Part A Journal

A1. DESIGN FUTURING

Bloom

Architects: DO|SU Studio Location: Materials&Application Gallery, Los Angeles, California, United States Completion Date: November 19, 2011 Design tends to take advantage of natural resources in these days. Even though passive design is not something new in this field, an innovative weather responsive metal makes this project interesting.

Bloom is formed with thermobimetal which allows air to drive out responsively with the weather. The material itself is able to perform all the role of sensing, operating and reacting. On each panel, the size facing out is designed to receive the most of sunlight with curing function while the opposite size provides shading effect. Metal sheet curls up to allow hot air flows out when the temperature get high and they flatten out to form an enclosed place to keep warm air stay when temperature drops.

Personally, I would say the project can have some changes in terms of aesthetic prospect. However, in my view, instead of a real form, Bloom, should be perceive as an experimental model which explore this new technique. Exploration of material behavior helps expand future architectural possibilities.

The thought of seeking responsive element to interact with climatic influences should be appreciated.

Bio Intelligent Quotient House Architects: Splitterwerk Location: Hamburg, Germany Project year: 2013

Resources in the world is limited thus a new way of living is urged to change our current living pattern. The faรงade of the BIQ project is installed with glass panels holding micro-algae farms which produce biomass which are used to turn into renewable energy. Heat generated from daylight is collected and stored to supply for space and water heating. Also, the algae faรงade provides perfect insulation for the building. The adaptive plants grow more and faster when sunshine get intense, hence allowing better shading in hot weather.

I believe that this material will become more common in the future. Not only in the architecture field, however, its flexibility should allow it to combine with other system or material and be useful for other projects as well. This project house is built and I believe it is revolutionary because it is the first building in the world that is powered by algae. Architectural achievements should not limit to aesthetic prospect. The theory engaged in this project rather than symbolizing todays architecture world, it managed to solve the real environmental issue should continue being appreciated.

A2. DESIGN COMPUTATION

Part to Whole

Architects: HG-A | LIVE COMPONENTS Location: National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul , South Korea Project Year: 2014 The project takes the idea that every objects is composed with numerous units. From “part to whole” means forming the space by organizing small modules, the basic building block, to form a bigger space. At first glance, I feel the structure is complex because of the curvy edges composed with a stack of wooden modules with several layers. In fact, with digital computing, the design of this structure is simpler than how it looks. The whole volume begins with a cube with circles following different curves which dig through the inner capacity to form the void areas.

Digital computing also contributes to the precise calculation of mass. The structure is composed of 50:50 proportion of voids and solids. Besides, the properties of material have taken into consideration during the design process which enhance design flexibility. The construction make use of the strength of wood to stabilize the structure; and with the variation of degrees in piling those wooden blocks create the “plaid” pattern. In this project, digital computing may have limit human creativity in a certain way but it has maximized available space within the design meanwhile minimized waste of materials as well.

Silk Pavilion

Architects: MIT Media Lab Location: MIT Media Lab Project Year: 2013 Perhaps the most interesting part of the Silk Pavilion project is the innovative technique being used.

The pavilion combines the digital form finding method with a mix use of robotic and biological fabrication. Computing has re-define the practice in design practice: They first research the habitual nature of silkworms in order to understand the thread properties produced from silkworms. And with the information, the curvature of the design is obtained based on the performance of how a single continuous thread react. I would say computing has affect the design greatly in this case. Without the digital design technique, it would be hard to determine the form with only knowing the data of the quality of thread. Robot also plays an important role in the fabrication process. Robot first started a set of guide thread with pattern that is constructed over an aluminum frame as a foundation which allows silkworms to follow to create the sphere structure. In this project, we are able to see the interlocking relationship of material, curvature and structure in digital computing is irreplaceable. Digital fabrication can often easily be reproduced which can be seen as an advantage, however, when everything is unify, it can lose one’s characteristic. I think what make the Silk Pavilion special is that with the integration of biological fabrication, unpredictable textures and features can make the structure unique.