CONTENT
SELECTED RESEARCH PAPERS AND DISSERTATION
MACHCUBE
Theodore Spyropoulos Studio AADRL
COMPLEX-CITY
DigitalFUTURES Workshop 2020
CREATIVEAI ECOLOGIES
DigitalFUTURES Workshop 2021
INFINITY
Workshop I AADRL
ENCODED ASSEMBLIES Workshop II AADRL
MISCELLANEOUS Digital Sketches Community Centre
RESEARCH PAPERS AND DISSERTATION RECIPROCATIVE RESPONSES
ABSTRACT - Architecture is no longer considered something static and immutable; instead it is seen as adaptive, interactive and behavioural. At every stage, architecture is seen to be implicitly controlled by the concept of behaviour and communication, whether realized or not. Interaction and spatial environments act as catalysts for enablement in an open framework of architecture. Such model helps in enabling and generating complex and symbiotic relationship between its users and observers within their respective environment. These models shows that architecture is much more than just a physical entity which encompasses a volume but is also behaviour and interaction based. To make architecture more interactive, the challenge is to build such environment that are shared between participant (observers and performers) and serves as a stimulus for complex interactions to happen through continuous exchange that are real time and behaviour based between human and observing agents, making architecture active, flexible and adaptive. Working towards this, behavioural complexity uses new forms of interactions that are social, material and environment. The essay contemplates the works of Minimaforms which tries to emulate the ideas of responsive architecture through behaviours and interaction in the physical world which responds to the user. The essay is a descriptive analysis which tries to understand the ideologies of behavioural complexity using two projects namely, Memory Cloud and other being the Petting Zoo. Both of these projects encompass the principle of behaviour complexity. Minimaforms is an experimental architecture and design based practice founded in 2002 by brothers Stephen and Theodore Spyropoulos.
DEALING WITH STREET VENDORS IN PUBLIC OPEN SPACE WITHOUT EVICTION: A CASE OF ATTA MARKET NOIDA
ABSTRACT - Street Vending as a Profession has been in existence in India since time immemorial. The hawkers are unique phenomena in all metropolitan cities of India. The practice of street vending might have begun centuries ago. There is a common saying that “where there is traffic, there is business” which reflects a characteristic of atta market Noida hawkers and vendors. Noida city has a large number of street vendors as an informal trade. Street vendors bring life to dull streets. They show where economic activity-on street and off street is concentrated. They can provide interest with colorful stalls costumers and merchandise, and they can enhance tourist also, we can say that they are the part of the city image but they create some problem also like -unpleasant urbanscape with producing garbage on the street and crowd on the footpath. Obstruction for pedestrian, another major problem is poor environmental sanitation because of littering etc. We can’t evict them because so many urban dwellers depend on street vending and because of eviction they become jobless so eviction is not a solution. The aim of the study is how to deal with street vendors in public open space without eviction and make that place successful public space. The objective of this study is to find out the various categories of street hawkers vending in atta market, for describing the nature of street vending activities in atta. This study also find the issues related with street vending which impact on the city and also suggest solutions how to deal with the vendors in public space without eviction. The study is useful to the civil authorities of noida, policy making institutions, and the general public. The only way that the government can effectively deal with the problem of street vending is by creating jobs for the youth.
AI : UNSEEN FUTURE
COMPUTATION IN URBAN DESIGN - AN APPROACH
ABSTRACT - Artificial Intelligence in the simplest term is the intelligence displayed by the machines. John McCarthy in 1956 during the Dartmouth College summer conference coined the term “Artificial Intelligence” and stated it as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.”
ABSTRACT - There are traces of planned cities like Harappa and Mohanjodaro from ancient times. The traditional knowledge of designing the cities has passed from generation to generation. Designing the urban areas like towns, cities and their spaces like public buildings, intersections, streets and parks is a complex process as they all have their own individual problems and are also inter dependent to each other. A number of planning parameters have to be considered while designing the urban areas and cities. Therefore, asynchronous planning approach is desired in urban design as it involves many aspects across different disciplines. Therefore, increasing complexity in layers with every step of the process, thus making it difficult to apply satisfactory solutions universally. With the advancement of technology, computational techniques are now being used in designing the buildings and sites, but it is not widely used at urban or macro level in countries like India. To help the situation we propose a new approach, which complements design methods used traditionally combined with a computational approach that can fulfil formalizable design requirements automatically. This article is an attempt to highlight the usefulness of computational design in urban design projects.
Whether realized or not AI is slowly being embedded into every known field ranging from architecture to medicine, banking to aerospace, etc. As the AI industry grows and its development speeds up, the more intelligent machines and autonomous systems are being produced, having the capability to replace the humans. There are numerous issues which are identified with the rise of AI. In this essay, I will centre the discussion around a vital issue these days i.e. joblessness. Be that as it may, in nations with strong economy, it is more extreme when contrasted with fast growing nations. Another essential issue is identified with profound quality, wherein the worry is identified with the morals of such machines which raise the issue of security. Another issue is identified with the skill of the machines. Up to what degree one can depend on the knowledge of these machines when it truly comes to wellbeing and security? This essay tries to contemplate various projects across different fields and then analyse the effect of AI whether positive or negative. Finally, the essay tries to present a view on the future of AI.
DYMAXION VERTICALITY ABSTRACT - A modernist approach towards architecture is which involves the efficiency of structure through its mechanism Buckminster Fuller has been an epitome of this modernist thinking during the early mid 20 th century and he also conducted some of the most enthralling architectural experiments of the time His concepts included the fundamental understanding of design as mechanism to produce effective, economic shelter for a varied number of users Among many of his projects and futuristic designs is design of Dymaxion House, which is based on sustainability i e usage of materials in a much more efficient manner and also suggesting ways for prefabricated construction Although the projects were quite futuristic but generally were seen as having engineering approach rather than architectural masterpieces having spatial properties and its relationship therein The essay aims to present the speculative understanding of his projects and futuristic designs, and the schooling of his dymaxion concepts and theories Dymaxion Houses are also analyzed for the environment proposed and not only for the technology involved The essay also focuses on how it relates to its precedents i e American Women’s House in the US by Beecher and also the House 17 by Walter Gropius (parallel in Europe) Finally, the essay analyses Fuller’s position in
MACHCUBE THEODORE SPYROPOULOS STUDIO AADRL, London, UK Tutor - Theodore Spyropoulos Asst. Tutors - Mustafa El Syed, Apostolis De Spotidis Team - 3 Members Machcube as a research project is an epistemological investigation of architecture as an infrastructure that acts as a distributed system within a city. Through a continuous dialogue our architectural system is based on a dynamic framework which adapts to the needs of its surrounding environment. We propose a self-organising and adaptive system which is mobile and has the capability to self-structure. The research began by studying and analysing the potential of a cube and its variation of patterns to initiate mobility and flexibility. Further iterations on the evaluation of the criteria for mobility and self-structuring resulted in a flexible unit, which based on its rotation allows to have different states of self-assembly, reconfiguration and motion. The proposal creates an architectural system that is about collective experience and not the singular. Based on a five-unit chain working together that highlights the co-dependencies of the unit rather than on their individuality the focus is placed on the choreographed behaviour ensuring an importance to the system. The aim is to blur the difference between the one and the many within our environment. We have utilised machine learning and artificial intelligence in parallel with decision tree as well as various communication strategies resulting in a system that can observe and create infrastructure at a large-scale organisation allowing for spatial strategies, a distributed landscape condition and for city inhabitants to be entertained through their interaction with the collective units. Therefore, the project provides possibilities to create spaces within the city providing a new idea of culture in which people are an active agent in real-time space and urban configuration.
UNIT CREATION PROCESS This images highlights limitations of the unit having having hexagonal cross-section due to which circular cross-section was used thus making the units and the chain more dynamic and flexible in nature
TWO UNIT CHAIN
DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES
FOUR UNIT CHAIN
The images shows four-unit chain with circular cross-section having different organisation with varying rotation angles
PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT
Cellular automata’s logic was used as a starting point for the creation of the unit chain having the different location of seeds with varying decision making capabilities. Further with this logic of the seed and different possible neighbours, multiple possible organisation of the unit chain were achieved.
CHAIN CREATION
Individual unit looks out at possible immediate neighbours based on the direction and the position of the neighbours thus providing the system with different possible arrangement for the neighbours based on the location of seeds.
LABELLING DATA
Computational techniques were used to determine the possible permutation and the combination of the four unit chain based on the rotation behaviour of the chain itself.
CLUSTER FORMATION
Images highlight physical models having different organisation based on the rotational behaviour of the system.
HUMAN INTERACTION PROTOTYPE
The above images shows the prototype having sensors to determine the position of the humans and react accordingly. This prototype provided us with real time data for different possible arrangements of the units.
ORGANISATIONAL MODEL This images shows one single organisation achieved out of many based on the real time data collected from the prototype having human responsive sensors.
HIGH POPULATION ITERATIONS
COMPLEX-CITY DigitalFUTURES Workshop Tutor - Alisa Andresek Asst. Tutor - Joshua Lye, Mary Spyropoulos, Xinyu Wu Introduction The Project addresses design for high density city based on the principle of complexity. In a world converted int information, future cities and buildings will be characterized by enhanced resilience, plasticity, and malleability of complex interrelated systems; increased designability within complex ecologies will allow for design of unprecedented nature, complexity and scale. The project investigates new resources of big data, AI, simulation and automated construction. Voxelized data derived from simulation of local physics is synthesized with discrete assembly models targeted at AI design exploration, researching new fundamental of architecture at increased resolution with super performance and previously unseen aesthetics.
SOLAR ANALYSIS
MARS LANDSCAPES
Various Landscape were studied in the process of choosing a single one so as to understand the behaviour, terrain conditions. Also various analysis such as solar and wind provided with optimun amount of the data to understand how the complexivity can introducted in the later stages and how will it affected the landscape itself . This dune is choosen out of the DUNES that were researched and study because of the variation in overall topology and ridges, lot of potential was seen in the distribution of the agents, and how the units can come along, THE DUNE also has a lot of space of the movement and this topology provides us with more freedom to look at our units AND CLUSTERS in a more expressive and behavioural way.
Sunlight Hours Analysis (Summer)
VOXEL FIELD DIVISION The divison of the voxel field in completely based on the solar analysis, thus providing with good data that was later used in the synthesis of the city.
Agent Voxelisation
Cluster 01
Cluster 02
SYNTHESIS OF THE CITY
Agriculture and Energy Harvesting
15x15x15
Residential
10x10x5
Community Space
15x15x7.5
Commercial
15x15x15
Industrial
15x15x15
Cluster 01 The synthesis of the city is done based on solar analysis, it highlights that the habitable part is placed on the cliff to receive optimum sunlight but not too exposed because of the site being in hot zone. The industrial section of the city is placed on top on the energy storing and producing pod, the top of these units is double layered to provide space for the social gathering and interactive actives to take place. And the energy pod is placed on the bottom layer because of its being the least interactive and to avoid any interference with the working of the unit.
Energy Storage and Production
15x15x15
TOP VIEW
VIEWS OF THE VALLEY
Cluster 02
Cluster 01
CREATIVEAI ECOLOGIES DigitalFUTURES Workshop 2021 Tutors - Shermeen Yousif, Manos Vermisso, Daniel Bolojan
Introduction In response to recent integration of Artificial Intelligence within architecture, this project proposes a rethinking of the architectural design process by introducing nested generative design processes. A new design workflow is offered, for chaining a nested deep learning structure with generative models, to simultaneously address various stages and tasks of the architectural design process. Our approach expands the flexibility of AI-assisted design, by proposing a series of complementary deep neural networks, establishing a logical continuity in the design decisions while also challenging and augmenting the designer’s agency. This framework encourages the adoption of machine-assisted creativity for tackling various architectural systems, including formal articulation, structural logic, and enclosure responsiveness. Through the combination of parametric and AI models for “representation learning” and “domain-transfer”, parallel iterative workflows address design at the Urban and Architectural scales, using chained supervised and unsupervised neural networks. The instructors were interested to evaluate the impact of multi-designer presence on architectural design, leveraging on the interface among various human design agents.
PROCESS DIAGRAM
Figure 1 The workshop looked to combine various strategies using neural networks and other generative tools to explore the architectural design cycle.
‘Figure 1’ shows the idea with which the workshop began with, what we want to explore. The idea was to look at different layers organisational, environmental and massing layer. The organisational layer was mainly about the analogy of conceptualising the design intention, using certain processes combining both parametric as well as artificial neural network and finally trying to visualize the data in form of 3d.
‘Figure 2’ show the diagram which highlights the processes and the neural network involved in the research. We mainly used StyleGAN and the CycleGAN. First step being the StyleGAN in which the dataset is formed of Slime Mould, Reaction Diffusion and the Mars Landscape. Than the training of the dataset was carried out and the result coupled with different cities namely, Beijing and New Delhi, was fed into the CycleGAN.
Figure 2
Both the dataset choosen for the training were organic in nature, so trying explore if the given a domain like Slime or Mars Landscape, etc., can a network learn the semantic feature learned by a generator network and perform domain translation.
Note : For the StyleGAN Network training purpose a pre-trained NVIDIA network was used which was trained on Human-Faces.
EXPERIMENT - SLIME MOULD SIMULATION
Real Slime Mould Simulation Images From Grasshopper
EXPERIMENT - GRAY SCOTT MODEL
Fake Slime Mould Simulation Images From StyleGAN Network
Real Reaction Diffusion Simulation (Gray Scott Model) Images From Grasshopper
Dataset consisted of 1501 Images
Result : 0.2 truncation psi 21 ticks 10.5 hrs Produced a data set of 1000 samples at 0.2 truncation psi
Result : 0.5 truncation psi 21 ticks 9 hrs Produced a data set of 1000 samples at 0.5 truncation psi
Fake Reaction Diffusion Simulation (Gray Scott Model) Images From StyleGAN Network
Dataset consisted of 1976 Images
Result : 0.9 truncation psi 21 ticks 8 hrs Produced a data set of 1000 samples at 0.9 truncation psi
Result : 0.1 truncation psi 19 ticks 13 hrs Produced a data set of 1000 samples at 0.1 truncation psi
Result : 0.5 truncation psi 19 ticks 12.5 hrs Produced a data set of 1000 samples at 0.5 truncation psi
Result : 0.95 truncation psi 19 ticks 12.5 hrs Produced a data set of 1000 samples at 0.95 truncation psi
StyleGAN Results
StyleGAN Results
CycleGAN Results
CycleGAN Results
0.5 truncation psi were fed into the CycleGAN network coupled with Beijing City Plan, which outputed some interesting results on transferring domain from a latent space representing Slime Mould to Beijing City Planning. The network was trained for around 15 hrs.
0.5 truncation psi were fed into the CycleGAN network coupled with Beijing City Plan, transferring domain from a latent space representing Reaction Diffusion Simulation to Beijing City Planning. The experiment had unique behaviour but reqiured some time to train the model. The network was trained for around 19 hrs.
EXPERIMENT - MARS AND NEW DELHI
Real Mars and New Delhi Satellite Images from the Internet
EXPERIMENT - 3D FORM
Fake Mars and New Delhi Images From StyleGAN Network
Dataset consisted of 1600 Images of each Mars and New Delhi
Pre-trained StyleGAN network (interpolation of Andes Mountain and Barcelona)
Cubisim Painting used as a dataset
CycleGAN Result of interpolation of mountain and a city with that of cubisim
CycleGAN Results converted to Depth Map in order to use the information to generate 3d Forms
Result : 0.25 truncation psi 21 ticks 14 hrs Produced a data set of 975 samples at 0.25 truncation psi
Result : 0.55 truncation psi 21 ticks 14.5 hrs Produced a data set of 980 samples at 0.55 truncation psi
Result : 0.75 truncation psi 21 ticks 13 hrs Produced a data set of 950 samples at 0.75 truncation psi
StyleGAN Results
Depth Maps
3d Form Experiment
We placed the depth map at different heights and lofted them together. To get to the final form, 37 depth maps were lofted together.
CycleGAN Results 0.55 truncation psi were fed into the CycleGAN network coupled with Delhi City Plan, transferring domain from a latent space representing Mars to New Delhi. Although, the network was trained for around 23 hrs and had had some interesting results in form of Urban fabric but more time was required in order for better result in terms of Domain Transfer.
3d View of the final form
Lofted form
INFINITY Workshop I AADRL, London, UK Tutor - Tyson Hosmer Introduction The workshop, titled “Adaptive Manifold Assemblages” undertakes a design research into spatial, formal and material expression using 3D Modelling and 3D Printing. The study during the workshop explores topological mesh modelling, rind modelling and analysing strategically the role of manifold topologies to define architectural spaces. Closed manifold models were developed during the workshop which was feasible for 3D Printing. The project developed during the workshop named “infinity” explores infinite ways of using the helix and fusing it with other forms (such as hexagon, dodecahedron, etc.) to create structures which are stable enough and also has the flexibility which allows it to have a number of iterations while not compromising its strength and stability. The whole workshop study of this project revolves around the challenges and opportunities of using helix and interlocking it with other helixes. The final form is developed in three phases, each phase exploring helix differently while also keeping in mind its stability and strength, and enhancing its flexibility gradually at every respective phase. During the fabrication, a variety of dividing methods and joining strategies were discussed with different kinds of materials (PLA, Nylon, etc.) based on their features. Finally, the model printed with PLA is divided into three groups, each group containing six units respectively and then joined in a continuous loop. In the developing research, special-designed units are reorganised into different assemblages showing endless possibilities which reacts to “infinity”.
FORMING RESEARCH
The Infinity means endless. As the title of this project it has two meanings - A continous loop of the final fotm; - Countless possibilities of the combination with flexible joints.
CONCEPT
In the reseach, double helix was divided into abstract unit to show the process of creating. Every unit was be divided into three parts, no matter which one is replaced, the final form changes. Furthermore, the relationship of two unit influenced the relationship between two duoble helixes in the final form. The process used for modelling of the final form started with a simple unit which was duplicated at a certain angle and directions. These units were connected into a helix, and interlocked with other two, then were deformed along a circle to form a loop in the end.
JOINT STUDY
DIVIDING STRATEGY
The joint is divided along the edges of the original decahedron from which is was created.
For the purpose of printing bigger scale models, the final form needs to be divided in to pieces. before that, jiont study is necessary. 11 kinds of joints are researched in the study to figure out the relationship with scale and shape of sections.
The final form is combined with 3 loop forms. The bigger two loop are divided in to 12 pieces using the most stable joint we have researched. The 3rd loop should be locked with others, for this reason, it is divided into 6 pieces of lines and 24 pieces of linking parts. This diagram shows the position of 42 pieces and 90 joint in the final form.
The two interlocking rings that ultimately weave into two above rings are connected using simple rectangular joint. A slight skew of the male end of the joint helps in keeping the two pieces from easily slipping out.
Working as the most complex system of the final model, these elements rely mostly on tension once connected to the two above locking rings. The male and the female parts of the joints are simple, but its really the two components coming together that lends the whole to be called a “joint” in this final model.
FORM ITERATIONS
Modules are able to attach to one With the combining logic menanother from the top and the bottom, tianed before, lines can be providing another parameter to which formed with the codes. a new organization can be categorised
With same When combining directors, multiple helixes elements, can be the flexibility formed of by codes. the joints provides the opportunity to connect at different angles, therefore producing multiple forms
An stable net can be formed with a certain angel marked by the code.
A number of chain combined by the chain logic can be developed to a flexible surface wich is soft in a direction.
Also more Also,complex with other formconnecting can be achievedmethod based on like thelocking logic of the method single elements discussed organising before, to form chains whole can the system. be formed.
The aim of the project was to analyse the use of topological mesh modelling to develop complex geometries while keeping in mind 3D printing and also the materials that can be used for the printing process. The project was divided into three phases, each phase exploring different forms and its strength and stability and also emphasising the flexibility of the joints of the forms developed.
ENCODED ASSEMBLIES Workshop II AADRL, London, UK Tutor - Tyson Hosmer Introduction The aim of the Workshop was to study and analyse the behaviour and the use of the Games of Life and Cellular Automata rules to develop complex geometries in form of stable and controlled structure. Our project is divided into four phases namely setup research, rules research, cellular automata research, the fourth phase is the hybrid research which explores how all these studies can be used together to develop a form in a controlled environment and then is the outcome which explores all the rules to achieve the Multi-types of shapes and structures. According to the outcome, it shows again the ability to control the volume use the rules of Game of Life and Cellular Automaton.
RULES RESEARCH
HYBRIDISATION RULE RESEARCH Experiment 3 : Hybrid Rules of CA with Game of Life, Density Rules and Age Rules
Experiment 3 : Hybrid Rules of CA with Density Rules
Experiment 3 : Hybrid Rules of CA with Game of Life, Density Rules and Age Rules
Outcome Views
HYBRIDISATION RULE RESEARCH Experiment 4 Outcome: Hybrid Rules of CA Rules with Game of Life, density Rule and Age Rule
60 Layers
100 Layers when touchings
Outcome Analysis
Outcome Views
Top: 1. 2.
based on Game of Life rules, we add the rules: We define the rules different on the Top to make more chance of live cells on top. We make the died rule only 60% chance to work.
Middle: based on Game of Life rules,we add the rules: 1. Cells who live over 5 generations die. 2. Cellular Automaton rules.
Set up: 4 spaceships at 4 corners of a square, move forward in a specific direction.
100 Layers without touchings
MISCELLANEOUS : DIGITAL SKETCHES - GRASSHOPPER AND RHINO
Product Designing (Table)
Coffee Table designed using differential growth with 3d printing as technique considered for the process of manufacturing and the top having transparent glass
Product Designing (Chair) Differential Growth used in designing a chair with a prospect of metal 3d printing and a top sitting surface made out of acrylic sheet
MISCELLANEOUS : DIGITAL SKETCHES - GRASSHOPPER AND RHINO
Perpective View
Pavillion Design Stadium Facade Design
Design for a installation competition with the concept of creating a interactive environment between the user and the installation itself.
Front View
MISCELLANEOUS : COMMUNITY CENTRE
The idea was to join all 4 mushroom shaped structures to form a dynamic 3 dimensional structure each representing major religion of our community. The fifth was designed to help completing a circumfrence which in the later stages was deleted.
All modules then were joined by a circular capsule internally to the lateral part of the module. For clear movement of the public to the spaces like reading centre, meditation, exhibition spaces, galleries and public.
Section showing the typical spaces of every module and the entrance to it. Some seating on the form of the stairs were provided where public activities are showcased or dramtized. The top and bottom voids are used for the services.
Stage where form began to take the shape. The whole mass was placed on to a 4.5 m high pediment under which guest houses and parking are provided. On which lecture halls, training development and restaurants are situated on the top.
When entering the hemispherical interved dome the stairs leads you to the reception area of the module which is the lateral part and from thereon to the adjoining structures through the capsules.
Section showing the connectivity between the sideways entry to the reception area which further leads you to the inner spaces like galleries, reading halls with big Ovulated glass facade in the front.
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