air studio journal final_335615

ABPL30048_2012_SM1: Architecture Design Studio: Air

Journal

HongSheng Low 395842

STUDIO AIR JOURNALSEMESTER 1 2011EVA YI FANG 335615

CONTENTS

Preface

Part 1

Week 1 Architecture as a Discourse

Week 2 Computing in Architecture

Week 3 Parametric Modelling

Bibliography

Part 2

EOI Expression of Interest

Learning outcomes

Research project conclusion

Part 3

Project Proposal

Part 4

Learning objectives and Outcomes: FInal

Bibliography

PREFACE

“ARCHITECTURE needs to be thought less as a set of special material prod-ucts and rather more as range of social and professional practices that sometimes, but by no means always, lead to buildings” (Williams: 2005)

Architecture as a profession that embraces both aesthetic appreciation and functionality has a profound influence on the social and cultural devel-opment throughout human history. Apart from being a set of special mate-rial products, the progress of architecture practice not only reflects the cur-rent social and technological state but also foresees the future lifestyle. Therefore, it is significant to regard architecture as a discourse that con-nects a network of practices and debates about the built environment.

Particularly, in the information age, it is critical to consider the impact of digi-tal technology on architectural design as well as the potential discourse. That is, the new possibilities in architecture that introduced by comput-ing design to solve the exiting problems and create a desired environment.

Following the topic of STUIDO AIR, semester 1, 2011, this journal will argue a new architectural discourse associates with the computational technology in terms of spatial experience. This argument is framed by studying the related precedents along with the exploration of the Wyndham city’ Gateway project.

Architecture as a discourse

WEEK 1“Architecture ought to be seen as DISCOURSE”

According to Williams (2005), architec-ture as an important manner of visual culture can be treated as art due to its scale, cost and requirement of pub-lic patronage. Although the under-standing of architecture as art is domi-nant, it is problematic as it excludes the multiple types of architecture and the multiple meanings of architec-ture. Therefore, rather than simplifying architecture into its artistic function, it is necessary to recognize it as a dis-course which highly connects to other disciplines and challenges the built en-vironment. For that matter, in the brief of the Wydham city’s gate design, the clients not only asked for the aesthetic function of the installation, but also ex-pected the design to promote a new architecture discourse which embrac-es a network of practices and indi-cates the contemporary technologies.

ARCHITECTURE AS ART

ARCHITECTURE as a discourse has been changed profoundly throughout the his-tory. In particular, some significant projects indicated the turning points of the

changes.

Since the built of Parthenon, the classical languages of architecture have con-structed a profound foundation for the development of traditional architecture.

As can be seen from the structure as well as the materiality of Parthenon, the tradi-tional buildings appear to be solid and supported by the load-bearing walls. So the plan arrangement was limited due to the definite wall layout, and the spatial experi-ence was also restricted to certain volumes as a result of the uniformed structure.

However, the tradition of the pre-defined plan and the load-bearing walls in the architecture discourse has been challenged radically by the modern architec-

ture movement in early 20th century. The Germany Pavilion in 1929 is an illustrative example of these revolutionary buildings that promoted the ideas of free plan and created blurring internal-external spatial experience. In helping with the new material technologies of the steel and glass, Mies Van Der Rohe used the simplified columns as the load-bearing structure and divided the space freely. As a result, a new spatial experience of the free plans has been introduced along with the updated architec-ture discourse.

regular formlead bearing walls

columns supportfree plan, regular geometry

irregular formdynamic facade

Parthenon Germany Pavilion

In 1997, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao designed by Frank Gehry attracted the worldwide attention at the time. The façade of the museum is made of the organic

and curving shape of medal and organized in a random order. Breaking the previous convention of the regular form and plan, Gehry used the extreme plastic form in the façade to create a distinct look and spatial experience. In helping with the 3D mod-eling software in the late 20th century, Gehry’s innovative and bold form signaled a new architecture discourse in the post modernism of individualized design and diverse forms. Different from the philosophy of Mies, who believes the perfect geometries and “less is more”(Richard: 2005), the architects in the post modern period like Frank Gehry found “ less is a bore” (Richard : 2005) and pursued a more fluid and brave expression of architecture.

Also, the Congress Center in Rome designed by Massimiliano Fuksas, traced the brave design of Gehry. It used the cloudy shape to form the whole space, which

framed both an attractive appearance and an interesting internal space. Moreover, rather than the clarified structure and load bearing walls in the previous building de-sign, it used the free-stand cloudy volume for the whole building. For that matter, it promoted the new architecture discourse in terms of the curvilinear shape as well as the possibilities of the free-standing structural system.

Both the Guggenheim museum and the Congress center attempted a revolutionary design approach and embraced a new architecture discourse. In particular, the

curvilinear shape of the buildings not created an eye-catching look but also produced a distinct spatial experience. Similarly, in the brief of Wyndham city’s gate design, the council asked for an aesthetic installation with exciting appearance, but also a design exams the new architecture discourse. Learning from these precedents, when consid-ering the gateway design, it is important to explore a new architecture discourse with the appreciation of the contemporary technology—computing design.

Congress CenterGuggenheim Museum

CROSSING THE RIVERDESIGNING ENVIRONMENT SEM 2 2009

EVA YI FANG

CROSSING THE RIVERDESIGNING ENVIRONMENT SEM 2 2009

EVA YI FANG

CROSSING THE RIVER is an organic foot bridge that connects the Federation Square and Alexandra Garden. Feder-

ation Square as a centralized social and po-litical space has a distinct spatial and cultural quality compared to the opposited Alexandra Garden which embraces the natural land-scape. On one hand, the bridge adapts the timber material and organic form to embrace the nature to accommodate the feeling of Al-exandra Garden. On the other hand, it insert-ed several recreational platforms to inherent the social gathering in the federation square. Thus, the foot bridge is critical to act as a trans-actional space between these different sites.

Likely, the Wyndham city’s Gateway on the Princes high way also performs as a transaction between the country and Mel-

bourne city. So it is equally crucial to consider the difference between the two destinations and build a successful transaction in between.

WEEK 2“Computerization VS computation “

As it was argued in the lecture, the dominant method of utilizing com-puters in architecture today is that of computerization, in which the design concept have already framed in the designer’s mind and just be repre-sented and communicated through digital media. However, the compu-tation, which is a design tool that in-tegrates the computing technology into the design process, is still limited. The reading (Kalay : 2004)further dem-onstrates this argument by emphasiz-ing the logical, rational and objec-tive qualities of the computerization design but doubts the creativity of it.

In my point of view, the new architec-tural discourse, which is tightly related to the computing design in the mod-ern time, should promote the sense of computation rather than satisfied with the computerization. That is, rath-er than separating the design think-ing from the digital tools, we should involve the computing technologies from the beginning and insert them into the whole design process. Only in this way, the advantages of the com-puting design could be maximized and deeply utilized in the architecture.

By using the computation, which integrates the computing technology through the whole design process, some revo-

lutionary space has been created. According to Greg Lynn (2004), written in his Folding in architecture, the computational design creates the “calculated based form”, so that enables an innovative flow and continuous geometry for buildings. That is, “a unifying figure whereby different segments and plans are joined and merging in lines and volumns.” (Lynn : 2004). Also, he mentioned that the importance of considering the transc-tional space and making a smooth surface.

The Shoei Yoh’s roof for the Odawara Sports Center in Japan demonstrates Lynn’s idea of the folding geometry in prac-

tice. Thanks to the standard elements of the structure in the fabrication process, the Shoei Yoh’s roof abandoned the tradi-tional posts as supports and utilized the continuous folding form all around the building. In addition, different from the random forms in some postmodern architecture ( such as Congress Center discussed in the previous chapter), the roof’s supply structure exhibits a logic approch as it is continuously differ-entiated according to contingencies. Rather than simply in-creasing the depth of the roof truss to bear the wind and snow loads, Shoei experimented with the deforming of the structure via computer simulation to find the optimum shape. And this automatic deformation made by the lateral forces resulted in an organic and irregular form.

BAMBOO FOR UCHINO AND NAI-JU OF CHIKUHO TOWN, FUKUOKASHOEI YOH HAMURA, 1995

The innovations of the folding form as well as the precise simulation of the geometry according to the natural forces not only indicated a new architectural discourse en-

abled by the logic computing design but also satisfied the scale and site condition in the gateway project. As the councils are asking for an eye-catching installation in an open landscape, the fluid form can be introduced as it can easily expand through the large site. Also, the wind forces and weather changes in the highway are also com-mon phenomena which could be utilized to attract attentions. So the installation might be able to build a dynamic form influenced by the natural forces along the highway. For example, it is possible to utilize the changing wind forces along the Princes highway as a parameter to determine the basic geometric form of the installation and applied the folding structure along the proposed sites to indicate the computational design discource. However, although the continuous form of the roof is aesthetic appreci-ated, it is weak in expressing the treansactional space quality, it might be interesting to introduce more folding types in the installation and consider the transcation in be-tween. Nevertheless, the concept of folding is a bit weak in generating a dynamic 3D space, it could be interesting to think about more plastic form in the installation to create further exciting spatial experience.




continuours formfolding

classical architecture modern architecture postmodern architecture computing design

CHANGES OF ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSE

WEEK 3“Constructive parametric modelling”

Different from other forms of computing technologies, scripting discovered a

closer relationship between computing and architecture, as it requires the pro-duction of the related scripts and traced the originality of the computing design. In the contemporary scripting culture, it is common to associate other discipline in developing a successful scripting, and engaging the fabrication with design all the way along(Mark:2011).

ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion Stuttgart,2010

The Research Pavilion designed by ICD and ITKE represents the current scripting cul-ture in architecture design as it integrates the fabrication with design and simulates

the physical forces and materiality of the installation.

The architects decided to use the extremely thin, elastically-bent plywood strips for the installation from the beginning. Therefore, they analyzed the elastic bending

behavior of birch plywood strips in parametric principles to form the initial frame of the installation. In addition to the materiality, the designers further explore the strength in the connection points between the strips that concentrated the most bending mo-ments, and simulated the intricate equilibrium of locally stored energy resulting from the bending of each element. Based on these parametric principles, they finally used 80 different strip patterns constructed from more than 500 geometrically unique parts with minimal joints.

As a result, this example demonstrates the current scripting culture as it associat-ed the fabrication along the design process and produce the precise geometry

based on the material and natural force parameters. Similarly, in the gateway design, it might be helpful to consider the material quality in advanced and associated in the design through parametric controls. Also, like the Shoei Yoh’s roof before, the usage of the natural force as a parameter to determine a precise geometric shape is appreci-ated in the gateway design to indicate a new architectural discourse for computing design.

PART 2EXPRESSION OF THE INTEREST

1. DESIGN BRIEF

2. CONCEPT

3. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

4. CASE OF INNOVATION: -SPACE -MATERIALS -COLOUR -BIOMIMICRY

5. SITE ANALYSIS

6. MATRIX EXPLORATION

7. REVERSE-ENGINEERING STUDY

8. DIGITAL MODEL

9. PHYSICAL MODEL

EOI Contents

?

1. Iconic & Eye-catching installation

2. Integrating with the surrounding landscape

3. Illustrative materiality

A new architectural DISCOURSE introduced by computing design through the combination of space, nature and materiality

OBJECTIVES

Design Brief

Melbourne as a city of integrates the traditional culture and the modernity, so our design tends to indicate the merging of the old and the new in Melbourne

Concept

From regular to irregular

From urban to landscape

From grey colour to bright colour

From bricks to glass and steel

Design Philosophy

Space

Biomimicry

Materiality

Colour

In terms of spatial experience, the computing design enables a precise geometric form controlled by the parameters and has a folding form.

According to Greg Lynn, wrote in his Folding in architecture, the “calculated based form” introduced by the computer, enables an innovative flow and continuous geometry for buildings. That is, “a

unifying figure whereby different segments and plans are joined and merging in lines and volumns.” (Lynn 1997). Also, he mentioned that the computer based form also provide a smoother transaction between two spaces than the traditional methods. Apart from the traditional divided form, the continuous space enabled by the digital technology foresees a new architectural discourse in such spatial experience. Therefore, we will use the continuous folding form for the gateway installation to highlight such state-of-art structure. Also, rather than the random form in the previous architecture design, the geometries used in the gateway project will also be précised calculated by computer and controlled by relevant parameters.




continuours formfolding

Classical architecture Modern architecture Postmodern architecture Computational design

BAMBOO FOR UCHINO AND NAIJU OF CHIKUHO TOWN, FUKUOKA,SHOEI YOH HAMURA,1995

Case of Innovation _ Space

Spatial Experience

Changes of Architectural Discourse

Computational design

The Shoei Yoh’s roof for the Odawara Sports Center in Japan demonstrates Lynn’s idea of the folding

geometry in practice. As can be seen from the image, rather than the traditional way of separating the roofs to the walls, Shoei Yoh used one continuous roof structure for the whole building. And such structure can be supported by assembling the standard elements from the computation design for the skin and the contouring medal rings underneath. In addition, the geometry of the entire roof is not random, rather than simply increase the depth of the roof trusses to bearing the wind and snow loads, Shoei experimentes with the deforming of the structure via computer simulation to find the optimum shape. And this automatic deformation made by the lateral forces resulted in an organic and irregular form.

The innovations of the folding form as well as the precise simulation of the geometry according to

the natural forces not only indicate a new architectural discourse enabled by the logic computing design but also satisfied the scale and site condition in the gateway project. As the councils are asking for an eye-catching installation in an open landscape, the fluid form can be considered as it can easily expand through the large site. Also, the fabrication method of the Shoei Yoh’s roof could also be used as a reference for constructing the folding form. In order to stabilize the pitched form, the architects suggest the use of a central post to support the structure during the construction process and remove it when it finishes. Similarly, for the fabrication technique of the Gateway project, it could be useful to insert some predefined frame during the construction and remove them afterwards.

1. Establish the basic grid 2. Added the folding geometry on the grid

3. Added details to the geom-etry

Construction process of the structure-cenral post located

Case of Innovation _ Materiality

12

Image from http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/image.axd?picture=2010%2F8%2F100804+aus+pavilion.jpg

Image from http://images.smh.com.au/2010/04/30/1398223/Shanghai_Expo__14_-600x400.jpg

Image from http://www.australiandesignreview.com/wp-content/uploads/old_img/pavilion_7.jpg

In order to reflect the concept of “old and new”, we use corten and glass as construction materials. Both of them also have high weather resistance to prevent corrosion that might result from the exposure to sun and rain. Based on the precedent of the Australian Pavilion, we intend to challenge the typical use of the materials by using corten as structural elements to support itself and the glass tubes. Computational techniques are then used to create hollow corten boxes and several glass tubes are bended to specific angles in order to connect with these corten boxes. For instance, in the Australian Pavilion, the building is threaded by a system of curved glass tubes that house the circulation ramp. The combination of corten panels and glass tubes makes this pavilion richer in texture and stands out from the other buildings. Furthermore, the idea of using hollow corten boxes is also partly because of the ease of construction and transportation.

The Australian Pavilion, Shanghai Expo 2010 By Wood Marsh

13

The ITKE research pavilion 2011 has used the concept of “forms follow materiality”. It demonstrates an alternative approach to computational design which is the computational generation of form is directly driven and informed by physical behavior and material characteristics. We might as well integrate this concept into our gateway design. For instance, corten is very flexible in creating different shapes. Hence, it is used to make hollow boxes to represent thse use of bricks of old melbourne. On the other hand, glass tubes, which represent the new melbourne, are curved and intersected with each other using their bending property. This is the result after considering the concepts of “old and new” and “forms follow materiality”.

In regards to Wyndham Gateway project, the gateway is designed with the parameter of the sun intensity and its path. So, the form will change according to the parameter which directly influences the application of corten and glass tubes on the gateway.

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2011 By Achim Menges& Jan Knippers

http://nzwood.co.nz/industry-news/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/1326784561-14-view-seated-528x3591.jpg

http://www.ilikearchitecture.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/re-search_pavilion_institute_computational_design_4-550x412.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6745032215_5fb499afbf_z.jpg

Case of Innovation _ Colours

Case Study: Oil Pavilion, Shanghai Expo, 2010

The Oil Pavilion has a concise, grand exte-rior look where it used the crossing pipes which are interwoven into an exquisite “gift box”. The pavilion manifests strong features of the modernity and the petroleum industry.

The fantastic space-time journey provided to the visitor by using the effects of sound, light, and elec-tronic technologies. The pavilion highlighted the vir-tual scenes in the pre-exhibition zone, multimedia approaches are employed to create the fantastic scenes characterized by the petroleum and chemi-cal industry, and pull visitors close to petroleum.

The exterior walls of pavilion are built with new type of polycarbonate diffusion plates and tens of thou-sands of LED lights, the pavilion will present crystal-like and splendid light and shadow effects at night.

Throughout the researches and case study in materials discourse, it’s been discovered that light and colours can be the most versatile building materials, where it becomes one of the most fundamental elements in the new architecture discourse. By implementing the new technology with the lighting ef-fects, one can design a large effect on the internal environment and also help to create atmposphere, and link a space with its context.

For the Western Gateway Design Project, we found out that the site is located at a dull, plain and wide highway area where there is no significant or eye-catching landmark that can be used to resembles the city of Melbourne. Therefore, the idea of intergrate the play of colours and materials into the gate-way installation project has become one of the idea to show the iconic features in the site and develop a different kind of design for the daytime, and night time views to the visitors who uses the freeways.

To develop the idea of the play of colours and lighting into our own gateway project, we have explored and researched the techniques of using the “Photochromism technology” and “photochromism technology” where it is a colour chang-ing technology based on UV light exposure and temperature change. By using this technique onto the glass tube of our installation, we can control the colour changes of the instal-lation as we oriented the glass tube of the installation to face the sun orientation. The colours will change from black(cold) -red-orange-yellow-green-blue-violet-black(heating). The changes of colours will give the exciting, and eye-catching feelings to the visitors and act as an iconic features at the site.

The colour of copper, yellow, blue have been chose to resemble the concept of “Old and New” in Melbourne City. The copper co-lour is used to resemble the old, vintage feeling of old style ar-chitecture discourse which is using the bricks, stones; while the yellow and blue used to resemble the free form, dynamicism and fluidity of the new architecture discourse in Melbourne.

Case of Innovation _ Biomimicry‘...a new discipline that studies nature’s best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problem’ (Panchuk 2006).

Structural Innovation

Emergence, Evolution

Two-ways interaction

As architectural designing increasingly aims to resolve challenges that have often already been resolved by nature and also increasingly seeks to incorporate concepts and techniques, such as gowth or adaption, that have parallels in nature, nature as 1)model, 2)measure, 3)mentor should possibly be one of the directions the Gateway design is heading.

Norman Foster’s Swiss Re Tower mimics the internal spiral wells of the Venus Flower basket to provide structural support and natural ventilation. Although copying natural forms has brought structural innovations to the field of architecture, it is limited to a formal objective. The EOI presents here emphasizes the use of nature to enhance experience: the relationship between the human and the environment.

Simply copying a natural environment or form cannot achieve this because it lacks the criteria that prove necessary in ecology (the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environments): performance, interactions or systems of exchanges. As stated in the brief, the interaction between the installation (built-environment) and the surrounding landscape (natural environment) is important.

Interactivity is the ultimate goal of this Gateway project. A two-way interaction between the built and natural environment is favourable. For instance, a high-tech solution should be avoided, ie floors that light up when you walk on them, color changing walls or hypersurfaces. These are all necessary innovations yet remain a one-way transfer of information.

Local Scale

Regional Scale

Melbourne situated within the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Besides, Werribee has a huge important bird area, and there are natural reserves and wetlands around the site. Birds activities/ flying on the site would be expected. Since surrounding the site is a huge plain grassland with only little trees, the idea is to have our design as stopover site for the birds.

A good precedent to look at is the Westgate Bridge in Melbourne, which shows how wildlife adapted to living in the wetland bird sanctuary underneath the gigantic Westgate Bridge. Westgate Bridge brought inspiration to us as in how urban space can also be habitat for nature.

For our design, due to the concern of noise produced by vehicles zooming past, the Boxes at the top will be used as planters to provide food and water for the birds. To avoid adding excessive loads to the structural support of the design, huge, bulky plants should be avoided.

Source: http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm

Design Concept

Large Geographic Scale

Source: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory

East Asian Australasian Flyway

Plain Grassland

Plain Grassland

Natural Reserves to north-west

Fig 1 Westgate Bridge Fig 2 Flocks of birds assembling before migration

Wetland to south-east

Site Analysis

Plain Grassland

Natural Reserves

Wetland to south-east

Potential direction of the birds flying

Common NameRed-necked StintSharp-tailed Sandpiper Orange-bellied Parrot

Migratory Birds

Avereage Size14cm21cm21cm

Consistency of UseLate August - Early MarchAugust - MarchMarch - October

Source: http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm

In order to achieve the brief’s requirement of designing an

installation reflects Melbourne’s image, we choose to use

Melbourne’s CBD grid as our basic layout and choose the

landmark buildings as our attractor points. As can be seen from

the image, we identified the Melbourne CBD’s grid lines and the

critical buildings in between.

Site Analysis

A

B

C

LEGEND

DRIVEWAYS TOWARDS THE CITY

DRIVEWAYS TOWARDS THE COUNTRY

PETROL STATION

SITE A AND SITE B ARE CHOSEN AS THE LOCATION OF

THE INSTALLATION AS THEY CATCH THE MOST ATTENTION

THROUGH THE HIGHWAY

C

B

A

LEGEND

DRIVEWAYS TOWARDS THE CITY

DRIVEWAYS TOWARDS THE COUNTRY

PETROL STATION

AREA THAT IS NOT VISIBLE TO THE

INSTALLATION AS IT IS GOING THE

REVERSE DIRECTION

THE CIRCLE AREA IS ANALYSED TO BE THE LOCATION THAT

CAN CATCH THE MOST ATTENTION ALONG THE HIGHWAY.

IT IS ANALYSED BY SETTING THE VIEW POINT OF 35-40

DEGREES EVERY 500M ALONG THE WAY.

Matrix ExplorationMaths Function

Association: Maths Function + Extrusion

Input: Image Sampler + Rotation

Outpu: Surface Normal

According to the Previous EOI in regarding to the spatial experience, the spatial experience of continuous form as well as the precise geometries generated by computing design is crucial. Therefore, the exploration of the grasshopper matrix is mainly focused on produce flowing and dynamic form as well as exploring the possible geometric forms.

ASSOCIATIONS: the Math function is efficient in producing the precise geometric forms which determined by the parameters in the related math equalitions.And such effects can be seen effectively through the extrusion output.

INPUT: compared to other inputs, the surface normal is the most sufficient one in generating a 3D form as it controls the perpendicular vectors to the grid points

OUTPUT: apart form the extrusion, which has been tested in the math function association, the rotation is another critical output that could generate exciting 3D forns.

Matrix ExplorationMultiple Maths Functions & Attracting Points

Using point attractors, distance between the attractor points and grid points varies, depending on the position of point attractors and the function used to define the distance between them. It is a potential useful associative technique for us to input site parameters, to influence the outcome of our design. This is particular relevance to our design as the design brief encourage the integration of our design with the landscape and surrounding environment.

Overlaying another grids of maths function produces interesting results as the functions begin to exhibit ‘resonance’ - repeating patterns of overlap.

Matrix ExplorationRotation & Shaders

Shader function is used to explore the colour layering

of how one colour can match with another to create

a pattern that can allow light to penetrates through to

create the the different colour mapping and shadows.

By putting it together with the extrusion, the surface and

extrusion can enhance more on the shading areas and

the final outcome will be more clear and interesting.

Matrix ExplorationStreaming Text Files & Using Setss

We have explored the possibilities of forms that can be created using streaming text files and using sets as associative techniques. Through experiments, we discover that the combination of “streaming text files” and “component” or “rotation” have the highest potential in creating really unique and organic forms. The data of streaming text files can be changed accroding to the design needs. From these explorations, we have a basic idea on how parametric modelling can help in challenging the typical use of materials.

Reverse-EngineerGANTENBEIN VINEYARD FACADE By Gramazio & Kohler

Gantenbein Vineyard Facade is chosen as reverse-engineering case study as the dynamic form of the brickwork that changes according to the sun path is related to our gateway design. As the bricks rotate, it creates strong light and shadow effect inside the building which also affects the spatial experience. Furthermore, it forms certain kind of patterns if seen from a distance and varies as the viewers or the sun move.

In Wyndham Gateway project, the same computational techniques will be applied in order to achieve something interesting and iconic. As the site is near the Princess highway, the rotation of brickwork can be larger to create stronger and clearer light and shadow effects. It will be much easier for the highspeed traffic-users on the highway to see the changes of the gateway.

Reverse-EngineerReproduction of Gantenbein Vineyard Facade

Transformation• From 2D to 3D• From Regular to dynamic

The Gantenbein Vineyard Facade is reproduced in Rhino using Grasshopper. Image sampler is used to create the patterns on the facade while the output - rotation, rotates the bricks according to the sun path and produces dynamic effect of the brick wall. The definitions are later developed and integrated into our concept by transforming them from 2D to 3D, from a regular form to a dynamic form.

Digital ModelA rectangular grid is used to produce a planar grid points from a planar surface. The grid points are then moved in z-direction to produce a 3D grid. Boxes are then created using those grid points with a cull pattern of: ‘true’, ‘false’.

Using ‘Item’, the 2nd and 4th plane were retrieved so that they were rotated to exactly 90 degrees to the plane of boxes below. Then, attractive points as an associative technique was used to determine the pattern of the arrangement of the boxes. As discussed earlier, the grid of boxes is based on the Hoddle Grid of Melbourne City. The attractor points were chosen from some landmark buildings of Melbourne City (Melbourne Central, Federation Square, etc. By applying the definition to a curvilinear surface, we got our desired outcome.

Digital Model

The curves of the glass tubes are first created using “bezier curve” component in Grasshopper. Then, the “pipe” component is added to give them a volume. Their amplitude is controlled according to the sun path in order to get most of the sunlight during daytime. Hence, the colour of these glass tubes will change dramatically and is more noticeable for users on the Princess Highway.

Physical Model

1. Structural frame 2. Putting elements onto structure 3. Partly finished installation

4. Elevation of the partly finished installation

5. Finished installation without “glass tubes”

6. Puting the “glass tubes onto the structure

Night effect of the installation

Similar to the construction of Shoei Yoh’s roof, the structure of the installation is based on a predifined frame to determine the overall shape. Moreover, according to the grasshopper definition, which rotates the “ box” 90 degrees every second layers, the basic component for the installation is a right angular element made of hollow corten surface. So the process of making the “ box” form is to combine the “ box” component according to the rhino model and the structural frame.

Finally, the “glass tubes” of the model, which is made of the translucent plastic, is inserted to the “ boxes”. The location of the footing is decided based on the Hoddle Grid of Melbourne city and site constrain as discussed earlier in site analysis.

View 1: View from the surrounding landscape

View 2: View from the vehicles travel underneath

Detailed views

lEARNING OUTCOMESDESIGNING WITH COMPUTING

COMMUNICATION VISUALLY

ARGUING PERSONALLY

APPLYING TECHNICAL SKILLS

By designing the gateway project through the computers, I started to realize the two-way integration between the digital tool and the design concepts. By studying the precedents of the folding form and testing the matrix to create the dynamic geom-etries, I decided to use such new structural form enabled by the digital technolo-gy in explaining the new architectural discourse. At the same time, as we are using the “old&new” as our design philosophy, I adapt the technology to cop the design idea by using the continuous form for two distinguish geometries: tubes and “ boxes”. Through such design process, I examed the advantages of designing with computers by engaging the digital technology from the early design stages.

The writing of personal journal as well as documenting the design and exploration process make me recognize the critical role of communicating visually. In particular, when documenting the technique progress through matrix, I found it is crucial and difficult to arrange a coherent and clear visual guide for the audience to trace my testing process, as the initial tests of the matrix were not arranged in a fluent way. Therefore, I end up re-tested the matrix again in a more logic order. From that, I real-ized that in order to communicate the progress efficiently, especially for the complex processes, it is crucial to make a logic flow from the start.

Making a personal argument is the most difficult part I found in making the individual journals. Since we are doing the design together in a group, I lost myself in the first four weeks in doing the design altogether and ignored my individual focus. This made me really hard to make a coherent personal argument at the start. However, since I ad-justed my position according to the tutors’ suggestions and the course outline, I began to research my precedents deeper in terms of the computing techniques they used for innovative spatial experience.Therefore, in order to make a efficient argument for this individual journal, it is critical to make an effective argument from the precedents in a more specific level.

For designing the gateway project, I found that exploring the grasshopper techniques is the most difficult part for design. For example I initially wanted to utilize the wind forces on site to determine the basic geometry for the installation, but this proposal was denied due to the technique failure in grasshopper. Moreover, although I created the layout grid on the lofting space by using the Boolean pattern to turn off the certain points, the initial surface is still randomly drew in Rhino. Therefore, in the next stage, I will try to involve more parametric technologies in generating the spatial experience.

2.1 identifying the frane of the structure

2.2 creatng a surface based on the predi-fined frames

2.3 creating a grid on the surface by dividing through uv coordinates

2.4 using the cull com-ponent to select the grid points from the pre-vius grid

3.1 the grid produced from stage 2

3.2. Adding the boxes into the grid

3.2 rotating the boxes every second layers

1.1 making a 3D grid

Stage 1: Testing the boxes with a regulat 3D grid

Stage 2: Creating a dynamic 3D grid

Stage 3: Locating the boxes into the defined grid

ROTATION

The diagrams indicated the development of the final vitual model.The model of the “boxes” is derived into three stages:Stage 1: testing the 3D grid for laying the boxesStage 2: creating a dynamic 3D grid for the boxesStage 3: adding and manipulating the final boxes into the defined grid

1.2 Adding the boxes to the grid 1.2 manipulating the boxes

lEARNING OUTCOMES FOR PARAMETRIC TECHNIQUES

RESEARCH PROJECT CONCLUSION-competitive advantages

Through the detailed study of the Shoei Yoh’s roof, the exploration of the matrix as well as the reverse engineering modelLing, it can be identified that the para-

metric technology has the competitive advantages for designing the gateway in-stallation in three aspects: creating the continuous folding form, identifying specific geometries and a new fabrication method.

CONTINUOUS FORM

In terms of the spatial experience, the computational de-sign enables a new fluid folding form which merges the

whole structure together. As the councils of the gateway project asks for an installation to indicate the future archi-tectural discourse, this dynamic form can be applied to symbolize the new architectural language in space. Thus, the design outcome of the folding form of the boxes (similar to the Shoei Yoh’s roof) as well as the combination of the skeletal glass tubes implies this spatial ideal.

FABRICATION

SPECIFIED GEOMETRIES

Rather than the random shapes, the computing design also specifies the geometry by controlling the related

parameters. As can be observed from the virtual model, the layout of the boxes resembles the grid of the Melbourne city to form the base. In addition, learnt from the reverse engineering modeling, the orientations of each single box could be determined through the related parameters in the grasshopper definitions. Thus, by using the digital technol-ogy, a precise geometry can be produced and changed according to the related parameters.

Different from the traditional architecture, the compu-tational design build a closer relationship between the

design process and fabrication. The elements to form the installation are standard and connected in certain logic as a result of the controlled parameters. Therefore, like the ex-ample of the Shoei Yoh’s roof, the fabrication of a continu-ous fluid form of the installation becomes possible and easy due to the standard components.

RESEARCH PROJECT CONCLUSION-competitive advantages

PART 2

PART 3Project Proposal-how the design mature since EOI

-the final design proposal

Key design features changed since EOI

& &

DIGITAL FBRICATION

NATURAL ADAPTATION

INTRODUCINGAIR FORCE

SMOOTHTRANSITION

RATIONAL STRUCTURE

In order to better accommodate the site condition and involve more parametric tech-nologies in the Gateway installation. We decided to amend the current design in the following five aspects:Digital fabrication, natural adaptation, introducing air force, smooth transition and rational structure

The initial boxing shape is difficult in adapting the digital fabrication tech-nique as the connections are not in-tersected and the components lack certian jointing flexibility. Therefore, we decided to translate the regular box-ing shapes into the rectangular panels to create a feasible connecting sys-tem.

The idea of attracting the surronding birds in illustrating the idea of “ engat-ing with the landscape” is also lack-ing of evidence and hard to predict in reality. Therefore, we absorb the spirit of this natural interaction by using the surrounding contour as our source instead and produce the folding sur-face based on it

To accommodate the theme of “ Air studio” as well as increase the dynam-ic feature of the installation, we intro-duced the rotating panels in the “ new part” to distinct from the “ old part” and emphasize the “ eye-catching” theme through the enhenced driving experience.

The transition between the previous design of the “ old &new” is relatively sharp, as there’s no transitional field between the boxes and the glass tubes. Therefore, developed from the rectangular panels, we choose the morphing geometries from rectangles to triangles to produce a smoother transition between “ old&new”.

There’s no sufficient structure system in the previous design to support the in-stallation, so we added a waffle struc-ture underneath the panels to ensure the stability of the Gateway.

Design progress since EOI

STAGE 1: Developed from the isolated boxes and tubes shapes into a continuous surface with the changing shapes from rectangles to triangles

STAGE 2: Based on the basic static panels, we tested the effects of wind force in determing the rotation of the panels separately, and added a series of rotated panels with more dynamic shapes at the end of the “skin”

STAGE 3: In order to in-crease the rationality of the design and the relationship be-tween the installation and the surrounding environment, We use the contour of site A as our base parameters to determine the shape of the “skin panels”

STAGE 4: In order to cre-ate a reliable structural system for the installation, we added a waffle structure underneath the base skin.

STAGE 5: With the solid waffle structure below, we fur-ther expriment the joint system for the physical model in fab-rication. Therefore, we finally added a slot joint to each indi-vidual panel.

Based on the five principal features, the development of the design proposal evolved in the following five major stages

Selection of the final design proposal

OPTION 1: short length VS long lengthWe choose the longer version of the Gateway of 100 meters for the final design rather than the initial one with only 30 meter in length. As the speed of the cars in the highway is about 100 km/hr, so the driving time of the 30meters is only about 2-3 second, while the longer one can extend this experience substantially.

OPTION 2: spacing panels & overlaping panelsWe produce two kinds of layout for the surface panels: one with the smaller size panels placed in a dis-tance to each other, the other has larger size panels overlap to each other.Compared the shadows of these two panels, we can observe that the shaow of the overlaping panels is too overwhelmed and it is hard to tell the shadow changes during the day, Therefore, we finally use the spacing model for our final proposal.

overlaping panels spacing panels

OPTION 3: parallel position & diagonal positionWe choose to place the installation 30 degree to the highway rather than place it parallelly to it. By studying the sunlight path during the day, we discover that the 30 degree position gives the best shad-ing effects of the installation. Also, the diagonal position further extend the time the drivers spend under the gateway.

shaow effect

of 0 degreee

shaow effect

of 30 degreee

_why the final version is better than other alternatives

SITE PLAN

SECTION A-A

SECTION B-B

FINAL DESIGN PROPOSAL

cortenglass

A

A

B

B


Day view Night view

Isometric

corten

glass


The morphing shapes through the surface panels :

From rectangles to triangles

The distribution of the galss and corten panels through the installation

_shape and material changes through the installation

The OMA’s photo tropic tower used the tech-nique of BIM to collect massive “soft data” from the surrounding urban fabric and param-eterized them into the design of the building shape as well as the facades. In this way, the architects built a closer relationship between the surrounding environment and the building itself in helping with the digital techniques.

Similarily, for the Western Gateway Design Proj-ect, the idea of collecting data from the sur-rounding such as the contour is intergrated into the installation where the installation take forms of the contour and parameters is set to control the height and width of the installation. By implementing the idea of morphogenesis, it opens up more choices to design and the con-tour is flipped onto the surface of installation so that the waffles frames can be structured fol-lowed the contour.

FINAL DESIGN PROPOSAL_precedent study

In addition to the precedents chosen in the EOI which simulated the initial design intent, we also studied OMA’s “photo tropic tower” as an example to further interpret the parametric design in relation to the surrounding environment.

STEP 1: build the base surface according to the contour

STEP 2: develop the surface to the required size

STEP 3: create the waffle structure based on the pre-defined surface

STEP 4: add the panels on the structure with attractor points

Selected site as the base contour extrude the selected contour lines create the surface based on the selcted contour

cut the surface by section planes

obtain the sectional lines scale up basic contour lines mirror the scaled the contour skeleton create the surface based on the contour skeleton

create the lower layer of the waffle structure based on the surface

add the upper layer of the waffle structure ` add slot joints on the both layers the complete frame underneath

create the first half ot the panel with the rectangular shapes

add the second half ot the panel with the triangle shapes

add the attractor points on the surface to determine the layout

add the panel on the waffle structure

the surface tothe surface to


Learning from the OMA’s example, the design philosophy of the instal-lation started from the base surface developed from the contour of the “site A”. And then added the morphing panels and the waffle structures accordingly with more parametric attempts

_building philosophy and process

Rotational Joint Fixed Joint


To ensure the structural feasibility of the real installtion, we designed two distinct construction system for the physical model and the real world gateway respectively.The following diagrams and pictures illustrate the critical parts of these structural systems : 1. the assembly of the individual panels.2. the connection points between the waffle structure and the panels 3. the footing system.

THE PHYSICAL MODEL THE REAL CONSTRUCTION

1. the assembly of the individual panels: Both panels are stablized by the nails, but the rotating panels used a rotatable sphere at the bottom to ensure a flexible rotation by the wind force

2 .the connections between the waffle structure and the panels: the physical model used the “ slot joints” between the panels and the structure. However, in the realworld construction, the panels are bolted to the waffle structure through a metal sheet underneath.

3. The footing system: the physical model doesn’t indicate any foundation system. In fact, the real installation will use the sandwich panels to stablize the structurenthatW touch the ground.

_construction system in both physcial model and reality

FINAL DESIGN PROPOSAL_model making process

1. Individual panels and waffle structure components

2. make the basic waffle structure

3. add the panels onto the waffle structure

FINAL DESIGN PROPOSAL_the shadow effects

The shadow effects of the overall installation:

From 6 am--6pm

The shadow effects of the rotating panels:

2 seconds

Started with no digital design back-ground, I set my personal learning objectives through this journey of parametric design as an explora-tion of a potential architectural discourse enabled by the digital techniques in terms of spatial ex-perience. Apart from the gateway design itself, I tried to observe the advantages and disadvantages of the parametric design through the precedent studies ( Shoei Yoh’s Roof in particular) and the techniques associated with the reverse engi-neering and the matrix exploration.

PART 4Learning Objectivesand outcomes

Learing outcome and objectives

The main objective of my study is to explore the new spatial experience provided by the parametric design. Inspired by the Shoei Yoh’s Roof and Greg Lynn’s “folding in architecture” I tried to observe the competitive advantages of the parametric tech-nology in the gateway installation in three aspects: Creating the continuous folding form, identifying specific geometries and a new fabrication method.

Creating the continuous folding form:

As stated before, the computational design enables a new flowing folding form which merges the whole structure to-gether. Therefore, the dominant form of the installation we produced will be formless with no distinct individual parts.

Identify specific geometries:

Like the Shoei Yoh’s roof and OMA’s photo tropic tower, the shape of the overall design is not random, but specifically determined by the computer. And the controlling param-eters can be derived from the related data or surrounding environment to build a numerical connection between the installation and the circumstance. So that in the gateway design, I tried to define the form of the installation in a ra-tional way by manipulating the contour information in the adjacent landscape and introducing the wind force of the site to enhance the natural connection between the site and the installation.

Fabrication:

One of the key advantages of the parametric design is the assembling fabrication. That is, the standard individual components can be pre-fabricated, and assemble on site effectively and precisely. Therefore, in the Gateway proj-ect, I tried to maximize this advantage by designing a fea-sible joint system for the on-site fabrication. That is, we finally choose the “slot join system” for our physical model and a waffle structure underneath.

_Personal background and learning objectives

?

?

ISSUE 1:The shapes used in the surface is relatively simple, it might be interesting to add some distinct shapes at the end to hightlight the new part.

ISSUE 2:The waffle structure seems too heavy,the panels above is hard to be seen,

ISSUE 3:The length of the installation is still too shor to offer a sufficient driving experience, it could be interesting to extend it further?

ISSUE 4:The layout of -----the panel is relatively simple, the complexity and the rationality of the layout can be developed

Although we amended several problems for the design since EOI to accommodate the design brief as well as our design philosophy, there’re still some issues associated with the final design and need to be developed. Particularly, the complexity and ra-tionality of the final design has a big potential to improve and amend.

Learing outcome and objectives_Issues

Solution 1_increase the complexity of the panels

Previously, the shape of the panels are relatively simple. as it is changed from rectangle into triangle slightly. But the overall concept of the panels are not altered radically throughout the structure.

An alternative way of adding the complexity of the panels is to add more interesting shapes to the panels in a more dramatic way.

OPTION 1:

The triangular shapes can be altered by adding the “ connecting edges” at the end, so that the panels can poten-tially be joints to each other.

OPTION 2:

The triangular shapes can also be changed into more dynamic frames at the end. And these organic forms ( like leaves) indicates the landscapes in the surrounding environment.

Solution 2_exchange the postion of the waffle

structure and the paneles

Previously,the panels are hard-ly seen from the un-derneath

Therefore, we tried to put the panels under the waffle structure, so that the drivers can eas-ily observe them.

The density of the structure could be altered to increase the complexity of the installation and emphasize the visual diversity from “ old” to “ new”.

1. the overall shape of the surface can be used as a indicator of the change from “ old and new”. To achieve that, we could add a regular semi-circular form at the beginning to represent the “ old”, and moving to the dynamic contour shape smoothly.

2. In order to emphasize the visual effect, it might interesting to open up the first part of the waffle structure, so that the transition will be more smooth and dramatric.

Solution 3_increase the length of the intallation with transitional shapes

The old structure use the inter-

sect points to determine the

position of the panels.

1. Introduce one single attrac-tor point to the skin to produce a “ hole”, so that the sunlight can come through, and the shading effects can be changed accordingly.

2. Similarly, multiple attractor points can be applied to create the light “ spots” in different locations and in different sizes by the control of the attracor points. So if we trace the sun path as the source of the attractor point, the lihgting ef-fect of the installation can be manipu-lated through this parameter.

Solution 4_Adding the complexity and the rational-ity of the panel layout by introducing the attractor points

The complexity and rationality of the installation can be potentially increased by introducingthe attractor points definitions in the grasshopper.

In the previous design, the number of the skeleton of the waffle structure is random, so that the panels above it is lacking certain logic to determine the layout. Therefore, we plan to in-troduce the attractor points definition which we eperimented in the matrix section to defined the layout of the skin parametrically.

Learning outcomes

Designing with computing:

As we’ve discussed in the lectures as well as the readings, designing with the computers requires the two way integration between the digital tool and the design concept. By studying the precedents of the folding form and testing the matrix to create the dynamic geometries, I decided to use such continuous form enabled by the digital technology in explaining the new architectural discourse. However, since we explored more in the parametric design, we tried to add more rationality and complexity to our design since EOI. therefore, we substitute the random form with the new surface developed from the adjacent contour. Also, like the ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion I studies in Week 3, we amended our design according to the digital fabrication. That is, we finally choose the panels and waffle structure to produce a “ slot joint system” that can be pre-fabricated and assembled on site. Through the journey of adjustment, I experience the idea of integrating the computing technology in the whole design process rather than use it as a tool of presentation.

Communication visually

Before studied this subject, I took it for granted that the visual communication of the parametric design and the common design we did before have no difference. But not until I started to structure my personal journal, I realized the importance of the visual communication to express the complicated idea in the parametric design. Since the concept and the whole design process involved a lot of computation and adjustment, it is not as easy to understand as the ordinary design idea, thus the visual communication becomes crucial. I found out that the illustrative diagrams are far more efficient than the wordy text, and the logic in the diagram is critical. In particular, I am pleased that the isometric we used in the finally presentation is very helpful. So I will try to produce more images like that in the future to assist my design explanation.

Designing with computing:

Communication visually

Arguing personally

As I discussed in the previous chapter, I found the most difficult part is to frame a coherent personal argument in the journals. Since we are doing the work in group, it is always hard for us to separate our mind from the overall design into our individual research focus. To overcome this problem, I find it is helpful to focus on one or two precedents that I found most relevant to my direction and always compare the outcomes with the precedents critically. Also, it is important to always keep your argument firmly when making major design decisions. For example, whenever we tried to alter the form of our installation, I will try to direct it into the “continuous form” I am interested and then explore further.

Applying technical skills

It appears to me that the biggest problem we faced in this design process is applying the technical skills, in particular the understanding of grasshopper. In a lot of circumstances, our design ideas are restricted by our limited grasshopper knowledges. For example, we initially wanted to use the intersecting joints between the panels to frame the structure. But we have to alter it into a waffle structure as we can’t work out the script needed for the intersection joints. Although the “trade off” is always necessary, but I will try to improve my digital design techniques in the future design to minimize these situations.

Learning outcomes

Future work

Through the exploration of a future architectural discourse as well as the application of the parametric design, I am impressed by the logic and ration that enabled by the digital technology. In particular, in enabled a numerical relationship between the introduced parameters and the desired outcomes, so that the spatial experience it produced become much more specific and precise. However, as the design is driven by the computing through the whole process, the imagination and uncertainty of the architecture design is highly restricted by the technical development.

By the understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the computing design, I think I will apply it critical in the future depend on the circumstances. I will definitely try to explore more about the digital fabrication since it is much more effective and produces more interesting forms. But I will involve the parameter design more carefully through the design process, try not to restricted my design concept by the technical limitation through improving my digital knowledge and applying it in the appropriate projects.

Bibliography

Burry, Mark .2011. Scripting Cultures: Architectural Design and Programming .WWWUK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Kolarevic, Branko.2003 Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufactur-ing. New York; London: Spon Press

Patrik Schumacher. 2011. ‘Introduction : Architecture as Autopoietic System’, in The Autopoiesis of Architecture. New York: Wiley Academy.

Richard Williams. 2005. ‘Architecture and Visual Culture’, in Exploring Visual Cul-ture : Definitions, Concepts, Contexts. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press

Yehuda E. Kalay.2004 Architecture’s New Media : Principles, Theories, and Meth-ods of Computer-Aided Design .Cambridge: MIT Press

Greg Lynn. 2004. Folding in Architecture. New York: Wiley Academy

Documents

air studio journal final_335615