Journal of Deisgn Studio Air ABPL30048 Studio 10 Yao (Brian) Han, 2013 Semester one
Content EOI I: Case for Innovation Previous experiment with digital deisign --------------------- 4 Architecture as discourse --------------------- 6 Comnputational architecture ------------------- 10 Parametric Modelling ------------------- 14 Algorithmic Explorations ------------------- 18 Conclusion ------------------- 21 Learning Outcomes ------------------- 22
EOI II: Design Approach Design Focus ------------------- 25 Case study 1.0 ------------------- 27 Case study 2.0 ------------------- 30
Content PreviouTechnique Development --------------------- 32 Technique Prototype --------------------- 40 Technique Proposal --------------------- 42 Learning Objective & Outcomes --------------------- 48
EOI II: Project Proposal Design Concept --------------------- 53 Tectonic Elements --------------------- 68 Final Model --------------------- 74 Learning Objective & Outcomes --------------------- 82
Previous Experience with Digital Design I took four studio subject and three of final projects is represented with digital technology. Rhino is the first digital software that I know for the model making that is introduced in the virtual environment. In the virtual environment, we used surface paneling tool to deisgn the lamp for bodys. And in my first trial with digital modeling, it is mainly forcus on the surface creation rather than architectural desin. It is sure that digital design with architecture is more complicated than digital art.
In the second year of architectural studio, we made real design of archictectural building. But teh second year’s project were conducted by the other digital making software, 3Ds max. With 3Ds, I mainly experienced my design with rectileanear shape which is less interesting compare to project with rhino. So in this case I have less opportunities playing around with different complex geometry. And now moving on to the Grasshopper and Rhino....
A1: Architecture as Discourse ‘Reading betweent the lines’ is a project done by Gijs Van Vaerenbergh on September 24th, 2011. The project is costing 30 tons of steel and 2000 columns to build up a transparent church structure on top of fundament of armed concrete. According to the reading of ‘Architecture and Visual Culture’ by Richard Wiliam this project would be describled as piece of art work rather than the architecture which is situated in the public space, constructed in the form of church and does not contain any well-defined function. The ‘church’ lead us to a visual experience of what a transparent building would look like. From the form of this building, of which it created a sculptural, visually transparent design by layers of steel, the whole idea of that is about a place of reflection and introspection rather than a actual church. It can be read as a heritage related reflection on the present vacancy of churches in the area and their potential artistic reuse.This design expresses an existence between the reflection of past and vacancy of the present.
Related back to the site, the whole site is sitting on natural landscape where is basically covered under the green space. And the use of material, almost red ‘rusting‘ steel, make the project standing out from its surrounding environment. The significance of steel not only selected as the structural feature, conducting ideas of the lightness of structure, but also it might suggest that it tries to link the project from the past to the present. Old rusting steel reflects the age of old, recently demolished prototype. Steel, a innovative material for the construction of the church, connects to the present and introduce a new existence of the project which pass message of this church from the old time.
‘Glass Farm’ conducted by Dutch architects MVRDV at Schijndel, the Netherlands, a square between the church, town hall and main street, it is another project that reflects the architecture in the past with modern expression of both material and structure. Schijndel’s market square suffered from Operation Market Garden damages during the Second World War and experiences numerous proposals before this one. The buidling form of ‘Glass Farm‘ represents a traditional form of Schijndel farm. The whole images of the historical farm is produced by 1800m2 glass facade, resulting in a reflection of stain glass in the chruch. The print is more or less translucent depending on the need for light and views. What this building bring to the site is a historical image of past as the site has significance of traditional images. The whole building image is out of scale, 14 metres tall for two storey farmhouse and 1.6 times larger than the original proportions, symbolizing a growing of village into the town. In additions, when adults passing by the building, they can experience toddler size again, possibly adding an element of nostalgic remembrance to their reception of the building.
The construction of the building represents the minimalism in style with the modern technologies of printed glass. With less interest in the strutural component, it provides a special focus on the visual experience on the glass and adjacent conditions. The voids on the surface of the buildingsuggests that building is a part of this urban environment and an interactive roles towards the cultural and historical view of this city which quite satisfied with it functions. This building is now serviced as Cafe and small shopping mall where people would like to gather and be reminded of the historical significance.
A2: Computational Architecture We have already acknowledge and experience that digital technology provide great improvement in the area of design providing another perspective view towards the world of nature. The famous precedence for BLOB architecture design, Montreal Biosphere, that created by visionary architect Richard Buckminster Fuller in 1990s, this structure, biomimetic structure, can never be archieved without the involvement of computational technologies. By creating this dome, it provides new thinking of art design and philosophy, how people surrounded by universe. And I believe digital technology is help with the structural and geometric design of the dome. With natural load sharing ability of perfect sphere and rigidity of triangular structure.
Of course that, a great digital design has to encounter with the issue on frabrication and construction as only now digital program is a analytical tool on the problems. Zaha Hadid office has great ability of expressing the idea of of fluidity, velocity and lightness. But in terms of construction, every large structure has to be teared down into small piece and every large surface has to be consisted of small panels. Therefore, digitial technology show its expertise on ccalculations which enable modern architect such as Zaha Hadid to start an inovation on digital fabrication and 3D printing. This proposal for a museum and cultural centre is creating a future architectural language that meets new technologies in order to articulate complexities and forwards the ongoing innovation,
Wooden Kreod Pavilion by Chun Qing Li
Chun Qing Li’s design of Kreod Pavilion has serious involvement with computational techologies. Contrast from the old time, modern architecture design require several representation to process the design. And the computer has the storage that enable us define the difference stage. In this case, I think the process of design mainly consist of two part. Firstly, it needs to come up with the overall surface of pavilion like the tensile fabric. Computer software would help us divide and map out the tenstion points that form the arcs. Then it can further introduce hexagonal structure on top
In the four phases of architectural design, introduced by Kalay, computor are play the big roles. In first stage it reveal the problem of the those complex geometry. With modelling in software, we can easily identify the workable parts and unconstructable setion simply by looking at the how well the sections are divided into simple geometry and the flatness it produced. In second, it can also provide alternative solution or method of creating patterns and joining the connections. Same rules applied to the evaluation part, rationalise and quantilize the aesthetic issue into the exact measurement and assessment. In this case how long is the each timber sticks and in what angle they joined together. Finally, 3D modeling and moder fabrication techologies that heavily related with computer would provide great presentation of project.
A3: Parametric Modelling Parametric design in my understanding is a systematic approach towards of design. It provides a precise language that might involved series calculation to achieve and record the process of design. It allows design to be visualized and able to communicate the design with others. In particular, provides alternative solutions to each problem that found during the process. In the Woodbury’s paper, he argues that parametic design provides problem-research and problem-refining in addition to original design. In parametric design, it is too easy to modify your design in different way. Therefore with a simple geometries as beginning parts, parametric design could produce numerous results for designer to consider. The actions might involved lofting, twisting, triagulating, knotting and framing. In the case of Kaohsiung Port and Cruise Service Center by Reiser Umemoto at Taiwan, it is obvious that the design outcome has involved lofting, twisting and framing the surface.
Architecture design is about archieving the functional needs of building in a aesthetic way. With all the action that could successfully archieved by parametic modelling, it has more opportunities to add in design features to the projects. Also the fluidity of design is increased in parametric deisgn which can suit the design into more complex conditions and introduce more floating space into the volumes. For instance the stairway that connecting upper floors in the lobby of this service center provide both flows of beauty and flows of traffic way. On the other hand, not only parametric design offer more designing approaches, but also it creat more problems that could delay the fabrication. Fluidity is great way of expressing natural component and it is possible to manufacture. But it requires larger amount of time to repairing the issues that comes up with it. It takes serious consideration of framing the elements and fabricating it out. And also the mathematical and algorithmic codes could be another difficulties in parametric modelling.
National Stadium of Beijing, Bird’s Nest, is one of most unique architectural expressions that involved the parametric modelling. The stadium has two independent structures, a red concrete seating bowl and the outer steel frame around it at a 50ft distance. What I have great interest about the parametric design is that parametric design seperates the outter facade from the inner structural and functional component. Parametric modelling helped to enhance the aesthetic quality produced for facade and keep the main body as functional as before. And what is unique about this project is the facade that contains the interwoven steel enclosure. It is designed to appear as a solid bowl from a distance in the concept shap of bird’s nest. From whole perspective view, the national stadium is seem to be consisted of layers of irrational geometries. During the parametric modelling of the Bird’s Nest, the obvious issue come to the front is how to rationlize the steel wiring of the building of which some of the steel
components are interconneted with each other. From its scripting, it needs to have two main parts. One is the steeling wiring components and the other one is the hypothetical surface where the lines are running on. Then finally to merge this two componets into one components that have all the steel wiring lies on a particular plane. Even that is archievable it is still a question how to run the line on the exactly the shape that expected. And how do we limited the angle the steel wiring would bend in to the shape. All of the parametric modelling require higher skills of practicing different geometries with different combinations which bring up a shortage of parametric design. Becasue there is infinitely possiblities of development, so there will not be any exact solution towards each problem. Finally, recent technologies of fabrication might be the main constraint of parametric design. Sometimes parametric design would bring out the results that seemed quite irrational, possibly the same situation as Bird’s Nest, therefore manufacturing the product such as that would come with extremely high cost. That’s most likely why there is more proposals of parametrc design than the actual built one.
A4: Algorithmic Explorations In the section of algorithmic exploration, I am going to introduce my grasshopper experience with the parametric modelling, especially related to the second precedence in the parametric modelling section, the National Stadium of Beijing. The reason why I chose to complete the exploration towards this bird’s nest structure is that the National Stadium of Beijing has its unique expression with parametric design and during the parametric modelling secion, I had attempt to explain the designing process and issues on that projects. So it might be a good experience to have a try with that. As my assumption in the last section, we need two different components to complete this geometry. But the reality is more complicated in order to archieve this shape. Firstly, we need several curves and a loft surface to creat the surface of which steel wiring are running on. In the second stage, I introduced two random sets of points related on the loft surface that I just created.
The action that I used to create the random points is the bounding box and populate 3D. In order to make the line running irrationally, I introduced two sets of random points give different counts of points for each populate 3D command. In the next stage, I would join the population points together graphically to define the numbers of lines that will join and provide the general directions, by normal plane command, for the steel wirings. To be aware that I generate 94 points in the first group and 46 points in the second group. This would result in some of lines are most likely share their starting points or ending points. But it is fine with my intension here. Once the random lines are created by brep command on the surface, it is easier just warp them up into volumes.kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk To summarise this exploration enabled me understanding how to creat the random distribution of geometries on the surface. I think it provides a better experience
than the general patternalizing or most commonly the tragulation of the surface. It provides the same concept of finding starting points on the different surface. But with the different number of counts in each group, it results in different outcomes and provide more knowledges in alorithimic thinking and problem solving. But there is one issues that could overturn the whole experiment which is the problem of rationalize and quantize the design into exact measurements. It is not impossible but it would require large amount of time to do so. For the rational patterns which I also have attempted with the same curves to begin with, I found that is more easy to control the aspects and it spent less time solving the difficulties that come with the random number.
A5: Conclusion In conclusion,architectural design is not just simply an art work expression. It has all the social, cultural and even the historical aspects that need to be consider. And the importance of reacting with surrounding site is another enssential factors that involved in ‘architecture as discourse’. Move forward to the modern design process, it is not doubt that computer-aided design program has used widerly in the field as it enhace the quality in problem analysis, problem solving, project modification and project representation. It improves both productivity and communication level, providing designer with apportunities to challenge more complex tasks. The parametric modelling certainly is the one major computational technologies that forward our thinking in both graphical design and structural expression. It provides more actions in modifying the forms and shapes. it opens up variety in architecture design. But the more range of choice it brings to us, the more chances we will encouter all the unknowns and uncertainty. And also modern limitation of fabrication techologies is another aspects that hold the back of parametric design.
A6: Learning Outcomes After four weeks of experiencing the parametric design, I felt a strong wave driven by modern computational program that provide innotative ways of thinking and designing. I understand how simple shaps such as points, curves and planes can be reform under different algorithm sets and produce a dymatic outcome. And mainly I learnt how to modify the surface pattern in a parametric approach. Although I had limited skill on rhino and grasshopper, and I constantly suffer with the technical difficulties, I still believe the parametric modelling has more benefits than its disadvantages. Parametric modeling really amazed me by providing the stages to complex geometries and the combinations that complex geometries would produce. From the study of precedences and research, I think I would focus my design approach at the area where we can playing around the simple and light geometry to patternalize the surface facade, in which should be different solid and heavy structural components. Architecture is about designing toward different functions. Therefore the design for main structural body and additional aesthetic facade should be seperated and demostrating the different of needs.
Reference Richard Williams, 'Architecture and Visual Culture', in Exploring Visual Culture : Definitions, Concepts, Contexts, ed. by Matthew Rampley (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2005), pp. 102 - 116. Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media : Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2004), pp. 5 - 25 Kolarevic, Branko, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (New York; London: Spon Press, 2003), pp. 3 - 28 Woodbury, Robert (2010). Elements of Parametric Design (London: Routledge) pp. 7-48 N.Shireen, H.Erhan, R.Sanchez, J.Popovic (2010), Design Space Exploration in Parametric Systems: Analyzing Effects of Goal Specificity and Method Specificity on Design Solutions Cross N and Dorst K Co-evolution of Problem andSolution Spaces in Creative Design: observations froman empirical study, Computational Models of Creative Design IV(1998), J Gero and M L Maher (ed),University of Sydney, NSW, Australia Visual News, 2011, http://www.visualnews.com/2011/10/03/the-transparent-church-read-between-the-lines/ Archdaily, 2012, Reading Between the Lines / Gijs Van Vaerenbergh, http://www.archdaily. com/298693/reading-between-the-lines-gijs-van-vaerenbergh/ Archdaily, 2013, Glass Farm / MVRDV, http://www.archdaily.com/321503/glass-farm-mvrdv-2/ Dezeen Magazine, 2013, http://www.dezeen.com/2013/01/17/glass-farm-by-mvrdv/ A.L.Alperovich, 2012, Chun Qing Li’s Sustainable Wooden Kreod Pavilion Unveiled at London Design Festival, http://inhabitat.com/beautiful-kreod-pavilion-opens-today-as-east-londons-new-sustainable-architectural-landmark/ Key Data, 2013, Beijing National Stadium, ‘The Bird’s Nest’, China, http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/national_stadium/
B1: Design Focus
PART B. EOI II DESIGN APPROACH
Design Focus BIOMIMICRY BIOMIMICRY (Bio = nature, mimicry =Imitation)literally represents the action which we are studying and taking inspiration from nature, then imitates and apply the designs and process into system for problem sovling. We chose biomimicry as our design focus referring to mainly three points: 1) Adaptations: a bio-system in a specific environment has the specific features that allows the connections and adaptability towards the local environments and providing the sense of belonging with the state. 2) Vitality: nature is a collections of living things. In terms of design benefit, the project from biomimcry could provide image where it is a good destination for life and has good development within the communities. 3) Eco-friendly: the thought for future city development should really embrace the nature and building a society with sustainablity because nature is actually the place we live in.
Molecular Structure
Molecular sphere
Roskilde Dome, 2012
Biosphere Peoject
To summaries the points, we think we can develop our approach of biomimicry by looking into the biomolecular structure, to dig deep into how the molecules structure are growing from ‘individuals’ to ‘the society’, to gather and form a strong networks that pretecting the members in the groups.
Times Eureka Pavilion is a graden approach design by the inspiration of cellular structure and how the process of growth of cellular structure will futher impact on the design outcome. It is quiet relevant to our design approach, first it show how the biomimicry design works. It took the inspiration of cellular structure of plants and mimic the growing process by using the parametric design. Although, It is simple and clear in their basic idea and design process, the design outcome it produce is quite dramatic. We can see how design is intergraded into the natural environment and garden landscape. And in this design it also use the different material to express the nature of biomolecules. The timber frame representing the groups and plastic to show how flexible the individual members can be when in the groups.
Times Eureka Pavilion, by Next Architecture
ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion at the University of Stuttgart ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion at the University of Stuttgart is another of the research project on the performance of biosystem by computational design. It engages the complex morphology of hexgon structure to the visual effect it produces. In term of geometry and overall form, it draws the idea from sea urchin’s plate skeleton and applied that to structure system which allows the performance of the structure to show a adaptability towards the environment by having the geometic differentiation. In term of fabrication, the modular systems are connected face to face by finger-joints which is quite a common skill in carpentry assembly. On one hand, it ensure the design purely stands on the shell structure and geometric performance. And on the other hand it introduces a little dynamic experiment when you looking close on the surface.
CASE Study 1.0
Creating base geometries by Arrange the structure by con- Add more fractal features by trimming with its scaled-down necting each face introduce more scaled truncated structure at seach end
Adding more features by creating pattern design on the surface of geometry
When arranging the pattern Again Introducing more scaled struclike this, it need to make sure ture to increase visual impact every patterns like this has connections so it can assemble together at fabrication stage
Morning Line by Aranda \ Lasch
Reflections: So accoding to the exploration towa basic and simple structure into complex geometr the surface and align the structure with specific e proach of biomimicry.
So in the case study 1.0, there comes the trial version of morning line by our own experiment and development. Step one: create the exact same basic geometry as the morning line by trimming each edges with set scale to c reate the fractal structural type.
Step two: finding the mid-points on the original pyrimid structure and connecting the mid-points together forming another triangles on the surface.
Step three: Keep developing the same fractal gemetry type to the new pyrimid forming a new basic geometry,
Step four: Create an interacting pattern on the surface of the fractal geometries which is the final structure of the Morning Line, a holo-tectonic system exploring the geometries and expression.
ards morning line, we leant how to transform a ry and introduce the feature such as pattern on expression to engage our design with the ap-
CASE Study 2.0
Second case study is about reverse engineering for producing ZA11 Pavilion
Setting up the basic surface place for creation
Layout out the hexagon grid onto the surface
Creating the extrusion towards the center point and trim out the center space
Find the center point of the surface volume
Introducing feature with extrucsion for the design ideas whether it is scaling or hollow the surface sections.
The most valuable lession from the case study is the fabrication skill. The website of designdiagram.com provide a clear images on how the ZA11 pavilion is assembling togther by useing the hexagonal connector.
Getting the digital model unrolled and layouted, sent the fabrication sheet to fab-lab for printing. In this case, we hace two ways of fabrication, first one is face to face connection and second on is what is introduced by ZA11, using the hexgonal connector
Technique Development This is the matrix development base on the exploration toward case study 1.0, the Morning Line. Bascially it is exploring the possible variation it has with solid geometries. By looking at both 2D pattern it produce by the matrix on the right and the 3D perspectives view from the matrix on the bottom, four-sided structures which is marked in red provide better outcome showing the connections between the individual elements when there is lining pattern on the surface. Also from the perspective view down the bottom, there is design protentials or the possibility for connecting the single structure together by using those blank surface on the geometry.
U Variable of 3
U Variable of 5
String Form
Excessive Form of String
U Variable of 7 Offset Extrusion
Extrusion toward Center Point
V Variable of 12
V Variable of 20 Opposite Direction Extrusion
Extrusion with Sharp Edges
V Variable of 32
V Variable of 40 Frame Mode V Variable of 50
Scale Variables of 0.3
Scale Variables of 0.5
Scale Variables of 0.8
Parts Assembly
The matrix on the left represents the different exploration outcome by different gird of geometry for Case study 2 project. Four type of geometries are tested in these context, rectangular, hexagon, diamond and a custom setting with crossed-shape in the middle. From the test, we could come up a reflection that retangular shape cannot be to squeezed, and diamond is not working well under the stretch in horizontal direction where the hexgon has same situation as diamond structure but it perform quiet good in most scenario. From the experiment of forms, I think both framing structure or surface construction could present better result with our approach of biomimicry due the perfomance they have ro show the structural aspects of molecular structure,
Apart from what is introduced in the case study, we need to inprove or develo design skills towards the performance or the ideas we what to achieve in the co go back to the precedence study for our design focus, the Times Eureka Pavilion Pavilion in the University of Stuggart, the design idea towards the biomimicry sho namic movement when expressing the geometry. That thought is challenged lat in which the biodynamic could be too much distraction for our desin. But in this p explore some of dynamic feature towards our design.
There is one exploration towards the idea of biodynamic for cellular structure (Scripts are learnt from Co-de-it Computaional Design). It looks complex but generally it is just dividing random hexgon gird cells into small pieces and set up the variables to control the amont of influence. This technique could reflects on the scaling production with the base geometry and introduce the various type of molecules forming together in the groups and represent property of the cell plasticity.
op some grasshopper ontext of biomimicry. So n and ICD/ ITKE Research ould have some biodyter in the design process point, we just want to
The other change it could be is with the geometry. From the previous matrix study, we come up that hexgons has the better adaptability in terms of strucutral design. Perhaps, we would not stick to the hexgon cell shape and allow the hexgon structure to be the starting point to our design. The following experiment is focus on drawing the cell-structure-like shape on the UV grid and set up the reference distance with the corresponding end points for the variations
The other aspects for the ‘dynamic’ idea is create a reference object that could control the points or the area of influence it has for reshaping the forms. The page on the left show how a point attractor would impact on the surface and the geometries within the surface. And the experiment at the bottom provide how the both surface and extrusion from the surface would be affected by the reference point
Technique: The prototypes Now the time get back to think the approach towards the final project in terms of both design features, structural types and fabrication technique. And we found that the project Voussoir Cloud is quite critical to out design approach, firstly the geometry expression is quite interesting, secondly the overall form is well considered in structural performance. In the ways of geometries, Voussoir Cloud is constructed up by individual members of curvy trianglars. And by this geometries that with curve edges, the overall structure has smooth vaults and sense of internal surface tension that also allow the porosity on the surface. The geometry has great outcomes towards the biomimicry approach where the individual members of base geometry express the its adpatability by forming the different density area at different loading part, specifically they gathered a denser area along the edges. And the structral thinking of the this project is the most amazing part of this design, where the vaults have relied largely on the compressive strength that holds and create the face-to-face connections. Such technique is usually found in brick or stone construction,the solid construction sequnece. But in this case, it is achieved with thin laminated timber plates there it is quite clear to see the structural ribbs by face-toface connections that transferring the loads, and even more suprised the how point connections exist and survive with the overall forms. So what we trying to achieve through this precedence is express the adaptability of molecular structure by the compressive forms like this. After all, this might be another distracting point where mix-up too much idea together for our projects.
Technique Proposal Idea Refining From case study 1,the Morning Line, we learnt that designing a project require 1) basic geometry, 2) expression of the design project which it needs to be united and 3) little design feature to increase the visual affect. Hence:
Molucular Structure = Base Geomtry Aggregation Process of Molecules = Expression Biodynamic Feature = Design Perfomance
In ideas, stick to the concept of polymerization, the aggregation process of molecule strucutre to achieve better functional adaptability toward the systems.
In geometries, we choose the hexagon as our developing stages due 1) most commonly shape recognized in molecular structure, 2) from the matrix text, hexgon grid have great potentials adapting the different variables. And from the hexgon, in real molecular world, hexgon is formed after six single molecules bonding together for better performance. So we might divide the hexagon into six parts referring how the molecules are grouping together.
In forms, with the continuting research on the DLA’s project of hexgon surface patterns and Voussoir Clould, we are trying to produce a compressive forms of a hexagon surface to show how the molecules are gathered and adapt inmmediately with the living conditions.
In performance, we extrude the structures into the center point to represent that molecular structure has 3D dynamic movement. And using different color to show that structure might be formed by different cells
General Design Process
Creating a simple hexagon grid
Introducing point attractor to create dynamic
Creating the compressive form
Adding more design features on
Fabrications
Producing two models with same morphology but different patterns on the surface for materials and fabrication testing. Basically, we want to follow the face-to-face connections that resulting a smooth compressive forms for Voussior Clould project.
Using perspex black and clear, more rigid material to test the light and shade perfomance
Grey and white card to test the plasticity of the material and its overall forms
Learning Objectives & Outcomes Summary:
Biomimicry Technique Development
Case Study
Scaling Features, Pattern Connections & Extrusion Surface, Connector Joints
Surface Pattern Design & Point Attractor Influence Design Prototypes
Smooth Expression of Structral Forces and Forming Making
TOO MUCH IDEAS !!!!!!!!!
Final Project
- cellular structure - Hexgonal Feature - Light & Shadows - @#$** .............
New Refinement: Simple and Effective Biomimicry = Bio-systems + Imitation (Forms)
Molecular Structure: 3D Perspective of Cellular Shape Polymerization Bonding definition: Aggregation for Adaptation
Future Improvement:
Not just the surface but Engaged more with the structure
student work from Pratt institute’s graduate architecture & urban design exhibition 2013
Taking the further study on the true perspective on molecular structure and mimcry the forms and structures by representing the bonding between the molecules. I think by imitation, we need to focus more on the structural representation of the polymerization process and allow the materials or the forms tells more about its natural features.
Conclusion: From the mid-semester feedback, we realized that the design appraoch for our teams is too spread out that contains too much factors which it was coming from the basic concepts. By which, the more we summaries from each case study or the technical explorations, the more we forced things into our design. In that case, we better go back to the original points development the new projects towards the true meaning of Biomimicry. The project produced by this stage is only the surface not much three dimensional design project (generation and adaptation of molecular strucutre). So by development further towards the final projects, we need to focus more with the structure by using either the connectors that we explored from the case study two or the new framing systems from the precedence of student work from Pratt Institute’s. And we should evolve our expression by clear representation of structure to produce our final design.
Reference The Biomimicry Institute , © 2007-2013, What is biomimicry, http://biomimicryinstitute.org/about-us/ what-is-biomimicry.html Andrew Michler ,2011 ,Beautiful Times Eureka Pavilion Mimics the Structure of a Leaf, Inhabitat, http:// inhabitat.com/beautiful-times-eureka-pavilion-mimics-the-cellular-structure-of-plants/ “Times Eureka Pavilion / Nex Architecture” 12 Jun 2011. ArchDaily. Accessed 09 May 2013. <http:// www.archdaily.com/142509> ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion at the University of Stuttgart, 31 Oct 2011, Dezeen Magzine, http://www. dezeen.com/2011/10/31/icditke-research-pavilion-at-the-university-of-stuttgart/v CLJ02: ZA11 PAVILION, 2013, designdiagram.com, http://designplaygrounds.com/deviants/clj02-za11pavilion/ Rob Ong, 2008, Voussoir Cloud by IwamotoScott, Dezeen Magzine, http://www.dezeen. com/2008/08/08/voussoir-cloud-by-iwamotoscott/, photos by Jud Terry Voussoir Cloud – IwamotoScott, 2008, Bios, http://biosarch.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/voussoir-cloudiwamotoscott/, photos by Stephine Lin Plataforma Arquitectura, 2011, Voussoir Cloud, Triangulartion Blog, http://www.triangulationblog. com/2011/06/voussoir-cloud.html
Techinical Reference: Grasshopper code, 2013, Co-de-it Computational Design, http://www.co-de-it.com/wordpress/code/ grasshopper-code Discussion Forum, 2013, Grasshopper.com Jason Ivaliotis, 2012, Armstrong, Gerber, Paz_Grasshopper Parametric Mesh Generation, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture Planning and Preservation, http://vimeo.com/25639993
PART C PROJECT PROPOSAL
Design Concept In the Thrid stage we need to confront everything we did from last two parts with the final gate way proposal of Wyndham city:
Biomimicry - Bio-system = concept of cellular form aggregation & adaption Mimicry = representation of structure both individual & groups
Wyndham city proprosal: Reflection on the features of Wyndham Natural Features: such as Werribee River, K Road Cliff and Environmental Parks
Historical & Cultrural Features: such as Werribee Park Mansion, RAAF Museum, Cobbledicks Ford and so ons. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iconic, Eyecathcing peojectsâ&#x20AC;&#x153;
Combine the brief with our concept of biomimicry: The features of Wyndham city could be classified into two aspects natural, environmental features and historical, cultural advantages. Natural aspects of the site could be well expressed by the concept of biomimicry. Beyond that, the cultural and historical identity is the one we need to define in the design which should directlly linked with the iconic images of projects. Also in another hand, the project of gateway should have an eyecatching structure or exciting experience provided by the deisgn which allow the project to be standout and draw travelerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention into the area of the site. From the broad site map on the right hand side, we can see that the proposal site is a significant traffic connection to lots of community at coastal Victoria. Particularly the Wyndham city is existing bewteen two large urban environment, Melbourne CBD and Geelong. Therefore, developing the urban envionment and attracting population for development is critical to city of Wyndham and city of Werribee as well. Therefore the concept of cell aggregation could be explored as the growing populations, interacting societies and further more the booming urban development.
Melbourne CBD
Site Geelong
WYNDHAM CITY FEATURES
STAGE 1:
NATUREAL FEATURE
Connect to Cell Aggregation Biomimicry:
CULTURAL IDENTITY: Urban Development & Population Growth
STAGE 2:
EYE-CATCHING FORM& SPATIAL EXPLORATION
Related to Experience:
--Light & shadows --Volumetric performance
CELLULAR STRUCTURE
ADAPTATION
AGGREGATION
-Relationships with groups -Different identity within the groups
-Increasing urban population
-Booming urban environment
groups of patterns gathering into a forms of network
adpatability of shapes - attracting points strucutures of shapes responsed to the environment
FINAL DESIGN
To Wyndham To city
Define the site with major traffic direction
Viewpoint from road on north
South view of project
Reform the shape in order to maximize the view
Allow more curvy shape to establish the adapativity of structure
The basic form of project is defined by the actual proposal site. Because the project is one key gateway elements, so the location of the site is situated at a major traffic connection, between two highways, one is from Geelong to Melbourne, the other is entrance of Wyndham. And the form of design in streched according to the site which allows the maximun view from the road on the north side. And the streched form could produce better performance of the project as each pattern could have different variation of the size in different position. Further more thinking, the project is arched across a driving lane which enhance the potentials of visual exploration under the structures.
We start exploring the with hexgon grid due to the special properties of hexgon structure. Firstly, it has the better spacitial efficiency so that it does not lose the space when attaching with each other. And secondly, hexgon is strong structure, very closed to the circe. The geometry itself allows the better distribution of force when comparing with other
In our design, the hexgon shape is used to define the network of cells gathering together for the better performance which it is applied as iconic meaning behind the design. Groups of cells = closed community gathering of population almost infinitely Adapativity of shape = good accomodation of individuals within the group
Form Defining
Start with a simple hexgon grid
Introduce attracting points that could allow the shape to deform according to the points
There were two points at each side for the purpose of observation
Arched form of gateway
Extensive form according to the site In the verical perspective, we engaged our project with original arch form of gateway which we according to our deisgn, we have our structure grid that consists by lots of little hexgon elements on each rows. And the arched form would help the structure to be clear for the real construction.
Attaching to both plan view of hexgon gird and vertical apsect of extensive arched form, we came up with the final forms that contains undulating curvature on all directions to express the adaptivity of shapes of each cells and variation of size of cells.
Main Structure Part
Under the pattern of hexgon groups, we introduce an extrusion of the shapes, so that the shapes could form a volumetric structures which allow the space to connecting individual cells together. Also, the middle volume of the design shows the great structure ability that the cells could be jointed together to form a compressive arch.
The third volume space focuses the light on the drive way to provide the exciting experience to drivers.
Here is the additional volume at the bottom part where this sections of structures are used to provide the visual and spatial exploration beneath the structure. This experiences of the form is targeted for the drivers who travel throught site so that the exciting performance of the under-structure form and light & shadow affects it provide would mark the awareness of the area they are entering.
Tectonic Elements In term of building the parametric model in grasshopper, there were mainly three layer of design.
1) the exterior hexagon surface: - showing the aggregation of cells - adaptivity of shapes - smoonth pattern of surface
2) structure extrusion in the middle: - allow the each individual cell be jointed together
3) Volume exploration underneath - light & shadow effect - dynamic structure experience
But reflecting on the structural performace of the project, not only we wanted to express the aggregation form of cellular structure, but also the individuality of the form is significant for the entire forms. Hence the individual elements of cell should be clear when observing the object, similar to the project of Honeycomb Lighthouse at the King Abdullah University.
The individual cell are fabricated separately as single unit. Then, it can be jointed in a line and fianlly the whole structure.
Construction Method
A section view showing how the individual cells are jointed together
Plan detail of cell structure
Using the steel frame to reinforce the panel structure
Steel Frame for individual cell
In the realistic construction part, we were thinking using the prefabricated panels, such as precast concrete panels. Structurely, concrete is rigid enough so it can perserve the best performance for individual cell element. And the whole structure can work with steel frame system to support the structure more effectively in the open area. By assembling the individual panel into a cell structure, in the first step, the panel are held in place with the support and reinforcement of steel frame. And addtionaly, the connection face of each panel is jointed by steel plates.
Fabrication Method for Physical Model
Knowing that fabrication of physical model is quite different with the real construction in term of materiality and structure ability. But the concept of design features should be well kept within the every physical model that we trying to make. That is how the individual elements are gathering together and variation in different size. To express the individuality, we need to tear down the whole structure into single elements. And each element is divided into two sections where the top two parts are connected together so that it would be easy finding the attaching points of element.
The material we choice to build the physical model is the white cardboard paper. Firstly cardboard is strong enough to hold the structure together and keep the shape of individual elements. Secondly, cardboard has the flexibility to fold. Due to that we can simply using the paper tabs to joint the structure and keep the model as simple and clean as possible. In this case due to the limitation of card cutter, we provide the 400gsm cardboard which two layers of composite paper is working quite well with the folding tabs and sticking the faceto-face connection with other members.
Final Model
Experience:
Two major experience that we introduced in the project. When obseving the surface of the project, we would like the drivers to experience the smooth surface of the design. The fludity of exterior structure provide elegant outlook that could defintely drawing peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention when driving through. It also has great implication that showing the aggregation and adapation of the element. For the interior structure is specifically targeted for those who driving from Geelong to Melbourne City which is largest flow of traffic in the area. The structure underneath on one hand provide a spatial exploration where the structure are constructed to be a carved-like view, contrasting from the smooth surface. On the other hand, the porous opening of the element provide s great visual experience with ligh and shadow, reminding the traveler the entering of new distinct.
Leaning Objectives & Outcomes In conclusion, the final project that we produced through the last few weeks fits the brief for the gateway project as it provide visual awareness and interesting experience at the proposal site. We were quite happy with the overall expressive form and carry out the concept of aggregation and adpation of cellular structure from the original idea to the final design. Additionally, through the exploration of grasshopper technique and prototype research, we were able to present an exciting visual experience under the structure which allow the project to interact with the local environment, mainly the light and shadows. Although the overall picture was satisfied at the time, there were problems and areas that we can improve with further development. Addressing from the feedback after the final presentation, there were still issues that did not solve quite well for the fabrication of the project. It was quite a shame that we did not have too much time in fabrication and study of realistic construction. The process of fabrication was a little of pushed-over. Some of elements were too small even we tried consider the size and scale of projects over and over again. Some of the elements is damaged during the process of fabrication so project was the elegantly smooth as we expected to be. The material selection or the grasshopper calculation should be more procise in order to reduce the error between the digital program and fabrication of the physical model. Through the study of ‘Honeycomb Lighthouse‘ and ‘Spanish Pavilion by FOA‘, we understand the hexgons grid are hard to deal with in terms of construction. But still, we need to provide more solution with the project.
Looking back from the whole semester, the leaning process for studio air contains both excitement and pains. But overall experience with grasshopper is great and recieve lots of feedback both from the tutors and our own explorations. It started good with first part, Innovation of Architecture, we know the architecture is not simple as it seems to be. It provide lots of influences to the people and sometimes it help in contribution of local urban context. Then we were introduced to the parametric design. At the very first attempt it was a strange program to me as I always exploring the simple geometry and design context at my first two years of architecture learning tours. It broaden my sight to see how the world of architecture is developing with the digital age and what a great aesthetic outcome it will produce through parametric design. And start off the second part, I was having fun to experience with lots of grasshopper technique that will enhance our ability of design. And through the case study, I was quite a achievement for the beginner to produce what was already a famous design and study and learn how they regulate and control the basic element to produce the final project. But furthermore, it was quite depressed that we went too far on the exploring exercise and we were pushing all the technique into the design instead of refining our design with the technique. Lucky that we still have time to start over and think about what is really needed and necessary for our final project. That is great semester learning with lots of design technique and presentation technique. And I am looking forward to improve myself like what we did in this subject for the future study and career time.
Specical thanks to my group member Elsie Zheng and Mengdang Yang, as we working harder and harder through the semeter and our tutor Adam Markovitz and Daniel Davis for all the feedbacks and kindly criticism during the study period.
The End