Final journal

STUDIO AIR 2014, SEMESTER 2, TUTORS: PHILIPS STUDENT NAME: YIRAN DONG STUDENT NUMBER: 580414 TUTORIAL NUMBER: 5 TURORIAL TIME: 3.15-5.15

Table of Contents 1. introduction 2.

Part A: 1  Conceptualisation 2. Computation 3. Generation and Composition 4. Conclusion 5. Learning outcome 6. Algorithmic Sketches

Introduction Year 1 digital design experience in the my first year study, i took visual environment. i learnt to use rhino and pannelling tools to create geometry and add patterns on it. Unrolling and grasshopper were also utilised to decompose the finished model into pieces. Next, 2-D cut cutter was applied to cut out all the prefabricated components. finally, i glued all these component and assemble them to the final work.

FIG.1: MY PHOTO

I am Yiran Dong. I am glad to have the opportunity to meet everyone in the Architecture Studio: Air. This is my third year of Architecture. Last year i transferred my major from Urban design and planning to Architecture because i believed that architecture is more spiritual and challenging than Urban design and planning. Also, in the major of architecture, i will have more chances to learn about different design ideas from famous buildings and talented architects. These design ideas will be very inspirational and helpful in my future career.

My favourite architect is Le Corbusier. it is because he had the courage to break the traditional architecture style and test his new ideas. Dom-ino was one of the design ideas Le Corbusier tested. Although many new design ideas were created by Le Corbusier, the ways of presenting ideas, such as sketching and modelling, were still quite limited. This disadvantage restricted the possibilities of the design.

Today, 3-D modelling software, like Sketch up, Revit and Rhino, and graphing software, such as Photoshop and CAD, are invented to gain the possibilities of design and improve the quality of drawings. Geometries are used in this 3-D software to create more new forms and generate more design possibilities. Innovation and computation are also encouraged to allow people to alter the unsustainable development of today’s world.

4

Introduction

FIG.2: THE MODEL I MADE IN RHINO

FIG.3: THE FINAL MODEL I MADE BY USING 2-D CUT CUTTER

Year 2 digital design experience in my second year of design, i took Architecture of water.

In this subject, we focused on more in sketching rather than computer modelling. However, Photoshop was also used to improve the quality of my drawings. The images of trees and humans were added to gain human scales and give people a sense of the surrounding landscape. This graphing techology help me in presenting and explaining my ideas.

FIG.4: THE DRAWING EDITED BY PHOTOSHOP

My existing knowlege of architecture Through the two years digital design experiences, i have gained much knowledge about architecture and digital design. In my opinion, virtual programming is a great tool to help us create and test new ideas. For example, in my first year experience of using Rhino, different geometries were tested in my design. Triangles, rectangles, diamonds and circles were tested in either 2-D or 3-D forms. The digital technology can also save our time and generate many possibilities in a short period of time. We do not need to struggle with creating different prototypes, which are formed by different geometries. By only few clicks, all the possibilities will be calculated by the computer.

We only need to pick the design we wanted. In my view, digital architecture is the coorporation between archieture design, and 3-D computer software. Many possibilities of design can be achieved by computers in a short period of time.

Besides this, i also believe that digital architecture can help us improve the presentation quality through edited drawing. The clear drawings can make our presentation clearer and easier to be understood. in my year 2, Photoshop allows me to create the surrounding atmosphere of my design . We can see that people are drinking coffee in the building(Fig. 4). the addition of human scale can help people understand the function and the dimension of the buildings. This improvement in details will let my design be easier to be understood. Hence, digital architecture can improve our presentation quality and make our design easy to be understood.

Therefore, digital architecture is to use virtualising programming software to assist us in design. In this case, we will be able to save more time and reduce workload.

The presentation qualitywill also be improved.

Introduction

5

Part A 1: Conceptualisation A.1. Design Futuring The two projects i selected: •

2010 submission: The Seif light Project (Melissa Kit Chow, Jose Talevera, Roger Cortes Ribas)

•

2012 submission: Rainbow cloud (Chie Fuyuki and Lichao Qin)

Design is a way of changing our lives through revolution and recreation. Today, we are living in a world with an autodestructive mode that the creation of a thing will cause the destruction of the other thing1 . It is just like an omelette will cost an egg. A table will cost a tree. Pollution, green house gas emission and global warming have become big concerns of the modern world. Renewal and clean energy play more and more important role in minimising damages and reducing pollution. Meanwhile, design, which is believed to be able to shape people’s actions through the built environment, is utilised to integrate with clean energy generation station to create a sustainable life 2. ‘The Seilf light’ (Figure. 5 3)and ‘Rainbow cloud’ (Figure. 6 4)are the two projects, which are aimed to alter the old destructive way of living through reshaping the built environment.

‘The Seilf light’ project is derived from the concept of a whole being formed by single components. Thousands of energy generators and LED light are placed in a certain density to produce a light effect. Natural forms, such as dunes and crop plant, are taken to become the analogies of the energy generators. The crop plant forms of the energy generators are achieved by a rob and a balloon-formed solar collection unit (Figure. 7 3). LED lights are placed in the balloon-formed solar collection unit to generate a glowing effect. To collect energy in this project will be linked to crop harvesting that we are collecting energy from crop-like energy generators.

Moreover, the glowing energy generators will be placed 1. Tony Fry, Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg, 2008), 2. Rosie Gunzburg, lecture 1: Studio Air, 2014. on-line recording.

3. Melissa Kit Chow, Jose Talevera and Roger Cortes Ribas, The Seif Light Project, 2010, Land art generator initiative, http://landartgenerator.org/LAGI2010/wohc83/#, 4. Chie Fuyuki and Lichao Qin, Rainbow Cloud , 2012, Land art generator initiative, http://landartgenerator.org/LAGI-2012/TSYNS220/#,

CONCEPTUALISATION 6

in different densities across the dune-like design landscape to form different light effects (Figure. 8 3). The brightness of a energy generator concentrated region will indicate how much of energy is generated in the region.

Similar to ‘The Seilf light’ project, ‘Rainbow cloud’ is another lightening project, which uses the same idea of units forming into a whole. The cloud property of dynamicity is utilised in this project to allow visitor’s individual energy generators to become part of the pattern (Figure. 10 6). Furthermore, information and datas in the park will be updated and transferred to visitors’ cell phone through visitor’s individual energy generators, which is freely distribute to eacn visitor (Figure. 9 6). At the same time, clean energy will also be generated from the visitors’ energy generators to contribute to the whole park. Just like the plants in the park, visitors are able to receive the newest information from their individual energy generators.

They can also be like plants to contribute to the energy system of the park. The similar role between visitors and plants in the park will drive the visitors to gain the consciousness of being part of the park. It will further lead to the increased awareness of environment preservation.

The energy generators holding in visitor’s hands can convert wind, solar and kinetic power to electricity.

Thus, it can allow visitors’ locomotion to be converted into clean energy to contribute to the park. Its purpose is to increase the involvement of visitors to this project.

FIG.5: 2010 PROJECT OF THE SEILF LIGHT

CONCEPTUALISATION 7

Part A 1: Conceptualisation

According to this week’s lecture 2 , design practice is to earn time to allow human to remove the destructive elements, which might threat the sustainbility of the world. In fact, both designers of ‘The Seilf light’ and ‘Rainbow cloud’ projects have put so much efforts to achieve this goal.

Nevertheless, I think that ‘The Seilf light’ project fails to approach to this goals because social and cultural values are ignored in this project. In my view, Social and cultural values are the detrimental factors, which can control human’s behaviours and attitudes towards certain things.

In the idea revolution aspect, ‘The Seilf light’ project has already commit many revolutions in its forms. The changes in light effects, according to the light density, have created a sense of movement, which will never been seen in the classical architecture. In addition, the use of natural forms of dunes and crops in the project is very revolutionary that the common geometric forms, such as rectangles and triangles, have been abandoned. It causes more design possibilities to be generated. The technological revolution also takes placed in this project that the traditional SOLAR energy generator forms of panel is replaced by a balloon form. LED light is also installed to increases the form diversity and possibilities. Through these analysis, it is clear that architectural revolution has taken placed in this project in terms of movement, forms and technologies.

However, it cannot be deny that the way people treated energy stations remained unchanged in this project.

It is due to the neglection of social and culture values .

8

CONCEPTUALISATION

Contrary to the ‘The Seilf light’ project, revolutions in both physical and metal aspects are all emphasised in the ‘Rainbow cloud’ project. In physical aspects, revolutions in archiectural forms and technologies take placed in this project. The use of the cloud property of dynamicity is a revolutionary change to the fixed formed traditional architecture. Dynamicity allows numerous formations of patterns and effects. More possbilities might be generated by it. Furthermore, the technology revolution can be indicated by the 3 types of energy convertors. compare to the traditional energy generator, which can only convert one type of energy, this new energy generator, which can convert 3 sources, is quite technically revolutionary. In the mental aspect, the change in social and cultural values are considered in this project. According to the lecture2 , the built environment can reshape social relations, cultural values and the daily life. Chie and Lichao also used this idea to build a environment through providing visitors’ individual energy generators to engage them to generate a sense of belongs to the park. In such way, the visitor’s social and cultural values might be changed, which might further lead to more changes in attitudes and behaviors towards environments. Due to the changes in attitudes and feeling towards the park, the visitors might be willing to sacrifice their old way of living in order to create a sustainable world for their families in the park, whihc are the plants. Morever, due to the close interation with energy generators, visitors might be more willing to be live with energy generators compare to other normal people. Thus, this project also changes human’s attitudes to energy

FIG.6: 2012 PROJECT OF RAINBOW CLOUD

CONCEPTUALISATION 9

Part A 1: Conceptualisation

stations. Through this project, visitors undergo both physical and mental revolutions, which will affect their behaviors and attitudes to the environment and energy stations. This is real purpose of the competition. Instead of simply making revolutions in physical aspectd, the changes of people in mentally is the true nature of the competition.

In the future, due to the changes in human attitudes and behaviors towards nature through ‘Rainbow cloud’ project , the new relationship between nature and human might be established. In this new relationship, human might become a sacrificer rather than a destructor of the nature, more possibilities might be explored in the future. Therefore, in the idea revolution aspect, I think that ‘Rainbow cloud’ is also successful design that creates new possibles between human and nature.

Unfortunately, there is nothing flawless in the world, ‘Rainbow cloud’ project is also confront with a ‘built’ issue that the 3 types pf energy convertor might not be invented. It is because of too many technical problems and restrictions in today’s technologies. Even though such convertor can be created, the cost will be relatively high. Park owners are impossible to have such amount of money to build a vast amount of energy generators.

Compared to ‘Rainbow cloud’ project, the energy generator in ‘The Seilf light’ project is easier to be done.

It only needs to change solar collection unit forms and

10

CONCEPTUALISATION

install a LED. The changes are much simple and costless.

Even though Rainbow cloud’ project is not buildable, it does not mean that this project is useless. I think that a unbuildable project with many possibilities is more valuable than a normal buidable project, which creates much less possibilities. Therefore, a successful project cannot be weigh by their buildability. Instead, the creation of possibilities is more crutial to a architectural project. in conclusion, no matter whether the two projects are successful or not, both projects will contribute to the site environment and its inhabitants a lot. The clean energy generated in these sites will be sent back to the public electrical grid to reduce the amount of coal and fuels (LAGI) used for eletricity generation. It will indirectly contribute to the eduction of greenhouse gas emission, which will further help in alleviating global warming conditions. Also, to the inhabitants in the site of ‘Rainbow cloud’ project, their social and culture values to the environment might change.

They might be willing to change to a more sustainable and sacrificing way of life. Hence, less destruction will be occured in the future. The world will be more sustainable.

DUNES IN DESERT THE DUNE-FORMED LIGHT IN ‘‘THE SEIF LIGHT’ PR OJECT

FIG 7: CROP PLLANT-LIKE ENERGY GENERATOR

FIG.8: DUNES IN DESERT VS THE DUNE-FORMED

FIG 9: ENERGY GENERATOR IN ‘ RAINBOW CLOUD’ (2)

FIG 10: ‘ RAINBOW CLOUD’ PATTERN (2)

CONCEPTUALISATION 11

Part A 2: Computerization and Computation

Computer is a ‘superb analytical engine’, which follows ‘a line of reasoning to its logical conclusion’5. It has the extraordinary ability in calculation, data storage and information searching. In design, computer intelligence combines with the creativity ability of human to generate new terms of ‘digital architecture’6 and ‘digital design’6 , which bring the great revolution in design process.

Revolution and benefits Parametric design, 3-D modeling, algorithm scripting and paneling tools are all utilized in today’s world to create design possibilities and improve the design qualities. 3-D modeling software, such as Rhino and sketch up, is utilized today to present our design in 3-D forms. Thus, designers will be able to visualize their own design. Modulation and parameter changes can be occurred later on to create more prototypes. These 3-D digital models can also convert into 2-D drawings to make sure the accuracy in scales, details and labels. Errors occurred during information transferring in the past can be avoided. Algorithm scripting and parametric design, which present design in logic, can create designs with complex geometries. The forms, which are impossible to be predicted or imagined by human, can be created by these two design techniques. The modification and modulation can be easily done through changing parameters. Compared to the past design period, more design possibilities can be produced by this technology. Paneling tool is another powerful software in today’s world, which can generate different patterns on the project facade. It can contribute to the generation of more possibilities of design. Furthermore, more possibilities can also be achieved by changing the commands orders in algorithm. According to Kalay1, algorithm will like

5. Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2004), 2 .

6. Rivka Oxman and Oxman Robert, Theories of the Digital in Architecture (New York: Routledge, 2014), 7.

12 Computerization

making puzzles that different results can be generated by different command orders. Furthermore, the concepts of ‘materiality’6 can improve the design performance to allow designers to see the overall effects of the design.

It can minimize the potential problems discovered in the site. Material textures can be simulated by material modeling software. In addition, ‘fabrication’ 7 can improve construction qualities and speed through unfolding and unrolling 3-D digital models. After the manufacture of all the components, designers only need to assemble these components in a short period of time. Time and labor costs will be saved, while few mistakes might be commit during the assembly process. It is because everything has been done through computers. Lastly, technology advance also lead to the improvement in communication today. Design group members, like designer, engineers and constructors, can share, store and update their information in cyberspace. Any changes and mistakes can be updated and corrected on time. It can ensure that there is no time waste caused by faulty or delayed information.

The key technologies, which benefit us today during the design process.

• 3-D modeling • Modulation • Simulation • Parametric design • Algorithm scripting • Paneling tool • Materiality • Fabrication • Communication

7. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media, 15.

Computerization VS computation

“The dominant mode of utilizing computers in architecture today is that of computerization; entities or processes that are already conceptualized in the designer’s mind are entered, manipulated, or stored on a computer system. In contrast, computation or computing, as a computer-based design tool, is generally limited.” (lecture week 2)

Computerization and computation are the two design concepts in today’s world, which is corresponding to the rapid computer development. According to the definition above, computerization refers a design, which has been conceptualized prior to the computer design. In this type of design, ‘geometric preference’6 might be indicated. Some design details might be determined before the computer design. In such condition, computer is only used as a communication tool to help designers to interpret design ideas to others. Contrary to computerization, computation is dominated by computer itself. Human interference in this type of design has been minimized. There are no geometric or human preferences in this design process.

Designer, who chose to do computation design, might only require to set constraints and make decision. Paramatric tools might be used in this design to allow designers to test possibilities through modifying paramaters. Compared to computerization, more design possibilities and shapes might be created by the design concept of computation.

It is due to less geometric restrictions and limitations in computation design. Hence, digital architecture’ is used

describe computerization, while ‘digital design’, is utilized to represent computation. It is clear that computerization is focus on digitalization and computation is more concentrated on design.

The following precedents of Mexico museum and ICD research pavilion 2010 will be utilized to further differentiate design concepts of computerization and computation. Also, the benefits brought by computing design will be also reflected in each project.

Computerization 13

Part A 2: Computerization and Computation

Mexico Museum (Figure 118) Mexico Museum was the representative of computerization that this design was based on a double-curved physical model. The patterns on the façade had already been determined before computation. The base form of the double-curved surface was determined in this design was to keep the museum concept of being ‘a container for the work’13. This physical model was laser scanned later and simulated into digital model to share with the design team. Engineer then used this model to do structure calculation and a digital structural model was shared in the group network to allow everyone to get access.

Architects used the structural model to further develop the façade pattern design. In this stage, computers helped in copying information by using laser scanner and doing simulation through 3-D modeling software. Computer also helped in structural calculation and structural design modelling. Computers also contributed to the information sharing, storing and exchanging between design teams.

Next step was to do the façade pattern; hexagonal metal panel had been determined by designer before computation.

Paneling tool were used to create different possibilities to allow designers to choose, while parametric modeling techniques utilized to divide façade into the most regular and the most curved zones to benefit fabrication. The 8. Romero and Ramos, “Bridging a Culture”, 69.

9. Romero and Ramos, “Bridging a Culture”, 67

14 Computerization

curved façade increased the design difficulty that panels in the most curved zone needed to be stretched to maintain gaps between panels. The consistent distance in gaps could allow a node to fix 4 panels across the entire façade.

In this stage, paneling and parametric modelling technique help designers create more design possbilities, which allowed designers to achieve the dessign they wanted

In the last stage, digital project of 3-D modeling tools and custom computer programs were implemented to extract panels from 3-D models and turned them into 2-D drawing. Thus, the design could be fabricated at the last stage to save time and labor costs. Materiality was also utilized in this design of simulating the metal-like panels and aluminum-like structures (Figure 12 9). It could give designers an overall performance of the project, which could reduce the potential failure of design in the real site.

FIG 12: MATERIALITY OF THE DESIGN FAÇADE AND ITS NEIGHBORING STRUCTURE

This was the beneficial computer technologies used in this project: • 3-D modeling • Modulation • Simulation • Parametric design • Paneling tool • Materiality • fabrication • communication

FIG 11: Mexico Museum

Computerization 15

Part A 2: Computerization and Computation

ICD Research pavilion (Figure 1310) Contrary to Mexico museum, ICD Research pavilion was the representative of computation that there was no predetermined design in this project. There were only geometric, forced and fabricated constraints imposed by designers to control the design. Neutralizing the external force and maintaining the material behaviors were the main elements for the design. Plywood strip, which was characterized as bending, was constrained to be used as the only material in this project. In order to respond to the material behaviors, bending-active system was formed to dominate the design.

In geometric aspect, 3-D modeling was firstly used under the bending-active system to indicate the bending state of each plywood strip. ‘An intricate network of joint points and related force vectors’ were utilized to spatially mediate bent plywood strips to stabiles the structure11. Various specification parameters were also changed by designers to find a design prototype they wanted. Meanwhile, finite element method (FEMs) was also implemented to do the calibration for simulation. In this step, the shape of each strip and the structure of the entire forms were determined through respecting material characteristics and behaviors, stabilizing structure, testing and modifying forms. In this aspect, computer modeling, behavior simulation and calculation ability were all performed to allow the structure to be visualized and stabilized. The material characteristic

and behaviors were also simulated and calculated by computers to help computer to generate more design without breaking the bent strips. Parametric design in this 10. A. Menges and J. Knippers, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010, 2010, University of Stuttgart, http:// icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=4458/, 11. Moritz Fleischmann et al., “Material Behaviour: Embedding Physical Properties in Computational Design Processes,” Architectural design 82, no. 2 (2012): 46.

16 Computerization

aspect also allowed human involvement and prototypen testing to be done without massive changes directly on the digital model Besides of the geometric aspect, forced constraint was an influential factor in design. A constraint in this project was that plywood strips were the only structural element.

It meant that no other structural element could be used in this design. In such condition, the force would be needed to be stored locally in the bent structure. Neighboring strips were needed to be cooperated to take their corresponding force. To prevent the straight arch, which was carried by stiffness of plywood, joints between strips were required to oscillate along the structure to form a distinct articulation of envelop. Through computer calculation, the structure stability would be maintained. In this forced aspect, the computer calculation ability performed again to do the accurate structural calculation.

In the fabrication aspect, the constraint was that the sixaxis fabrication robot might be used. Shear-resistant joints, tension puzzle joints and joint between elastic strip and the structure base were turned into manufacturing data to allow rapid fabrication. Through sharing information with geodesic engineers, the building in the site could be easily assembled. In this stage, computer benefits of fast fabrication and sharing information between design teams were promoted.

In conclusion, through evaluating precedents of computerization and computation, the difference between computerization and computation are indicated.

Computerization is more suitable to the design, which has its concepts or representations in forms. Computation is appropriate for the design, which is more concerned on physical performances. Different uses and characteristics

between computerization and computation have been indicated. However, no matter how different computerization and computation are, the benefits brought be computer in design process are similar that 3 -D modeling, parametric design, modulation, simulation, parametric design, fabrication and communication are all promoted in computer related design to allow design to be visualized, modified, prototyped, modeled, tested and fabricated. It will make design more time and labor saving. More possibilities with more complex design will be explored during the design process.

This was the computer technologies benefited in this project:

• 3-D modeling • Parametric design • Modulation • Simulation • Parametric design • Fabrication • Communication

FIG 13: ICD RESEARCH PAVILION

Computerization and Computation 17

Part A 2: ReadingYehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-

This article talks about the revolution in design process from the past to today’s world. Different ways of doing design in the past, which are included craftsmanship, are introduced. Besides of this, some procedures in design process, such as problem analysis, solution synthesis, evaluation and communication are discussed. Finally, different design solutions, which are search, constraint satisfaction, rule-based design and case-based design, are evaluated.

What the reading attract me is the discussion about the relationship between human and computer. The author believes that the collaboration between human and computer is the only future of design. It is due to the coldness of computer and abstraction of human. He argues that computer is quite intelligence. It is able to analyze problem, search for answer and calculate complex number in a short period of time. The excellent memory of computers allows everything to be stored and located when we need those information. Compared to computer, human is powerless. They have no brilliant calculation ability or excellent memory. The only thing they had is feelings, which drives them to be creative and abstract. This is what the computers cannot do, these characters are also the essential part of design. Hence, the relationship between computer and human is defined by the author that computer will be in charge of all the calculation work, while human will do the decision making job. I agree with this argument.

18

Reading

In this week’s lecture, there are two design concepts were introduced. One is computerization. The other one is computation. Computerization refers to the design, which has been conceptualized before the starting computer design process. In this design concept, human dominate the design. However, the concept of computation is more computer dependency that design is driven by computers within certain constraints. Human’s interference can be ignored in this concept. It seems that the relationships between human and computer promoted by the author has been overturned by the concept of computation. However, this is not true. Even in the computation process, human will still take the role of determining whether the design idea created by computer is useable or not. For instance, in the representative of computation ICD research 2010 project, human interference was detected in the design process that design constraints were preset in the computing design to lead computers to do the design we desired. Moreover, the parameters in this project are determined by designers in order to get the design they wanted. Therefore, no matter how smart the computer is, human’s abilities of creativity can ever been compete with.

The relationship between human and computer by author, which is the cooperation between them, reflect the actual positions of them in today’s design.

Besides of the discussion about human and computer relationships, a way of analyzing problems, which is

problem-solving, have been emphasized. This way of analyzing problems has been divided into 3 ways of thinking. The first is goal-direct manner, which argue that our goal will lead us to solutions. The second way of thinking is Mean-end analysis, which refers to do the comparison between current result and the final goals.

This way of thinking can allow us to make modification of today’s state in order to catch up with the final goals.

The last way of thinking is reduction, which emphasis on reducing design goals into subgoals. In such way, we will able to turn a big unsolvable problem to small solvable problems. I think that these 3 ways of thinking has been used in my last week’s grasshopper practice. Last week, our design goal is to do a forest. The desire of making a forest becomes our motivation of looking for solutions.

This is the first way of think of goal-direction manner.

Then we started to think how to approach to the goal steps by steps. The first step must be to build a platform to place tree. The second step will be found the location of planting trees. The last step will be to build the forest. These are the three steps we a going to achieve the design. They were also the subgoals we generated from the goal of building a forest. This is the third way of think of reduction. After we finished the platform construction by using lofting 5 curves and located the places of planting trees by surface dividing command, the last goal of planting a tree was achieved by lofting the circle above the platform and on the surface of the platform. However, when we used the last way of thinking of mean-end analysis to make a comparison between the current state and the final goal,

we discovered that all the circles are lofted in their groups rather than lofting up and down corresponding. In order to fix this error, the graft and flatten commands were applied to remove groups and establish individual list of circles.

As a result, these three ways of thinking help get the result we wanted.

There are more ways of thinks and design procedures were introduced in the arties. Nevertheless, the discussion about the relationship between human and computers, and problem-solving are the topic more related to my recent design practice. The rest of design procedures and ways of analyzing might be inspired me in the future design.

Reading 19

Part A 3: Composition VS Generation

Composition VS generation Both composition and generation have close relationship with computation that their design forms and details are all digitally simulated or 3-D modelled. Composition is very similar with last week’s concept of computerization that design forms and ideas might have been determined before computing design started. Thus, compositional strategy is utilised to digitalise the design ideas, which has been conceived in designer’s mind. The ‘conventional design tools’12 , are harder to commit changes compared to parametric design, such as CAD and Rhino, might be utilised as digital pencils to manipulate lines to draft design13. It is due to few innovations or inventions required in this design strategy. The term of ‘tediousness’ 14 are utilised to describe this type of design. Contrary to composition, generational strategy is a computer dominated design.

Rather than using the conventional design tools of CAD and Rhino, more flexible computer program, like parametric modelling and algorithm scripting, have been applied in this strategy to allow complex and unexpected results to be generated. Regularity, symmetry, repetition, straight lines, right angles, corners and simple repetition of elements, are considered to be redundant, while hybrid, morph, deterioration and deformation are promoted in this strategy to let design ideas be ‘parametrically malleable’14. Furthermore, the relationship between parts in the algorithm, are more valued in generational strategy than compositional strategy. It causes the feedback loop that ‘relationships between parts of systems may 12. Robert F Woodbury, ‘How Designers Use Parameters’, in Theories of the Digital in Architecture, eds.

Rivka Oxman and Robert Oxman (New York: Routledge, 2014), 153.

13. “Advanced Architecture Software Could Make Buildings More Energy-Efficient and Interesting.”

Alison Arieff, MIT Technology Review, last modified 31July 2013, http://www.technologyreview.com/ review/517596/new-forms-that-function-better/.

14. “Parametric Design: What’s Gotten Lost Amid the Algorithms - Architect Magazine.” Witold Rybczynski, Architectmagazine , last modified 11 July 2013, http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/ parametric-design-lost-amid-the-algorithms.aspx.

20 Composition VS Generation

begin to affect parts themselves’ (lecture). Recursion and iteration might be also considered as design rules, which each part in algorithm will follow to generate an infinite and continuous complex forms. Compare to computation, generational strategy is more uncontrollable and has less human involvement. It is different from the computation that human are allowed to adjust parameters for modulation during the design process. Once certain rules have been established in generational strategy, there will be no human involvement in design at all.

Pattern or mass will be built to follow these rules. There is no manipulating space for human. Designer can only decide where the pattern or mass to be stopped. Hence, in architecture, generation strategy is hard to be used alone because it is uncontrollable and unpredictable. In order to manipulate designs, composition strategy must be added in generation strategy design process to gain the human interference Compared to generation, composition is more predictable and more human involvement.

The following precedents of The Hinging tower and Kuwait international Airport are utilised to prove my argument.

FIG 14: Kuwait international Airport

Kuwait international Airport (figure 1415) Kuwait international Airport, which was established in 2011, was a compositional strategized design. Before computing the design, the design ideas and details has been completed through sketching and drawings. The purpose of digitalise the project is to give clear and accurate information to the contractors. This airport is a shamrock shaped, which is curvature on the edges. At each corner of the airport, ‘the dihedral group of order 6 consists of rotations of 120 degrees and mirrorings along diagonals’ can be discovered16. Apron layout with plant barrier have also been planned to fit to the aviation forecast and block the desert climate from the terminal. All the designs they made in this airport, including the airport plan shape and landscape plan, are to show the hospitality to the guests.

Emotions and senses are integrated in this design. Digital modelling software, like Autodesk® T-Splines® software was utilised to achieve the curvature matching edges of 15. Kristoffer Josefsson, “Symmetry As Geometry: Kuwait International Airport.” Architectural design 83, no. 2 (2013): 31.

16. Josefsson, “Symmetry As Geometry”, 18

the airport, while Autodesk CAD and Rhino were used to make the symmetry at each corner. New software was also applied in the project to indicate the typological influence of the design.

In this project, the conventional tools, like CAD and Rhino, are only used to digitalise the form the designers had already designed in their mind. There is no possibilities exploration in this project. Human is essential to this design that they need to feel and sense the design to create a hostility atmosphere. Feelings and emotions is what computer not good at. This is why composition strategy is used in this design that the design idea must be done by human. Computer is just used to digitalise and draft the design. .

Composition VS Generation 21

Part A 3: Composition VS Generation

The Hinging tower (Figure 1617 ) The Hinging tower is high-rise development located on downtown Singapore, which is based on the both composition and generational strategies. It is different from Kuwait international Airport that this is no requirement of feeling the project. Firstly, the generation strategy is used. The site constraints are imposed to a mathematic formula to ensure that the generated design forms will not be out of the design site. This formula generated a coiling diagram, which is the combination of sinusoidal, continuous and periodic functions. The design form selected from the coiling diagram also contained the characteristics of the coiling diagram that the design form is complex, intersected and continuing without ends (Figure 1518). In order to simplify and manipulate the design, the composition strategy is introduced.

‘Deformers’ of Fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) are added in the design to create simple and developable surface for optimization (Figure 1518). Parametric techniques are also introduced to change parameters for modulation to create infinite morphological variation. Next, square plan is utilised to follow the rule of repetition. Due to the morphological configuration and self-organization ability of the generation strategy, the interlocking space between squares caused by repetition is automatically resolved.

Every program will also automatically locate itself to the most suitable spots.

In this project, generational strategy is selected due to the morphological configuration and self-organization ability of generation strategy and no emotional needs in this project. No need of feeling and sensing the 17. Ana María Flor Ortiz, Rodia Valladares Sànchez and Rising Masses Studio, “The Hinging Tower.”

Architectural design 81, no. 4 (2011): 114.

18. Ortiz et al., “The Hinging Tower,”116.

22 Composition VS Generation

designatmosphere allows the computer to be able to do the design. The morphological configuration ability of generation strategy allows the design to be generate forms based on a formula. The designer will save the time in figuring what the design form should be looks like and how to build such as digital model. Next, compositional strategy is used later on due to the requirement of manipulation, modulation and optimization. This strategy allows architects to edit the design and make the unbuildable design form under generation strategy be buildable.

In conclusion, both compositional and generational strategies utilised by designers in different purposes and conditions. It is hard to say which strategy is more efficient. It depends on the needs of design. If we have emotional needs in our design, composition is definitely the best strategy to use. Nevertheless, if there are no emotional needs, generational strategy might be more likely to be selected to create design forms. It is due to the morphological configuration and self-organization ability of generational strategy. Instead by using composition to build the form steps by steps, algorithm or mathematic formula can generate a base form with few typing and clicking. The space allocation problems in the design occurred later can also be self-organised under this strategy. Time and effort will be saved in this strategy.

Unfortunately, generational strategy cannot be used alone.

Compositional strategy must be utilised at the same time to allow edition, modulation and optimization. Therefore, there is no more effective strategy in design. It only has the strategy, which is the most appropriate to our design.

FIG 15: above: generation strategy form below: After FFT

FIG 16: The Hinging Tower

Composition VS Generation 23

Part A 4: Conclusion

In part A, we gained many understanding towards digital architecture. Digital architecture is no longer a simple way of digitalising our design ideas and optimizing our design qualities. Now it means more to me. In the first week, I compared two competition works, which integrated architecture into green technologies. I realise more possibilities between architecture and technologies.

Architecture is not just a building or an art work. It can integrate into technologies to change the way of living, the ecological system and even the environment. It can even contribute to sustainability. Social and culture values must be considered to be part of the design so that the design will be influence people through changing their attitudes and behaviours. In the second week, I understand that there are different ways of doing the design. In the past, we always conceived the design in our mind, then we used computer to draft it. Now, I have more choice, which is computation.

We can simply to set some constraints so the computer will start to work itself to create a form. We only need to adjust some parameters during the process or do the final selection of prototypes. Computer can remove the design restrictions in the past to create more complex forms and possibilities because of the computer abilities, such as simulation, modulation and materiality and fabrication. In this week, I discover more possibilities of using computers in design. Computer can be used more flexible use that a form can be simply generated by a rule. Then, we can use some software, such as parametric technologies, to restrict and modify the rules to make more buildable. Now I understand that forms should not be only restricted in human imagination. Sometimes, computers can do more brilliant work than us.

The most interesting design approach I might be used in the future will be generational strategy because abnormal design possibilities would be generated with only few

clicks. Free-formed designs, which are contrast with the traditional way of design, could also be generated by this strategy. In addition, I am very obsessed with the patterns, which were generated by recursion and iteration. I wished to apply patterns, which are generated by these rules, to my future design. Not just limit in this fundamental design, in the future, we might integrate composition with generation to form a new emotional and intelligential design. It means that we can still allow the human to do the design before computation. Nevertheless, some design space should be left to generational strategy that many complex patterns or structure would be produced later on. Adding complex and irregular elements to the simple and tidy base will make the design more attractable. Also, a design will not be judged as either too emotional (composition) or too uncontrollable (generation). The collaboration between creative human and intelligent computer is the ideal relationship we should have in today’s worlds (week 2 reading)19 . The designers, who either use compositional or generational strategies, would be benefit through the integration. During the process, the parametric design might be used in the compositional strategy. The users, who choose compositional strategy, could be able to modify their design by changing parameters. According to Woodbury (week 4 readig)20 , parametric design can make our design more ‘dynamic’. To the people, who choose to do generational strategy, integration is also a big relief. They finally find a way to get involved in the design process because design conception and human interference are allowed in compositional strategy. More design involvement might occur to the people, who chose generational strategy, during integration. Hence, integration between compositional and generational strategies can make all the users, who choose either strategies, benefit.

19. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media, 3.

20. Woodbury, “How Designers Use Parameters”, 164.

24

Conclusion

17.

Part A 5: Learning outcomes

Through these 3 week study, I feel that to understand theories through readings and lecture is very struggling. I usually need to spend time with my friends to discuss about theories. I think that the most struggling part is to search for precedents when I do not fully understand theories.

I will become so obsessed with the key words of the theories. It is so hard to bring my understanding about the theory to the precedents. However, after reading so many precedents, I will gain more understanding to the theory.

Searching for precedents helps me in understanding theories through reading others’ design practice.

In tutorial, we are also taught many grasshopper design procedures and theories. I like the brief introduction given when we start to do grasshopper in class. In this brief, the design goal, subgoals, the design procedures and the outcome we expected to see are all given. It helps me understand every step we did in grasshopper in the tutorial.

Similar to the design process introduced in Woodbury article (week 2 reading)21 , we always first to divide the design goal into subgoals. Then, we will find ‘solutions’, which are corresponding to each subgoals. Next, we will solve the solution conflicts in ‘evaluation’ step through modulation. Lastly, we discuss with tutor and classmates about the confusions we had, which is ‘communication’. In fact, many basic theories, like parametric technologies and computer benefits, has been understood and experienced through tutorial grasshopper learning. Grasshopper tutorial practices help me in understanding basic theories a lot.

two, I learned how to analyse a design in grasshopper.

The design analysis step of ‘problem analysis’ and ‘solution finding’ and ‘evaluation’ and ‘communication’ are understood. In week three, algorithms and relationships between parts are introduced. I realise that grasshopper is algorithms scripting program. It is capable of building generation strategy design through inserting math formulas in grasshopper. I begin to understand that grasshopper is more focus on relationships between parts rather than a single component.

In order improve the Rhino work I did last year, multiple ways can be done to improve the design. Now, I will not restrict myself into the certain shapes or patterns. I will just let computers to find it own forms. Why the design base form must be a semi-circle? Why it cannot be other shapes? I might use generational strategy to set a math formula by using expression command. Some other commands might be plugged to control the design shapes. Domain and rang will be set as the input to limit the shape range. Next, parametric modification or other commands might be used to turn it into specific forms.

Once, the base form has been established. I might insert specific geometry, like rectangle or circles, in certain order to find the possibilities. Also, I might set another formula to replace the base form façade. Irregularity, uncertainties and creativity will be expected in my design. This is how I am going to improve my design. I will free my design from certain forms, base shapes and patterns.

Through studies about grasshopper and theories in each week, my understanding towards computers developed. In week one, I understand that there are many possibilities could be created by computers. Architects can create more possibilities with computer to change the world. In week 21. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media, 10.

17.

Learning outcomes 25

Part A 6: Algorithmic Sketches

The most interesting example series I chose are the grasshopper homework I did last week.

parameters in the algorithms in these sketches also allow me to test more possibilities.

The reason of choosing this example is that it is able to represent the computer benefits and theories of computation and generation we understood last few week.

In part 4A, I mentioned to use the combination composition and generation to do my future design. It seems that the dream become true in these sketches. After setting few rules and math principles of additions in the algorithm, I get an interesting triangle pattern. This is generation strategy used in my design. Next, in Prototype 2, I used the composition tool of Rhino to build a base form. Then, I linked this base form to the generation tool of grasshopper to let the pattern reflect on the Rhino base form. Through this sketch, I can see the possibilities of combining composition and generation ideas. This design might not look rough, but it is successful. In the future I might need to do more form exploration and study more maths to try to build more impressive works.

In order to do these sketches, I established an algorithm, which contains constraints and rules. Modulation and optimization will be able to be done by modifying few constraints, rules or parameters. In these sketches, I simply made modifications in colours, sizes and based shapes. By changing the design bases, all the relationship will automatically move to the new bases. It proves the argument given by Woodbury that relationships are more valued in algorithm than objects12. Possibilities and prototypes might be produced by few modifications in these algorithms. The benefits of creating more possibilities by using computers in a short period of time are indicated in these sketches.

Furthermore, the theory of computation of computer doing its own design within constraints has been proved. Before I started to build the algorithm of these sketches, I had no ideas of what the thing would look like. I just have brief idea of what functions or effects I wanted in my design.

In the algorithms, I just set few constraints and few rules, which will help achieve the effects or functions I wanted.

The computer then followed these rules and abided constraints to generate specific forms. During the design, 22. Woodbury, “How Designers Use Parameters�, 161.

26

Algorithmic Sketches

In the future, I might need to do more math study and practices to explore more possibilities. To create math22 based on math is what the algorithm designer should do.

More possibilities might be driven by more interesting math, algorithms and base forms.

Final design series

FIG 17: Prototype 1

FIG 18: Prototype 2

FIG 17: Prototype 3

FIG 17: Prototype 4

Algorithmic Sketches 27

Reference 1. Fry, Tony. Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice. Oxford: Berg, 2008.

2. Rosie Gunzburg. lecture 1: Studio Air, 2014. on-line recording.

3. Kit Chow, Melissa, Jose Talevera and

Roger Cortes Ribas The Seif Light Project , 2010, land art generator initiative, http://landartgenerator.org/LAGI2010/wohc83/#, (accessed August 8, 2014).

4. Fuyuki, Chie and Lichao Qin Rainbow Cloud , 2012, land art generator initiative, http:// landartgenerator.org/LAGI-2012/TSYNS220/#, (accessed August 8, 2014).

5. Kalay, Yehuda E. Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2004.

6. Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman. Theories of the Digital in Architecture. New York: Routledge, 20.

8. Romero, Fernando and Armando Ramos. “Bridging a Culture: The Design of Museo Soumaya.” Architectural design 83, no. 2 (2013): 66-69.

10. A. Menges and J. Knippers, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010, 2010, University of Stuttgart, http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=4458/,10. 10. A. Menges and J. Knippers, ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010, 2010, University of Stuttgart, http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=4458/, 11. Moritz Fleischmann et al., “Material Behaviour: Embedding Physical Properties in Computational Design Processes,” Architectural design 82, no. 2 (2012): 46. .

12. Robert F Woodbury, ‘How Designers Use Parameters’, in Theories of the Digital in Architecture, eds. Rivka Oxman and Robert Oxman (New York: Routledge, 2014), 153.

13. “Advanced Architecture Software Could Make Buildings More Energy-Efficient and Interesting.” Alison Arieff, MIT Technology Review, last modified 31July 2013, http://www.technologyreview.com/review/517596/new-forms-that-functionbetter/.

14. “Parametric Design: What’s Gotten Lost Amid the Algorithms - Architect Magazine.” Witold Rybczynski, Architectmagazine , last modified 11 July 2013, http://www.architectmagazine.com/design/parametric-design-lost-amid-the-algorithms. aspx.

15. Kristoffer Josefsson, “Symmetry As Geometry: Kuwait International Airport.” Architectural design 83, no. 2 (2013): 28-31.

17. Ana María Flor Ortiz, Rodia Valladares Sànchez and Rising Masses Studio, “The Hinging Tower.” Architectural design 81, no. 4 (2011): 112-117.

28

Reference

CONCEPTUALISATION 29