STUDIO AIR 2016, SEMESTER 1 Haoming Chi 715933
Contents
INTROCDUCTION A.1. DESIGN FUTURE A.2.DESIGN COMOUTATION A.3. COMPOSITION/GENERATION A.4. CONCLUSION A.5. LEARNING OUTCOMES A.6. APPENDIX--ALGORITHMIC SKETCHESB.1. RESEARCH FIELD B.1. RESEARCH FIELD B.2. CASE STUDY 1.0 B.3. CASE STUDY 2.0 B.4. TECHNIQUE:DEVELOPMENT B.5. TECHNIQUE:PROTOTYPES B.6. TECHNIQUE:PROPOSAL B.7. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES B.8.APPENDIXALGORITHMIC SKETCHES C.1. DESIGN CONCEPT C.2. TECTONIC ELEMENTS & PROTOTYPES C.3. FINAL DETAIL MODEL C.4. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
INTRODUACTION My name is Haoming Chi (Henry), Chinese, a current student of University of Melbourne, third year and major in architecture. I was grew up in Yantai which is a beautiful coastal city in Shandong province. I came to Australia for foundation study in Trinity Collage after graduated from senior high school, totally, I have been in Australia for three years now. The reason I decided to study architecture is related to my hobby. I love travelling and I believe it is a good way to widen the vision and gain different experience. I have been to many different areas with different culture backgrounds. The unique architecture style in different cultures really attract me to explore the fantastic world. What’s more, architecture has deep connections with design. I really enjoy the process of design because it is a process to transfer what interesting in your mind to reality. From my study experience, I find try to explore in the world of architecture is a big challenge. It requires great variety of study and broad knowledge. During this process I did get trouble in many aspects. One of the most bothered issues attacked me almost every time is design creativity. I always get stuck in the beginning of my project because have no idea to start with. What’s more, with the development of modern technology, digital design become more and more important. To be honest, I am not good at digital design especially using software. This is what I still need to improve in long term study.
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PREVIOUS WORK
A PLACE FOR KEEPING SECRET
BOATHOUSE
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PART A CONCEPTUALISATION
A.1. DESIGN FUTURE A.2. DESIGN COMPUTATION A.3. COMPOSITION/GENERATION A.4. CONCLUSION A.5. LEARNING OUTCOMES A.6. APPENDIX--ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES
A.1. DESIGN FUTURE Carboard Cathedral
FIG.1 8
CONCEPTUALISATION
FIG.2
Cardboard Cathedral located in New Zealand is designed by famous Japanese architecture Shigeru Ban. It is a cathedral for 700 people that could be constructed in just a few mouths and which is ‘only’ intended for 20-30 year lifespan. 1 The Cardboard Cathedral is quiet different to other architectures at the same stage. The materials, construction methods and functions actually reflected the requirements for future city. For example, cardboard tubes are used as a new materials. It is really a bold attempt in this case. Cardboard tubes as a construction materials process the property of stability. It could help the cathedral avoid suffering from earthquake.
FIG.3
What’s more, it could help shorten the progress of construction so it meet the need of urgency. Last but not least, cardboard as a new materials could be environmental friendly and sustainable. The cardboard tubes could be recycled which could achieve sustainability. What has been mentioned about actually remind us to think and design for future. As the idea mention in Design Futuring by tony, design could not be limited in precent, we need to design for future in order to get better life in future. 2 Shigeru Ban really did a good try, and could inspire other architects to follow his steps.
1. Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/doi/10.1002/ad.1495/epdf [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017] 2. Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg).
FIG.4 CONCEPTUALISATION
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A.1. Villa Savoye
FIG.5
Villa Savoye is the most famous project of Le Corbusier
who is pioneer for modern architecture. Even though Villa Savoye is from last century, but it really changed future which we could see at present. The building is an icon of modernism, and we can see from photographs, how well the building’s forms express a new idea for how people should live. 3 In the several past centuries, most of architects sticked to old ways and their buildings always look similar and in old styles. This situation actually against the world’s development tendency. In lecorbusier’s Idea, house is a living machine. Therefore, in his opinion, architects need to focus on functionalism in the future design. From Villa Savoy we could find the philosophy of “ five new points” which is Corbusier’s thought toward future design. Actually, those concepts fit in the world’s need. Because of the development of modern society, more new materials and technologies could apply in architecture. Villa savoye expanded future ideas by giving out new concepts and focuses, where architecture is redefined. Many architects use the concepts and learn this style.
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CONCEPTUALISATION
FIG7
Another important enlightenment could learn from this building is about critical thinking. When Villa Savoye finished. There are many architects keep critical ideas toward it. Actually, critical could be negative because always want to keep something old instead to think about something strange may appeared in the future. However, critical idea could be helpful because it also help refine and develop. Critique is not necessarily negative; it can also be a gentle refusal, a turning away from what exists, a longing, wishful thinking, a desire, and even a dream. Critical designs are testimonials to what could be, but at the sametime, they offer alternatives that highlightweaknesses within existing normality.4
FIG8
3. Anon, (2017). [online] Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6245.2012.01526.x/epdf [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017] 4.Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming.
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A.2. Design Computation Museo Soumaya
FIG9
FIG10 12
CONCEPTUALISATION
The
FIG8
Museo Soumaya museum is designed by the Mexian architect Fernando Romeroand located in Mexico city as a private museum. From the picture we could find the outlooking of the museum is totally different from usual forms. It is really a good example to show how much could computing affect on architectural design. Before, designing Museo Soumaya, there are two missions for such an iconic structure, one is about the building’s function that to host one of the largest private art collections in the world, and the other is for deeply meanings that to reshape an old industrial area of Mexico city. However, at that moment, traditional architectural designing methods could not satisfy the goals. Therefore, the computing designing method was used. For example,the exterior ot the building is a double-curved surface. Architects use digital models in this part in order to make sure 26 curving columns and horizontal steel rings lay on the design surface . 5The facade of the building is composed of hexagonal aluminium panels.Gehry technologies are used to shop drawings by using the firm’s digital project 3-D modelling tool. In my opinion, this case is a good example show how digital design and computing help designers to design something unique in order to satisfy the goals. The opportunities and innovations displayed by computing design is that computer could save human lots of work which make human focus on new idea.6 With the development with modern technologies, architecture start to become more and more complex. In this situation, simple integrated process to understand and communication could attract more people’s eyesight. In the process of architecture, every parts is different. We could not still use the old design method all time. In this case, technology such as computing s a good approach.
5. The Independent. (2017). Soumaya Museum: Move over, Mr Getty. [online] Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/ arts-entertainment/art/features/ soumaya-museum-move-overmr-getty-2254556.html [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]. 6. Arcspace.com. (2017). The Soumaya Museum - FREE Fernando Romero. [online] Available at: http:// www.arcspace.com/features/freefernando-romero/soumayamuseum/ [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]. 13 CONCEPTUALISATION
A.2. Dongdaemun Design Plaza
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CONCEPTUALISATION
The
Dongdaemun Design Plaza called PPD is another good example to analysis. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza is also called DDP, located in South Korea as a land mark in Seoul. Zaha Hadid used the same technique of panellising a curvature form which encapsulates an area which in this case forms a building.
However, this technique is more difficult to achieve,
because there are too many angles to calculate organic by humans. Therefore, to calculate the bending angle of each panel, and calculates the unique requirements of each panel building, programs must be used to calculate each millimeter of each panel in order to successfully develop a masterpiece like this program.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza is the seat of threedimensional non-standard construction, to combine with the surrounding terrain for the design concept. In terms of design techniques, Dongdaemun Design Plaza adopted a plan to convert the two-dimensional surface information into a three-dimensional. This is the most advanced design computing techniques. The entire building is no seam line shape, the appearance of the image of a huge curve alien spacecraft, no internal columns.7 From the case of DDP, we could find the works and
arguments elaborated here point to the following agenda for the future of architectural detailing: that of computationally driven tectonic articulation in the pursuit of a complex, legible spatial order with a clearly understood communicative purpose.
7.Frearson, A. (2017). Zaha Hadid's Dongdaemun Design Park & Plaza opens in Seoul. [online] Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2014/03/23/ zaha-hadid-dongdaemun-design-plaza-seoul/ [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017].
FIG9 CONCEPTUALISATION
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A.3. Composition/Generation Beijing National Aquatics Center Architecture now lead to a shift in concept, generative architecture is possibly the new direction. The shift from composition to generation in design approach of architecture is actually induced by the advancement of digital technology. For example, algorithmic hinking, parametric modelling and scripting cultures are used in computing improves the communication design. By using computer to approach to generation, the design outcomes could be predicted. Therefore, architecture could prepare and increase the effectiveness and suitability of solutions to complex design problems. The advantages of generation is obvious. It has slowly become the case that all we need is a few parameters and algorithms to create very complex forms at very little time, Then could there be a case that parameters have developed and we no longer need humans to design. The computers can generate a design that fits the requirement while also providing stability and flexibility.
FIG11 16
CONCEPTUALISATION
The example is Beijing National Aquatics Center for 2008 olympics.
FIG10
The building structure was designed by parametric software.The algorithmic hinking, parametric modelling and scripting culture are used to generate the outcome.
“The algorithmic
is a recipe, method, or technique for doing something. The essential feature of an algorithm is that it is made up of a finite set of rules or operations that are unambiguous and simple to follow.�8 From the mentioned by The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences, the algorithmic could make the process of design more simple and shortly. 8. Arup.com. (2017). National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) | Arup | A global firm of consulting engineers, designers, planners and project managers. [online] Available at: http://www.arup.com/projects/ chinese_national_aquatics_center [Accessed 17 Mar. 2017]. CONCEPTUALISATION
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A.3.Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center
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CONCEPTUALISATION
The Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center is a giant transparent tent in the capital city of Kazakhstan-Astana. It is built in a distinctively futurist style with the method of computing design. Computation is redefining the practice of architecture. Architects use computers ti simply digitise existing procedures with entities or processes that are preconceived in the mind of the designer. However, computation could help designers to extend their abilities to deal with hight complex situation and could use the computer to process information through an understood model which can be expressed as an algorithm. 9 Typically, generative design have have deep connections with computation. Designer use the computer to achieve an goal that the designers could able to describe the ideas in their own mind. With design generation the designer dose not describe the design process right through to the solution, instead they assign a set of instructions that computers could interpret and produce a number of random solutions. This is the process how architectural literature and practice reacted to the shift from composition to generation. The experiment with generation design could could be found on the Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center. In my opinion, it is still a long way for generative architecture to go to approach to mature. Although the generation still facing some problems, but i do believe it will certainly impact on our architectural future and become components of our building.
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9. Definition of ‘Algorithm’ in Wilson, Robert A. and Frank C. Keil, eds (1999). The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences (London: MIT Press), pp. 11, 12 pdf CONCEPTUALISATION
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A.4. Conclusion After completing part A, I realized that I better understand the role of digital design with the concept of design future. In the first part A.1 about designing future, I understand we are live in a world and era that technology and environment changed rapidly. Therefore, we could not limited by the current condition but need to think about how the architecture will be in the future. We need to focus on new ideology, sustainable materials and advanced technologies to prepare for the future design. In second part A.2 is about computation. This part makes me realized computation start to play an important role in the world of architecture. The computation related to algorithmic thinking, parametric modeling and scripting cultures, which could contribute to finish complex designing work. Besides, computation could be used for predicting and testing. Such as the pre-test of structural stability and materials properties could make the architecture approach be more precise and efficient. Therefore. learn how to design with computer is extremely important for me at present. In the last part of A, I leaned that the computational is more beneficial than the design approach before by looking at the shift from composition toward generation. However, I believe that in the future, generation will be most important component in architecture even more important than human architectural design.
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CONCEPTUALISATION
A.5. LEARNING OUTCOMES In the last three weeks, I really leant many knowledge toward computational design and almost changed my attitude toward architectural computing . I used to think that architectural computing is just use software to sketch design idea instead of making physical models, but after part A study , I found architectural computing is a deeply topic which even related to design future. Indeed, the computational design program is not only a change in design method but also could contribute to expend designer’s thinking and ideas. Now I would like to explore more about architectural computing, hole it would be useful in my future architecture study.
CONCEPTUALISATION
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REFERENCE: * http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/doi/10.1002/ad.1495/epdf * Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg *http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6245.2012.01526.x/epdf * Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) pp. 1-9, 33-45 * h t t p : / / o n l i n e l i b r a r y . w i l e y . c o m . e z p . l i b . u n i m e l b . e d u . a u / d o i / 1 0 . 1 0 0 2 / a d . 15 5 6 / e p d f *https://www.dpreview.com/galleries/2348126461/photos/1634232/2---soumayas-museum---mexico *http://www.arcspace.com/features/free-fernando-romero/soumaya-museum/ * http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au/doi/10.1002/ad.1780/epdf *https://www.dezeen.com/2014/03/23/zaha-hadid-dongdaemun-design-plaza-seoul/ *http://www.arup.com/projects/chinese_national_aquatics_center *Definition of ‘Algorithm’ in Wilson, Robert A. and Frank C. Keil, eds (1999). The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences (London: MIT Press)
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A.6. APPENDXI Sketch Book
Point
curve
curve
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CONCEPTUALISATION
surface
PART B CRITERIA DESIGN
B.1. RESEARCH FIELD B.2. CASE STUDY 1.0 B.3. CASE STUDY 2.0 B.4. TECHNIQUE:DEVELOPMENT B.5. TECHNIQUE:PROTOTYPES B.6. TECHNIQUE:PROPOSAL B.7. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES B.8.APPENDIX-ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES
B.1. RESEARCH FIELD In recent world, there are many research streams. Strip/folding is one of the most important streams which attract all my attentions. In computational design, designer find ways to break away from the conventuonal dilemma of materials and structures. Strip/ folding is one of the approaches to cross the boundaries. Therefore, Strip/folding could generate both aesthetic forms and structures. In my opinion, Strip/folding is simplified fabrication and construction process and cost minimum materials.
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CONCEPTUALISATION
The starting points of my research is the precedent projects-ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010. ICD/ ITKE Research Pavilion 2010 is a bending-active structure made entirely of extremely thin, elasticallybent plywood strips.1 The innovative structure demonstrates the latest developments in materialoriented computational design, simulation, and production processes in architecture. The research pavilion demonstrates an alternative approach to computational design: the structure is entirely based on the elastic bending behavior of plywood strips. The strips are robotically manufactured as planar elements, and subsequently connected so that elastically bent and tensioned regions alternate along their length . The force that is locally stored in each bent region of the strip, and maintained by the corresponding tensioned region of the neighboring strip, greatly increase the structural capacity of the system. In order to prevent bending moments, 80 different strip patterns constructed from more than 500 geometrically unique parts were produced. The computational design model is based on embedding the relevant material behavioral features in parametric principle. These parametric dependencies were defined through physical experiments focusing on the measurement of deflections of elastically bent thin plywood strips.
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B.2. Case Study 1.0 BIOTHING - SEROUSSI PAVILION
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CONCEPTUALISATION
SPECIES A. Division of Curves B. Radius of Circles C. Division of Circles D. Field Lines E. Spin Force F. Division of Field Lines and Multiplication G. Graph Mapper The Seroussi Pavilion by Biothing is structure described as grown from self-modifying patterns of vectors based on Electromagnetic Fields. The initial computations were done in plan then lifted via microarching sections through frequencies of the sine function.2 Architect Alis Anderasek used a trans-disciplinary laboratory that focuses on the generative potential of computational systems for desgin. The project is carried out by decompiling three different algorithms and exploring the state between the algorithms. The electromagnetic field developed by the Rhino plugin originally customized by Biothing in order to develop the structural trajectory of the roof state. The resonant pattern is printed on the ground, creating an emitter for forming the second algorithmic logic of the global geography of the field. Finally, the fourth type of cellular automaton is used to reprocess the wave data by imprinting the micro joints of the ground.
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B.2. Case Study 1.0 Species 1
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B
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D
E
F
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B.2. Case Study 1.0
SELECTED CRITERIA - ANTHETIC - Interaction - Structure - Funtion 4 most successful iterations
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CONCEPTUALISATION
B.3. Case Study 2.0
UNStudio - Galleria Center City Architect-UNStudio Location: Cheonan, Korea Timing: March 2008 – December 2010
The architectural fence strategy includes creating an illusion. The outer wall is provided with two layers of custom aluminum extruded profiles on the top side of the composite aluminum cladding. The vertical profile of the top layer is linear; but those on the back are angled. This leads to a wavey appearance that changes with the viewer’s point of view (the Moore effect).3 On the facade, the gradual transition from the exterior to the internal platform highlights the internal organization. Lighting design and building parallel development, and the use of double elevation structure. In order to achieve a large media surface with minimal lighting and light spills, specially designed and customized fixtures are integrated in the mullion of the facade. These fixtures are invisible from the outside and project the light back between the inner cladding facades and the vertical mullions. In the corner of the building, the lowresolution media wall flows into a high-resolution area and can display more details of the information.4 CONCEPTUALISATION 11
B.3. Case Study 2.0 STEP1 Create a curve in Rhinoand then extrude to a surface in grasshopper
STEP2 Use isotrim/subsuface to extrude an isoparametric sub set of the surface
STEP3 Deconstruct the Breps, find the verticle edges and extrude the ages in grid of panels.
STEP4 Use an attract curve and closet to find vetors and use it to shape angles to rotate the panels.
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CONCEPTUALISATION
Final Outcome:
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B.4. Technique: Development Species
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CONCEPTUALISATION
Species
Species
Species
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Species
Species
Most successful iterations and extrapolate/ speculate on design potential Tp Re-consider Selection Criteria, Anthetic, Interaction, Structure and funtion are still important parts. to select the most successful one,
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CONCEPTUALISATION
B.6. Virtual Protopyes Screen grabs of the process and stills from video
A
C
B
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G CONCEPTUALISATION
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B.6. Technique: Proposal
SCENARIO I enjoy the feeling of fly, but sometimes the environment is too dangerous, I must be
careful. I yearn for the sky, but most of the time I must hide in the forest. Only in this way,
I could avoid enemies and Human.
Now, I am flying in a new forest. The environment over here looks deifferent, but I can
not tell where the specific. However, the light and shadow over here looks like normal, so
I feel safe. There are a lot of holes here, which can let me shuttle freely.
Wow! I see a human also here! But it doesn’t matter this time. He can not catch me, cause
the holes can not accommodate the huge human body.
What is this human doing? He may observe me through holes. He probably will not attack
me, should I trust him? 18
CONCEPTUALISATION
Ball-Forest Pavilion - Holes on the surface of the sphere provide special view for people who travel inside or outside of the sculpture . It is also designed as the path for the imperial Hairstreak butterfly flying over here.
- Benefit form the unique structure, light and shadow in this sphere could simulate the light and shadow in nature such as under trees and flowers. This aspect could provide butterfly with a safe atmosphere over here.
-Large gap on the surface of the sphere is of users to go through. People could approach to a better way to observe butterfly instead of scaring them.
OUTCOME
Ball-Forest Pavilion provides a better area for human and buttefly stay togeter. Human In Ball-Forest could not chase butterfly anymore because their action is limited by the structure of Ball-Forest Pavilion. However, benefit from the structure, human could observe the beautiful butterfly through the holes very convenient and easily. For the Imperial Hairstreak Butterfly, the structure simulate the shadow and light in forest, which could make the butterfly feel like they are flying in tree branch. Therefore, butterfly could consider thay they are in a safe atmosphere. Besides. they could just fly and hide behind structures to avoid observing by human directly. If buttefly feel they are in danger, they could escape here easily.
CONCEPTUALISATION 19
B.6. Learning Objectives and Outcomes In part B, the learning objectives for me is to learn and understand how to practice the computational design nad apply it in fabraction. Finish the study of the interative exercises and the case studies, I start to understand the logic behind the algorithm and programming scripting are imporant for the further steps. What’s more, learning different case and try to imitate is a good starting point to support my computational design study. For me, outcomes from Part B is extremely outsanding. Before the, I’m even not familiar with Rhino and really poor using grasshopper. However, Part B provide a good study method for me and I really get lots of impovement. At end of the study of Part B , eventhough I couldn’t say I’m good ar grasshopper, I still have my own understand toward it. What’ more, it is amazing that I also could use Unity 3 D to display idea! In the next part study , I will focus on technique protopyes. How apply my knowledge on real design is the the final goal for me to study AIR
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CONCEPTUALISATION
B.8. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches Best of algorithmic sketches
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PART C DETAILED DESIGN
C.1. DESIGN CONCEPT C.2. TECTONIC ELEMENTS & PROTOTYPES C.3. FINAL DETAIL MODEL C.4. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
C.1. DESIGN CONCEPT
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CONCEPTUALISATION
0.1. INTERIM PRESENTATIONS REFLECTION
From the interim presentation, I know there are plenty of deficiencies in my proposed design. The concept of my Ball-Forest Pavilion is quiet farfetched and simple. The form of Ball-Forest Pavillion is limited and a little bit boring. Besides, compared to other classmates’ presentation, I found the used of Grasshopper in my design is limited. Therefore, to improve my interim design, the first thing I need to work on is to refine design concept. The Ball-Forest Pavillion is designed as a special area where people could be much more convenient to observe imperial blue butterfly as well as the butterfly could be safe. However, as asked by tutor in presentation, how and why the butterfly would stay here to be observed? I totally forget to think about this problem! Actually, this is not a big issue, the first thing I need to do is to do more research on the habitats and food which could attract the butterfly. Secondly, I need would focus on better Grasshopper technique to create an area satisfy the goal.
In part C, our studios focus shifts away from Virtual reality and towards the physical fabrications of our design areas. What’s more, I was divided into group with Eva and JingWei who use quiet similar design method which is totally different from mine. I know it could be a great challenge for me but I still think it is a good chance to improve both my design concept and Grasshopper skills. Fortunately, all animals in our group are flying insect, it is really an easy point to begin our work. At the end, we develop our final design concept based on my design and use the technique which familiar to other group members.
0.2. DESIGN IDEA Design Intent The proposition is
to create an area that protects
flying insects from human activities, and at the same time enhances the sense of nature, pushing the effect of making people relaxed.
To
protect flying insects, we firstly need to design
an “attractive” structure or function to attract the; meanwhile, to enhance the feeling of the nature, we also need to create the opportunity for human to observe these insects, therefore the design should also have an “interactive” structure. Actually, there is nothing which could isolate human influence on nature. One of the important intents of our design is to remind and make people aware to observe beautiful creatures friendly.
ENVISAGED DESIGN
Design Concept-Related to Envisaged design Insects: - Most insects’ activities take place in small corners such as in the stem of flowers, near the stones, in the gaps or any small spaces which allow for foraging, mating, oviposition. The area surround by strips potentially provides insects with these functions, especially with flowers growing here which attract them to the site. Most insects in merri creek are relatively small and vulnerable, many human activities could be threats to them. The form of strip could potentially act as a shelter to isolate insects from human activities. There are only 2 accesses for human,and also human cannot go through spaces between each space yet insects can go through it from any directions. Also, the shape represent the life circle of both human and non-human species.
Human: - Most human in merri creek don’t know their activities could become threats to insects or they don’t even realise there are some insects that are endangered. Human come to this place as a visitor, there is a progressive emotion between human and the design. From outter to inner they will have progressive understanding about relationship between human and insects. When they come close to the design, they could choose to oberserve in a distance,which still not get rid off the outside world competely, or go along the rounded tunnel pathway to have a sence of nature, or come closer to the centre to actually touch the plants and feel the nature from skin. The design also acts as a reminder to tell human that insects need protection.
Final Design Compared to our envisaged design, final design still based on our design intent and design concepts. However, we refined our design because the envisaged design has lots of shortages. First of all, we redesigned the shape of strips using grasshopper. In envisaged design, strips are too simple and have no connections to each others. Besides, the gaps between old strips are too large which means could not provide isolation between human and butterfly. In our final design, strips are connected tightly and the connections are designed ingeniously. Secondly, we changed the shape of platform. The old round platform is boring and useless. So we use the irregularity platform which could be functional and natural. Last but not least, we changed the material to elastically-bent plywood strips, which the new material is much more available to fabricate under our construction methods and the new material could be much more environmentally. friendly.
Site analyze LOCATION: PHILLIPS RESERVES We have chosen an area near the Phillips Reserve, and there we found an open area surrounded by trees close to the water, with a path running through the site. We also found several kinds of insects nearby, and decided to place our project here. The reasons could be listed as follows.
1.From our site visit we `found that Merri Creek is suffered from pollution. However, the environment in Phillips Reserve is much more better, there are many animals over here include our butterfly.
2.Phillips Reserve could provide large area for the project.
3.A playground is near to Phillips Reserve which means there are enough visitors could visit our porject.
C.2. TECTONIC ELEMENTS & PROTOTYPES
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CONCEPTUALISATION
0.1 MATERIALITY Attempt Model for Envisaged Design
Polypropylene 0.6mm
Luan Plywood 2.7mm
Final Model for Final Design
Timeber Veneer
Medium-density fibreboard 3mm
We changed the materialsafter finished attempt model which is use Polypropene for strips and Luna Plywood for platform. The reason is that polypropene is great at flexibility which is not easy to keep the shape. Besides, the material we design to use in our project IS elastically-bent plywood, it is looks similar to timber veneer, which we think timber veneer could be better to present. Last but not least. Tmber veneer could be better to construct the connections we used in our final model.
0.2 PROTOTYPE, TEST, AND ADJUST Prototype 1-First attempt for Envisged Model
1. Use Grasshopper to make our envisged model , unroll all the elements. finish all the works before Laser Cut. In our first attempt protopye, we just designed the shape of strips and platform, and this is the reason why this attempt failed in the end!
2. Laser Cut. The material we chosed for laser cut were polypropene and plywood. The reason we chosed polypropene is that polypropene possess the ability to bend, which is necessary for our strips.
3. In this step, we need to connect strips with platform. Due to we ignored the desgin for connections, We could not find a proper way to finish. In the end, we used stapler to connect two ends of strips and glue to connect strips to platforms. Actually, from this moment we should recognized we have done a failed attempt.
4. After finishing the prototype 1, we started to rethink our design. As the picture shows above, strips are not neat which is not what we expect. After group discussion, we found there are two main reasons. The first one is the strips just connect to platform individually. No connections between strips will cause strips easy to shift. Meanwhile, the connections between platform and strips are pretty poor which could not provide enough stability for strips to stand up. The second reason is that even though polypropene could be bended, but it is also difficult to keep shape. Therefore, we made a big change in both our design idea and fabricate method. This is the start point of our final model.
Prototype 2-Second attempt for final model
1. Use Grasshopper to redesign our final model , unroll all the elements. finish all the works before Laser Cut. The most obviously change for the final model is the connections between strips. Strips connected to each other tightly. Besides, the way how strips connect to platform was redesigned.
2. The material selected this time is timber veneer. So it is important to test how timber veneer work as strips. As the pictures show above, we used laser cut to make gaps on each sides of strips. Therefore, strips could connect to others tightly through these gaps. It should be noted that gaps were not cut casually, and gaps on different strips were totally different. So we must be carefully to assemble strips.
3. We used MDF as the material for platform. Medium density fibreboard is more strong than Luna polywood. Therefore, we used it could increase stability for the whole structure. To solve connections between strips and platfrom, we made card slot on platfom. In our propotype 1, the poor connections between strips and platform could only provide stability on vertical but not horizontal. Now in our new propotype, by inserting strips into the card slot, strips will not shift easily.
4.From the test in prototype 2, we could find construction methods mentioned above are workable. So we decided to apply those methods in final detailed model. Last but not least, there is still one thing need to concentrate on that timber veneer is crisp sometimes. So when we are assembling strips, we must be patient.
C.3. TECTONIC ELEMENTS & PROTOTYPES
0.1 ASSEMBLING FINAL MODEL 1.USE LASER CUT TO GAIN STRIPS FROM TIMBER VENEER. IN THIS STEP, GAPS ON STRIPS NEED TO BE CUT ACCURATELY. MISTAKES WILL RESULT IN WRONG CONNECTION AND INSTABILITY.
2. USE LASER CUT TO GAIN PLATFOM FROM MDF. SEVERAL PIECES ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE THICKNESS OF MDF IS 3MM, SINCE THE THICKNESS OF PLATFORM SHOULD BE 9-10MM. AT THIS PERIOD, CARD SLOT NEED TO BE CUT ACCURATELY, SINCE ALL STRIPS REQUIRE TO BE INSERTED INTO SLOT TO GET SUPPORT FROM GROUND.
3.
USE THE GAP TO CONNECT STRIPS. THE
STABILITY OF STRIPS IS BASED ON LARGE AMOUNT STRIPS CONNECT TOGETHER. HOWEVER, AT THE BEGINNING, WHEN ONLY 2OR 3STRIPS WERE CONNECT, THE STABILITY WAS PRETTY POOR TO HOLD THE SHAPE OF STRIPS. TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, WE USED GLUE TO ENHANCE THE CONNECTIONS TEMPORARY.
4. ONNECT STRIPS TO PLATFORM. AT THIS PERIOD, WE WILL FIND ONE SIDE OF THE STRIP WHICH GO THROUGH THE MDF WILL EXTRUDE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE MDF. WE NEED BE CAREFULLY TO KEEP THE POSITION OF STRIPS UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED.
5. ASSEMBLING IN PROGRESS.
6. FINISH ASSEMBLING STRIPS.
7. ASSEMBILING PLATFORMS. AS MENTIONED BEFORE, STRIP WHICH GOES THROUGH THE MDF WILL EXTRUDE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE MDF. THEREFORE, SEVERAL PIECES OF MDF WILL FOLD TOGETHER TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM AS WELL AS ENHANCE THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN STRIPS AND PLATFORM. MEANWHILE, IT IS A GOOD WAY TO MAKE PLATFORM TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT OF THICKNESS.
0.2 FINAL DETAIL MODEL 1;20
20
CONCEPTUALISATION
C.4. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
22
CONCEPTUALISATION
LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
I’m embarrassed to talk about our group’s I must say that is the best and most useful final presentation and feedback given in the
crit. I knew our project in final presentation is not good especially when I saw how other classmates finished their projects. To be honest, I even thought our project is not too bad before I saw others’ work. However, I also need to appreciate the chance to see others’ model and presentation. By this way, I could clearly recognise my insufficient aspects in order to make up quickly. Actually, I am not good at digital technology and physical fabricate before I study Design Studio:Air. Even sometimes when I face these problems the first sense in my mind is to escape. But at this time, I must say I really develop after learning AIR especially Part C. My group and I did face a big problem toward PART C. However, benefit from Chris advice and technical support and group members’ help, I did not want to escape again. I focus on how to use grasshopper refine our design concept as well as details about physical fabrication. Finally, I and my group finished our finial project. Even though it is not perfect compared to other experienced students’ work, but I still think it is my testimony of development.
studio I have done so far in my career as an architectural student. Now I understand it is time to develop my digitial design ability thus conceptualisation is extremely important in present world. Besides, how to propotype and fabricate should not be ignored. I will continue to do more research on
physical
fabrication
method
and
materiality .
To sum up, after study Design studio: Air, I am gradually able to create, manipulate and design using parametric modelling and use computational methods to design and fabricate bespoke tectonic assemblies. Last but not least, I totally recognized that the approaches of digital architectural design understood as a significant driver of change in the architectural profession.
Reference: http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=4458 http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=16063 http://www.evolo.us/architecture/computational-design-research-pavilion-icd-itke/ https://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-5901859-dt-content-rid-22537138_2/courses/ABPL30048_2017_ SM1/ABPL30048_2016_SM1_ImportedContent_20160115122545/MerriCreekTrail.pdf