Thesis Report

NODAL AGGLOMERATION Reinvention of the traditional tectonic in vernacular architecture ZENG ANPEI Thesis supervisor

Email: anpeizeng@msn.cn Lange, Christian

Tel:+852 67710358

+8618207676801

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS After this more than 6 months’ journey, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation and deep regards to my thesis supervisor Christian Lange for his inspirational guidance and patient help throughout the process of my thesis. It is the generous encouragement given by him that would carry me a long way in the career life.

I also take this opportunity to express a deep sense of gratitude to the staffs of Faculty of Architecture. I am grateful for the valuable information provided by them in their respective fields.

I have to say that only with the help of them that I could get the opportunity to complete this thesis project.

I might not express enough thank to Hu Chen, Zhang Zhuan, Wu Yue, for their constant support and companion during the last week before lockup.

Last but not least, many thanks to my parents and all my friends for their kindly encouragement and regard even far away from me.

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CONTENT -Site -Vernacular timber structure -Case studies Timber structure precedents Program precedents

-Exploration on 魯班鎖 -Methodology for architecture -Project design -Detail design Appendix i Appendix ii

CITATION BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Site Zhangjiajie is a city that is famous for its natural sights of its unique mountains. The essay and painting by the famous painter Wu Guanzhong made this mountain area a popular tourism place since the 1980’s. In 1992, the pillar-like mountain area was recognized as a World Heritage Site, and is called now the Zhangjiajie Forest Park.

Due to large amounts of construction for the tourism industry, a lot of natural landscape was occupied with concrete buildings, and even water resources were polluted. The UNESCO released a warning in 2007 to remove Zhangjiajie as a World Heritage Site if the condition did not improve in time. Since then the government has spent more than 300 million Yuan to remove the improper buildings from the forest park. Yet the conflicts between construction for tourism and the heritage natural environment are still intense.

In 2010, the Hallelujah Mountain were shown in the eponymous film Avatar. According to park officials, photographs from Zhangjiajie inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountains seen in the film. This event made Zhangjiajie even more popular around the world.

Since the local economy relies on tourism industry, people could not reject visitors to come. Yet they are desperately in need to find solutions that are sensitive to the natural environment but also can serve the needs of the tourism industry.

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ghgjhj

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ZHANGJIAJIE 29째20'5.79" N 110째26'18.66" E

1980

IT IS THE ESSAY AND PAINTING BY A FAMOUS PAINTER WU GUANZHONG MADE THIS MOUNTAIN AREA BECOME A POPULAR TOURISM PLACE.

THE PILLAR-LIKE MOUNTAIN AREA IS RECOGNIZED AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE, THAT IS ZHANGJIAJIE FOREST PARK.

1992

Since the Zhangjiajie became much more prominence famous than the offical name of city, the government changed the name of the city as Zhangjiajie for the tourism development.

1994

2007

Deu to the over-construction for tourism, large amount of natural landscape was occupied by concrete buildings, even water resources was polluted.

The UNESCO released a warning in 2007 to remove Zhangjiajie from the World Heritage Site if the condition did not improve in time.

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45,000 residents 250,000 in the District people work in tourism industry

The Hallelujah Mountain in the eponymous film Avatar, . According to park officials, photographs from Zhangjiajie inspired the floating Hallelujah Mountains seen in the film.

46.7% 54.3% Other indulstry

470,000 people in working ages

2010

GDP From the tourism industry

Since the local economy relies on tourism industry, people could not reject visitors to come. Yet they are desperately in need to find solutions that are sensitive to the natural environment but also can serve the needs of the tourism industry.

33899 Billion RMB in total

2013

Even the government spent more than 300 million Yuan to remove the unproper builidngs in the forest park.

75,400 visitors in 4 days 45,000 residents in 4 Days

The conflicts between tourism indulstry and natural environment is still obvious.

55,000 visitors in 4 Days

Golden Strap Creek

Urban area

77,900 visitors in 4 Days

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10

0m

1000m

There are a lot of villages located around the heritage site since hundreds of years ago. The villagers build their houses and live in this sensitive site without disturbing it much earlier than we could calculate the climate or energy consumption data.

In order to ultilise the flat farm land for cultivation, villagers build their house adapting to hill topography rather a flat ground as what people do in urban area.

I researched the local architecture and try to learn what kind of specific tectonic system contributes to the long-term interactive balance between artificial environment and natural environment.

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GEOGRAPHY On the other hand, in order to adapt to the hilly topography, villagers build their houses with timber piled foundation. There are several advantages of this type of structure: 1.

It minimizes the earthwork within the construction process.

CLIMATE

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2.

The underneath space of each floor level acts as a gap layer which prevents moisture to permeate to the interior space

LIFE STYLE

3.

Parts of the lower space underneath can also be used as storage space for livestock.

Building footprint

The major character I found is timber structure with piled foundation.

The timber structure system in traditional architecture is specifically engaged with Tenon joint tectonic.

Piled foundation on hill In order to ultilise the flat farm land for cultivation, villagers build their house adapting to hill topography rather a flat ground as what people do in urban area.

Earthwork for platform

The piled foundation could minimise the earthwork on site and provide a reasonable living space for local residents. This building type is eventually a result of the consideration of local topography, climate, material, structure and lifestyle.

Piled foundation on water In spite of the ground conditions, the piled foundation could be built on water environment as well.

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Case studies The cases studies consist of two part: The timber structure studied those projects reinvention of traditional timber structure or explored some unique method to rethinking about vernacular tectonic, and meanwhile keep contemporary features.

The Program studies looked at those tourism centre or visitor centre projects to learn about the general program setting and floor area demanding, as well as plan layout.

Timber structure precedents

Prostho Museum Research Center by Kengo Kuma Yusuhara Town Hall by Kengo Kuma Tamedia Office Building by Shigeru Ban Architects Archery Hall & Boxing Club by FT Architects

Program precedents

Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Stonehenge Visitor Centre by Denton Corker Marshall Sun Moon Lake visitor centre by Norihiko Dan and Associates

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GC PROSTHO MUSEUM AND CHIDORI FURNITURE This projects originates from an old Japanese toy. Cidori is an assembly of wood sticks with joints having unique shape, which can be extended merely by twisting the sticks, without any nails or metal fittings. The tradition of this toy has been passed on in Hida Takayama, a small town in a mountain, where many skilled craftsmen still exist.

However, the pitty of this project is that the chidori is only show as the facade patten. The structure of the building is still concrete and the enclosure material has to cut the chidoris at the border between interior and outdoor.

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YUSUHARA TOWN HALL

The Yusuhara Town Hall exists within the material context of Yusuhara as well as in the context of development in Kuma's own work.

But the shortcoming of this structure system is that it was assembled by metal screws, which will innevitablly come up with problems of maintanance.

On the other hand, the method of expansion is not as excellent as the joint itself. It has to use additional components and screws to expand the width or height.

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Tamedia Office Building From an architectural point of view one of the main features of the project is indeed the proposition of a main structural system entirely made designed on timber that, other its innovative character from a technical and environmental standpoint, gives the building a unique appearance from the inside space as well as from the city around. In order to reinforce and express this idea the building skin is entirely glazed and special attention was given to achieve a low energy transmission levels that responds to the latest and very strict Swiss regulations in terms of energy consumption.

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Archery Hall & Boxing Club by FT Architects This is a low cost project that requested by a university in Japan. Coincidently, both facilities called for a column-free space of 7.2m by 10.8m, a size comparable to the sacred hall in a traditional Japanese temple. In order to achieve this span, without columns and using low-cost methods of timber construction, it was necessary to come up with an innovative timber solution.

Inspired by the purity of traditional Japanese timber composition, simply made up of horizontals and verticals, which has been somewhat disregarded ever since the advent of modernism in Japan.

Delicate lattice frame composed of slender ties beams and posts for the archery hall, and a bolder, stepped frame, was employed for the boxing club. Timber, a historical material, has now been reanalysed and transformed into a new building material.

For this project as I researched, similar to the Yusuhara Town Hall, the insufficient happens in a sense that the usage of

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PROGRAM STUDIES

Building Area: 1,602 sqm

STONEHENGE VISITOR CENTRE

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4

3 2

5

6

7

8 10

Public Rooms

Public Semi Public Semi public Management rooms

Management(private) 20

Semi Open space Outdoor

719 sqm 347 sqm 362 sqm

1. Education center(134) 2. Catering(221sqm) 3. Kitchen(130 sqm) 4. Retail(310) 5. Ticket office(27)

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6. Washroom (213) 7. Interpretation(142) 8. Maganement office(294) 9. Object Chamber(71) 10.M & E control room(68)

Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center VVVVVVVAND VISITOR CENTER

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA Project Area: 2,044 sqm

Project Area: 2,044 sqm

Public 1. Vistor Drop-off 2. Courtyard Semi3. Main publicEntrance 4. Gathering Space 5. Information Management(private) 7. Toilet rooms

1170 sqm 8. Bookstore 9. Exhibitions 488 sqm 10. Terrace 11. Art Gallery 12. Evening Entrance 464 sqm 13. Classroom

1. Vistor Drop-off 2. Courtyard 3. Main Entrance 4. Gathering Space 5. Information 6 Management(463) 7. Public Toilet(77)

8. Bookstore 9. Exhibitions(1117) 10. Terrace 11. Art Gallery 12. Evening Entrance 13. Classroom (106sqm) 14. Lecture room(303) 21

Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan SiteSUN area: MOON 33,340 LAKE

VISITOR CENTER

Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan Site area: 33,340 AREA: 6640 sqm.

AREA: 6640 sqm.

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8

4

1

3 5

6

Public

2210 sqm

Semi public

339 sqm

Management(private)

3153sqm

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13 14

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1.Information(178) 2.Cafe(70) 3. Exhibition Room 1(561) 4. Multimedia Briefing Room(268) 5. Exhibition Room 2 6. Exhibition Room 3 7 Office Entrance Hall

8 Office 9 Conference Room 10 Main Conference room 11 Staff Dining Room(112) 12 Director's Room 13 Guest Room 14 Vice Director's Room

Exploration on 魯班鎖 The ancient toys named 魯班鎖, which was invented by a famous carpenter initially to teach his students, is a representation of the logic of the Tenon joint-the concave-convex form of each components and the spacial occlusive relationship in the joint. Every component is held up by each other, and ends up with a 360 degree same-looking joint.

The traditional craftmanship in this site is a heritage besides the beautiful natural view. The manufacture process of 魯班鎖, is a representation of this craftmanship as well.

After researching several types of 魯班鎖, II found that those too complicated types are not proper for architectural work, but some other types with simple components had the potential to be built up as an architectural system. I focused on the two simplest types to explore more possibilities on architecture.

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EXPANSION METHOD Type 1- 3 pieces

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Type 2

6 sticks

DISSADVANTAGES void in joint makes it unstable

1/4 part of sectional profile makes it weak

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Type 1- 3 pieces This joint only needs 3 pieces to hold each other and the finished joint looks all the same from 360 degree. But the disadvantage of this type is there is void space in the finished joint, which will enable one of the components displacement.

BASIC REPETITION

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BASLE WOOD TESTING

CURVY SHAPE TESTING

The first testing is about how to expand a single joint to a series of joint which could form a building.

The basic logic of expansion is each components expands to twice length than the original components, then locked by two joints so that all the single joints could be locked next by next.

Expasion 1 Each component becomes half of general thickness only near the joint point. The advantage is, by this method, the part between each joint is an entirety form rather than assembled by several components. But the disadvantage is obvious that each component has to be cut by saw even after normal cutting get the joint shape.

Expasion 2 All the components become half of original thickness all through the length. Therefore each look- like-single component consists of two half-thickness components. The advantage of this expansion method is no need to specific craft work after the joint cutting. But the disadvantage might be the breakpoint is located at the midpoint between each joint.

Expasion 3 Learning from Kengo Kuma's project, this method tried to connect the assembled two parts of component with screws. It turns out to be an unsuccessful testing, not only because the connection component need specific process but also the screws connection could not make the system stronger than other methods.

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Type 2

6 sticks

This joint needs 6 sticks to hold each other and the finished joint looks all the same from 360 degree.

Each of them is different and has to be cut in 3 dimensions, and the section profile of the joint only takes 1/4 of the whole stick.

Expasion

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The expansion method is straight forward since each component only need to extend twice length. But the defect is the same as its single joint, or even more complicated in manufacture process.

Dimention & density regarding human scale

GRID 500mmx500mmx500mm

GRID 750mm x 750mm x 750mm

GRID 900mm x 900mm x 900mm

Element Section 60mm x 60mm

Element Section 90mm x 90mm

Element Section 100mm x 100mm

VARIOUS DENSITY AND DIMENSION Rather than keep a uniform grid, the system could be built in various density of grid, both in horizontal and vertical direction.

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Varied density IRREGULAR GRIDS To create more organic space, this testing is tried to carve some part of the grid but keep it stable as well. Remove some columns or horizontal grids of roof structure. In this testing, there are endless possibilities could be explored, but the conclusion is rather than a grid, the structure system is adaptable to any shape of conditions.

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Varied floor height

Varied floor level

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To create more organic space, this testing is tried to carve some part of the grid but keep it stable as well. Remove some columns or horizontal grids of roof structure. In this testing, there are endless possibilities could be explored, but the conclusion is rather than a grid, the structure system is adaptable to any shape of conditions.

Stratage: The basic grid connects each other in a uniform layout.

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It's not necessarily that every joint is linked from top to bottom.

Even the columns are no need to be put on the edge.

They do not have to layout in a linear way that according to the roof or floor structure, so as to creat some large span space for specific programs.

Some part of the horizontal grids could be removed in order to get more sunlight or for ventilation benefits.

Some part of the floor structure is safe enough to be moved for a courtyerd.

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Methodology for architecture The Zhangjiajie national forest Park is the exact World Heritage Site which is located at the northern rural area from the Zhangjiajie City.

The site lies in the Wulingyuan District of the city of Dayong and covers the entire drainage basin of the Suoxi Brook, which winds for 69 km through the site. The most notable feature, dominating about two-thirds of the site, are more than 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks. Between the peaks are numerous ravines and gorges, many containing attractive streams, pools and waterfalls. The site also contains a number of karst features, notably some 40 caves which are concentrated on the banks of the Suoxiyu River and the south-east side of Tianzi Mountain.

Based on the research of piled foundation structures and魯班鎖, my design strategy is focused on using the simplest type of魯班鎖 as a structural building joint and using piled foundations for minimizing earth work, while retaining the original landscape.

To respond to the tourism industry demanding, the project is looking at providing a service station nearby the route of tourists, as well as exhibition and craftmanship workshop. The hilly topography and the Jinbian Brook between the site and the tourists pedestrian way are both as the challenges and opportunities to test how the system works with this type of sensitive natural site.

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150m 120m

0m

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0m

500m

100m

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The symmetrical grid of the structure in the horizontal directions gives flexibility to the layout of vertical elements- such as columns, which are not necessarily arranged in a linear way. As long as the requirement of spam is satisfied, the interior space is determined by usage of each room and program, instead of inflexible column grids.

In the vertical direction, the piled foundation system enables the building floor to adjust to the varied topography by minimal impact on the original landscape.

What's more, due to the structure of joint, the structure could not only be structure, but more human scale elements as well, such as stairs, tables, seats and partition wall. According to various program demanding,

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Project Design The symmetrical grid of the structure in the horizontal directions gives flexibility to the layout of vertical elements- such as columns, which are not necessarily arranged in a linear way. As long as the requirement of spam is satisfied, the interior space is determined by usage of each room and program, instead of inflexible column grids. Such as entrance lobby and exhibition rooms, lecture hall and guest room, all these diverse programs with various scale of space could be built with the methods.

In the vertical direction, the piled foundation system enables the building floor to adjust to the varied topography by minimal impact on the original landscape.

What's more, due to the structure of joint, the structure could not only be structure, but more human scale elements as well, such as stairs, tables, seats and partition wall. According to various program demanding, 43

1 : 100 44

WORKSHOP

GOING TO THE HILL GETHERING LECTURE

SPACE

HALL COURTYARD GUEST ROOM

EXHIBITION COURTYARD

ENTRANCE L OBBY BRIDGE

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1 : 20 Sectional Model- Entrance Lobby Part 46

WORKSHOP SHELF SHOW CASES SHOW CASES

SHOW SHELF

SHOW CASES

PARTITION WALL

COURTYARD TRELLIS STAIRS TO OUTDOOR

TABLES CHAIRS

EXHIBITION PANEL

PARTITION WALL CHAIRS

RECEPTION DESK

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Entrance Part 48

1 : 100

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1 : 100

BRIDGE

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ENTRANCE LOBBY & EXHIBITION

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WORKSHOP

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LECTURE HALL & GUEST ROOM

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GETHERING SPACE

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1 : 20 Sectional ModelEntrance Lobby Part 1

2

3

4

1 Perspective from Lecture Hall 2 Roof perspective looking at the courtyard 3 Perspective looking at the roof structure 4 Perspective from the Entrance Lobby

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5 Perspective looking at the exhibition table 6 Perspective looking at the showcases 7 Perspective looking through the exhibition hall

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5 6

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Detail design Since the assembly sequence and logic of the timber structure system itself, the system is not proper to act as an enclosure system as my test. Therefore the appendix system is required to be installed to the structure system.

Here as a basic consideration on roof, curtain wall and floor systems.

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1 : 5 Detail Model Showing the installment of roof, curtain wall and floor systems.

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DETAIL DESIGN

ROOF PANEL

TIMBER FRAME WATERPROOF FIBRE TIMBER FRAME

SKTLIGHT PANEL

TIMBER FRAME TIMBER SCREW GLASS

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FACADE

STRUCTURE COMPONENT

FLOOR SLAB

BEAM COMPONENTS

COLUMN COMPONENTS

MULLION GLASS

FLOOR STRUCTURE REINFORCE COMPENTS

FLOOR PANEL FLOOR STRUCTURE

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1 : 5 Detail Model

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Showing components dimension with human scale

Final presentation panel and model layout 65

Appendix i

CITATION

自家斧劈·湘西張家界（水墨设色）吴冠中 http://www.china-zhangjiajie.com/news/sd/2012/0913/12977.html Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area - UNESCO World Heritage Centre http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/640 Prostho Museum Research Center http://kkaa.co.jp/works/architecture/prostho-museum-research-center/ Yusuhara Town Hall http://kkaa.co.jp/works/architecture/yusuhara-town-hall/ Tamedia Office Building by Shigeru Ban Architects http://www.archdaily.com/478633/tamedia-office-building-shigeru-ban-architects/ Archery Hall & Boxing Club by FT Architects http://www.archdaily.com/444857/timber-structure-archery-hall-and-boxing-club-ft-architects/ Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson http://www.archdaily.com/40790/craig-thomas-discovery-and-visitor-center-bohlin-cywinski-jackson/ Stonehenge Visitor Centre by Denton Corker Marshall http://www.archdaily.com/461242/stonehenge-visitor-centre-denton-corker-marshall/ Sun Moon Lake visitor centre by Norihiko Dan and Associates http://www.dezeen.com/2011/02/17/sun-moon-lake-visitor-centre-by-norihiko-dan-and-associates/ 《中外戲法圖說 鵝幻彙編》，1889, http://chinesepuzzles.org/hk/burr-puzzles/ 66

Appendix ii

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Piled dwellings / editor, Guizhou Ethnic Publishing House ; editor-in-chief, Wan Zhixian ; author, Ma Yongbin Zhongguo Bai zu chuan tong min ju ying zao ji yi / Bin Huizhong.

Xiang Gan min xi min ju jian zhu yu wen hua yan jiu / Guo Qian .

Basho genron : kenchiku wa ikani shite basho to setsuzoku suruka : posuto shinsai no atarashii kenchiku tetsugaku 18-jirei no sozai shōsai o zukai / Kuma Kengo.

Atmospheres : architectural environments, surrounding objects / Peter Zumthor.

Chuan tong min ju yu di yu wen hua : di shi ba jie Zhongguo min ju xue shu hui yi lun wen ji / Liu Su zhu bian.

Bu zhi Zhongguo mu jian zhu / Zhao Guangchao. 不只中國木建築 / 趙廣超.

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