in particular roof structures, roof sheetings have been installed to prevent too much sunlight exposure into internal stadium.

Generally, it was a hard project in terms of materiality, short working period as well as technical problems like welding and joints. From this project, its steel patterning techniques are extremely useful to discover about.

Beijing National Stadium


REVERSE ENGINEERING PROCESS

01.

Draw symmetrical points first and connect to nurbs curve by several control points. Physically move another 2 curves upwards and downwards and determine the rough shapes.

02.

Lofting geometry using curves contructed in stage 01. (Note: Choose high quality in Grasshopper, curly edges would be smoother)

03.

When 3 layers of points are all connected to nurbs curve, preview the geodisics and lofting geometry.

04.

Create different polylines which perpendicular to tangent bottom plane, and then sweep them to form solid elements. In this stage, steel elements are not densed enough, which requires more adjustment of parameter.


05.

Adjust the paramter of the slider connected to divider, the slider now shows the value of 35.

06.

Adjust the paramter again with all other sliders connected to dividers, the slider is now 47 (some other values still around 40 to 50)

07.

Increase the parameter value of segments in the divider, to produce a densed external steel framing. The bird nest is now completed.

REVERSE ENGINEERING PROCESS


B.4 TECHNIQUE DEVELOPMENT L

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background:

after doing reserse engineering of beijing olympic stadium, i tried different possible geometries of external steel framing. generall framing systems are created by using geodesics and sweep commands, by changing parameters of 3 top, middle and bottom curves, series of outcomes could be sketched. also, the density of framing can be adjusted by dividing curves into certain components. in my own project, those geometries are quite useful when they are composed into relatively smaller scale.


B.5 TECHNIQUE: PROTOTYPES

Before making the model, steel bars should be divided into similar length and made into similar curve. Those steel is extremely difficult to cut off due to its large section radius, but it relatively easier to form similar curve by hands. I tried using black formboard as model base, considering steel elements were able to stick in, but controlling curve orientation became a new problem, so finally black cardboard was selected, while thinner cardboard was cut into stips to form the framing system.


At this stage, it is time for testing several factors such as materiality, shading as well as dimensions of the design.

The image on the left was directly exported from Grasshopper from Rhinoceres.

Figure 1. Original Geometry derived from Gridshell

Figure 2. Geometry surface made of Gold

MATERIAL TESTING STAGE:

Figure 3. Geometry surface made of brushed metal

Figure 6. Geometry Shading at 1p.m

SHADING TESTING STAGE:

Due to the influence of timing, the geometry surface might look very different in brightness. Using chrome as an example, which is highly reflective material, chrome surface might become better on site in the everning, because they could still be seen by shining from street light.

In Merri Creek, where moisture content is relatively higher than CBD area, durable and stable material should be selected, also aesthetic perspetives also need to be taken into account. Gold is stabler than brushed metal, but expensive, while brushed metal required paint finishes or similar protection from corrosion.

Figure 4. Geometry surface made of copper Figure 5. Geometry surface made of chrome

Figure 7. Geometry Shading at 6p.m

Figure 8. Extension versus applied force diagram

Copper has relatively intermediate tentile stress property compared with cast iron and alloys, so it has suffcient ductility to form the shape below. However, the color might too dark to be seen in nature reserve.

Chrome may be better in stability in various weathering conditions, it is always produced in an alloy form, also bright and reflective facade can easily atttract visitors; attention in Merri Creek. In my opnion, using chorme is the best option so far.


B.6 TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL

My design focus on the importance of the natural landscape use, as merri creek provides excellent natural environments for either visitors and occupants nearby.

the design project could be briefly introduced as a watchtower, where everybody on site is able to access it. the project is located on the previous albion quarry, where winch was used here to pull up basalt from the quarry below. From the old image shown below, it could be seen that height difference is great enough from current water table to the winch, so this environments, especailly the winch location becomes the best place for sightseeing.

considering weathering issues like over exposure, dense overhang eaves perform their advantage in shading system, but also allow certain sunlight penetrating inside, so i chose to use semi-enclosed structure to balance above factors.

i also thought about the strcutural issues like foundation availability of this location, where bluestones were accumulated underneath, this ground profile provided perfect and strong bluestone layer that allowed project to be built with no concerns.

last but not least, stair, shown on the right, would make me use extra bluestone to reduce clients’ effort of accessing the site.


B.7 LEARNING OUTCOMES

After doing part b, it made me have a clearer idea of how parametric design works and how design related to real site. what i think before is parametric design is only drawing fancy stuffs through scripting from blank pieces of paper, but now i realise scripting is just a simple tools that helps you transform brainstorming information into graphic version, either 2d or 3d or both.

site analysis is extremely important during designing process, and it is normally the first step that each architect would do, what site looks like directly determines how design is limited and how surrounding environment contributes. different site condition will results in various outcomes, we may always ask ourselves, it is going to be the best option we have so far, it there any other improvement we could do?

Some of those iterations from b2 and b3, in my opinion, are sorted as idea generating stage, doing those drawings are quite efficient and effective in future design, but there are some limitations associated with it. since normally site analysis should be finished at very first stage and no doubt it takes the dominant position of whether design works or not. however, making designs from changing given scripts may limit creativity in a certain scale.

however, reverse engineering is a good section of making designs, as we are free to select precedents that may be helpful in our own design using grasshopper. reverse engineering really helped us in finding scripting shortcut and discovering common aspects of our design project. From then on, the developing stage might not be hard if preparation works have been finished.

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Air journal b